Will Bruce Pearl and Tennessee be celebrating another big road win tonight?
Tuesday’s Pick (2/23/10)
College Basketball: Florida Gators vs. Tennessee Volunteers (9 P.M. ET, ESPN)
Odds (brought to you by SBG Global)
Spread: Florida -2.5
Moneyline: Florida -145
Over/Under: 134.5
Whenever Florida and Tennessee meet in anything, may it be on the gridiron, the hardcourt, or on opposite sides at a pie-eating contest, there’s always bragging rights aplenty at stake.
Tonight in Gainesville, not only are some serious bragging rights at stake for Tennessee, but for both Tennessee and Florida, tonight serves as a golden opportunity to beautify their respective NCAA Tournament resumes.
A glaring home loss to South Alabama and an RPI in the 50s are the pockmarks on Florida’s resume right now, but the Gators have 19 wins, are assured of at least a .500 record in the SEC, and have a couple of quality road wins against Florida State and Michigan State. For now they’re in, but beating Tennessee and Vanderbilt (Mar. 2) at home would leave very little doubt.
Tennessee is looking a little safer, as their Top 25 ranking, a high RPI, 20 wins, and oh yeah, a win over #1 Kansas have their resume looking solid – for the time being. However, even if they’re secure, there’s still the matter of playing for a higher seed, and for both the Gators and Vols, there’s still some hope of wrestling a SEC Tournament first-round bye away from Vanderbilt.
With a lot at stake for both teams, can we expect a barnburner tonight in Gainesville? If it’s anything like the first meeting, that’s a definitive yes.
In Knoxville on Jan. 31, Florida led by as many as 10 in the first half and by six at halftime. However, the Vols hung in there, and after Chandler Parsons (who missed three of five free throws in the final three minutes) hit a three to put the Gators up one with 30 seconds left, a Scotty Hopson jumper with 17 ticks left lifted Tennessee to a 61-60 win.
Our favorite sports matchup simulator thinks it will be a tight ballgame, and I’m inclined to agree.
Close games have been a regular occurrence for Florida this season. Florida’s been involved in nine games already this season that were decided by five points or less, including four decided by a single point.
After some struggles on the road, Tennessee’s win at South Carolina (who was without star guard Devan Downey, for what it’s worth, but still, a road win in the SEC is a road win in the SEC) should give them a nice boost heading into another tough road game against a division rival.
Will that confidence be enough to give Bruce Pearl’s Vols the season sweep over the Gators, or will Florida score a win that significantly boosts their NCAA Tournament hopes?
SimuPick Says: TENNESSEE 68, Florida 67
SimuPick’s Recommended Plays: Tennessee +2.5/+125, OVER 134.5
Outcome: FLORIDA 75, Tennessee 62 (Spread/Moneyline: LOSS, Total: WIN)
