Gators Take the Court in Search of 27th Straight Win
The #1 ranked and overall top seeded Florida Gators take the court today in the NCAA Tournament in Orlando’s Amway Center when they face the Albany Great Danes. Albany got to this round by beating the Mt. St. Mary’s Mountaineers in Dayton on Tuesday night. Albany will be trying to become the first #16 seed to beat a #1 in NCAA Tournament history. If they do it will perhaps be the most unlikely 16 seed to win of all. The Gators have won 26 games in a row. They were a perfect 21-0 in SEC play winning both the regular season and SEC Tournament championships. They are led by four seniors who have advanced to the Elite Eight three times already in their careers. If ever there was a blowout waiting to happen in the NCAA Tournament. this would seem to be it.
Florida plays stifling defense. They have held several SEC opponents under 50 points this season including holding the Texas A&M Aggies to 36. It would seem that Albany would have a difficult time scoring. With the game in Orlando, the crowd will be very pro-Florida too which will be another obstacle for Albany. This Florida team has already beaten the previous school record win streak by nine games. If they can win six more, they will bring home the third national championship in nine seasons. The Gators are led by SEC Player of the Year Scottie Wilbekin and his senior teammates Patric Young, Casey Prather and Will Yeguete. These four have really blossomed as seniors, many of them starting for the first time.
The first game of the Orlando South Regional double header features the #8 Pittsburgh Panthers and #9 Colorado Buffaloes. Both these teams started the season well but limped into the tournament. The Buffs have a good excuse after losing leading scorer Spencer Dinwiddie to injury. Pitt’s story was a rather easy non-conference schedule. When they got into the ACC schedule in their first season there, they found the going a bit tough.
The winners of these two games will advance to Saturday’s Round of 32 against each other in the home of the Orlando Magic. Top Bet has the odds on these games:
Albany vs Florida– Albany is +21 -110 and Florida is -212 -110 ATS. There is no Moneyline on this game. Coach Billy Donovan has a habit of emptying his bench in games like this which often times results in the Gators failing to cover the spread. But this game may be so lopsided even bringing in the subs won’t matter. Take the Gators -21 -110.
Colorado vs Pittsburgh– Pittsburgh is -6.5 -110 and Colorado +6.5 -110 ATS. Moneyline is Colorado +235 and Pitt -275. Pitt won three games in the ACC Tournament including a win over the North Carolina Tar Heels. Colorado won twice in the PAC 12 Tournament. We like the Panthers -6.5 -110.
