Gators Pass Huge Road Test at Tennessee
The #3 Florida Gators passed a huge road test by winning at Thompson-Bolling Arena, the home of the Tennessee Volunteers on Tuesday night 67-58. Scottie Wilbekin led the Gators with his career high 21 points, 14 of which came after halftime as the Gators won their 16th straight game. TBA has been a tough place to win for Donovan’s teams in past seasons. This win was only the third for Florida in the last 12 seasons. Even the two Florida teams that won it all in 2006 and 2007, failed to win there. The win was the second this season over the Vols, which a very rare for UF. Normally, it is the other way around.
Now the Gators will face another tough road test on Saturday when they travel to Rupp Arena to face the Kentucky Wildcats. Rupp is another place the Gators have rarely had success in the past. The Gators have not won at Rupp since the 2007 season. If they win at both of these places in the same week, they have to be considered one of the top two or three teams to win the NCAA Tournament this year. College Game Day will be on hand in Lexington, KY to whip the Big Blue Nation into an even bigger frenzy than usual.
Before that happens, the Wildcats have a road date tonight with the Auburn Tigers. On paper, this would appear to be a game Kentucky should win easily. But, with such a huge home game awaiting them, they may not be focused tonight. Auburn is not as bad as they appear by their record. They gave the LSU Tigers quite a battle on the road last weekend. Kentucky knows all too well how tough LSU is to play in their home gym.
The Ole Miss Rebels took a major hit on Tuesday to their NCAA Tournament hopes when Trevor Releford buried a cold-blooded three ball at the buzzer to beat them 67-64 in Tuscaloosa. The rebels could ill afford a loss to the 10-14 Crimson Tide as they are firmly on the bubble. Joe Lunardi had the Rebs on his “First Four Out” list before the game. This will surely hurt.
In other NCAA bubble action in the SEC on Wednesday, the LSU Tigers will visit the Texas A&M Aggies and on Thursday the Missouri Tigers host the Arkansas Razorbacks. The Tigers cannot afford a let down like they had a week ago when they went on the road and lost to the Georgia Bulldogs. Another loss this week and they will be on the outside looking in. The Tigers of Mizzou need a win badly tomorrow night. Once thought to be safely in they have lost three in a row in SEC play and are a rather weak 4-6 in conference play. That won’t get it done. the Hogs are also 4-6 in the SEC and need to win this one just as badly. This could be an elimination game.
Carbon Sports has odds on these SEC games:
Kentucky at Auburn- UK is -7.5 -110 and the Tigers are +7.5 -110 ATS. Moneyline is Kentucky -340 and Auburn +270. We like the tigers to beat the spread but Kentucky to win the game. take the Tigers +7.5 -110 and the Wildcats -340.
LSU at Texas A&M– LSU is -3.5 -110 and Texas A&M is +3.5 -110 ATS. Moneyline is LSU -170 and A&M -150. We are going to go with the Aggies +3.5 -110 and also would not be shocked if they win the game.
Georgia at Mississippi State– UGA is -2.5 -110 and MSU is +2.5 -110 ATS in the battle of Bulldogs. Moneyline is Georgia – 150 and State +130. We are going with Georgia -2.5 -110 in this one.
