Can Alabama beat Florida in the SEC Tournament? ESPN gives game odds
Alabama basketball looks to advance to the SEC Tournament championship game with a win today against the Florida Gators in a No. 3 vs. No. 2 seed matchup in the conference semifinals at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville.
Alabama (25-7 overall), ranked No. 5 in this week's AP Top 25 poll, cruised past the No. 15 Kentucky Wildcats 99-70 on Friday night in Nashville behind 21 points from freshman Labaron Philon. No. 4 Florida defeated No. 21 Missouri 95-81 on Friday with Walter Clayton Jr. leading the way with 18 points.
The Gators have had Alabama's number of late, winning the past three meetings against Nate Oats' squad dating back to March of last year when Florida beat the Crimson Tide twice in a span of four games: in the penultimate game of the 2023-24 regular season in Gainesville and again in Alabama's only SEC Tournament appearance. Both were blowout wins by Todd Golden's team.
Fast-forward a year later, and Alabama and Florida are set to meet for the second time in four games again Saturday. The Gators pushed the Tide around back on March 5 in Coleman Coliseum for a 99-94 victory, a game where Florida led by as many as 14 in the second half.
As for how the two teams stack up on a neutral court, Florida enters as a slight favorite by the oddsmakers, and ESPN for one seems inclined to give the Gators a similar edge entering Saturday's matchup against Alabama.
ESPN Analytics' Matchup Predictor, which offers a prediction model based on its College Basketball Power Index ratings and other variables, gives the Gators a 51.2 percent chance to win the top-five showdown, compared to the Crimson Tide's 48.8 percent.
ESPN defines BPI ratings as a "measure of team strength that is meant to be the best predictor of performance going forward. BPI represents how many points above or below average a team is, adding: "Game predictions account for opponent strength, pace of play, site, travel distance, day's rest and altitude."
Alabama ranks No. 5 in ESPN's BPI with an overall rating of 19.6, with Florida at No. 4 (19.8).
Alabama-Florida is scheduled for a 2:30 p.m. CT tip at Bridgestone Arena. The game will be televised on ESPN. The winner will face the winner of No. 8 Tennessee (26-6) vs. No. 3 Auburn (28-4) in the SEC title game at noon CT Sunday.
HOW TO WATCH: Time, TV channel for Alabama vs. Florida
This article originally appeared on Roll Tide Wire: Alabama basketball odds of beating Florida Gators, per ESPN
Topics
-
SEC Tournament - Alabama vs. Florida Predictions: Odds, Expert Picks, Betting Trends, and Stats
Alabama Crimson Tide vs. Florida Gators Game PreviewYahoo Sports - 7h -
Instant Reactions: Alabama flexes muscle, routes Kentucky in SEC Tournament quarterfinals
The Alabama Crimson Tide routed the Kentucky Wildcats in SEC Tournament action Friday night. Here are some reactions to the game.Yahoo Sports - 16h -
Florida vs. Alabama odds, prediction, time: 2025 SEC Tournament semifinal picks, best bets by proven model
SportsLine's model just revealed its college basketball picks for the Alabama Crimson Tide vs. Florida Gators on Saturday afternoonCBS Sports - 3h -
Social media reacts to Alabama's route of Kentucky in SEC Tournament quarterfinals
The Alabama Crimson Tide routed Kentucky on Friday night in the SEC Tournament quarterfinals. Here are some social media reactions to Alabama's win.Yahoo Sports - 8h -
No. 5 Alabama routs No. 15 Kentucky as SEC’s top 4 seeds all advance to tourney semis
Labaron Philon scored 21 points and fifth-ranked Alabama never trailed in routing No. 15 Kentucky 99-70 on Friday night to advance to the Southeastern Conference Tournament semifinals.Yahoo Sports - 15h -
Labaron Philon becoming the player Alabama basketball needs, and it showed in SEC Tournament
Labaron Philon showed out for Alabama basketball vs Kentucky in SEC Tournament, and he could be a big factor in March MadnessYahoo Sports - 15h -
Can Florida basketball topple 'Bama again? Scouting report, prediction for SEC Tournament matchup
Florida basketball gets a rematch with Alabama in the SEC Tournament semifinals after beating the Crimson Tide earlier this monthYahoo Sports - 13h -
Alabama vs. Kentucky odds, prediction: 2025 SEC Tournament quarterfinal picks, best bets by proven model
SportsLine's model just revealed its college basketball picks for the Kentucky Wildcats vs. Alabama Crimson Tide in the SEC Tournament quarterfinals on Friday nightCBS Sports - 21h -
SEC Tournament - Kentucky vs. Alabama Prediction: Odds, Expert Picks, Betting Trends and Stats
Kentucky Wildcats vs. Alabama Crimson Tide Game PreviewYahoo Sports - 1d
More from Yahoo Sports
-
'We'll See What Happens With That': Marlies Coach John Gruden Hasn't Spoken To Ryan Reaves Following Maple Leafs' Assignment To AHL
Reaves hasn't been in the Maple Leafs' lineup since Mar. 2 against the Penguins.Yahoo Sports - 12m -
Real Madrid says it won't play again without 72 hours of rest between matches
Real Madrid won’t agree to play another game without 72 hours of rest between matches. The club made the announcement, which was confirmed by coach Carlo Ancelotti, after its 2-1 win at Villarreal ...Yahoo Sports - 13m -
Florida Gulf Coast wins women's ASUN Conference Tournament for ninth consecutive season
Emani Jefferson scored 15 points to lead Florida Gulf Coast to the Atlantic Sun Conference Tournament championship for the ninth straight season, defeating Central Arkansas 68-51 on Saturday. The ...Yahoo Sports - 14m -
Shohei Ohtani, Dodgers win exhibition game in Tokyo
Shohei Ohtani and the Los Angeles Dodgers have Japan excited in the days leading up to their season opener next week.Yahoo Sports - 14m -
Ireland 'trying a bit too hard' in Italy win - Easterby
Ireland interim head coach Simon Easterby feels his side were "trying to force things" in their Six Nations win over Italy.Yahoo Sports - 15m
More in Sports
-
Late Hollerbach goal stuns Bayern in Bundesliga
A moment of uncertainty from goalkeeper Jonas Urbig allowed Benedict Hollerbach to score a late goal as Union Berlin secured a 1-1 home draw with Bayern Munich.ESPN - 6m -
Pulisic helps rescue Milan again in comeback win
AC Milan staged a thrilling comeback to secure a 2-1 home win against Como in Serie A on Saturday, thanks to second-half goals by Christian Pulisic and Tijjani Reijnders.ESPN - 6m -
USMNT's Haji Wright nets 1st hat trick in England
A 26-year-old from Los Angeles, Wright scored in the 21st minute, then converted a penalty kick in the 29th after he was fouled by Chris Mepham. Wright scored in the 73rd for his 10th goal in 19 ...ESPN - 6m -
Wrexham beat promotion rivals Wycombe; go 2nd
Wrexham took a huge step towards securing automatic promotion to the Championship with an important 1-0 against Wycombe Wanderers at Adams Park on Saturday.ESPN - 6m -
USSF prez Parlow Cone elected to FIFA Council
U.S. Soccer Federation president Cindy Parlow Cone was elected to the FIFA Council on Saturday, as the North America representative from Concacaf.ESPN - 6m