The third-seeded Texas Tech Red Raiders meet the sixth-seeded and NCAAB Odds favorite Florida Gators in the second round of the men’s basketball tournament on Saturday night. Florida blew the doors off St. Bonaventure in their first-round game, rolling to a 77-62 victory. Texas Tech had a tough time taking down Stephen F. Austin in their opener, but they gave themselves some breathing room late and prevailed, 70-60. Let’s look our college basketball betting preview for this second-round tilt from the Lone Star State.
Florida has covered the spread in three of their last four games overall, and although they were disappointed in the SEC Tournament, they finished their regular season with wins over Auburn, Alabama, and Kentucky, so they can definitely hang with the Red Raiders. This line (1 point), though, basically asks you to pick the straight up winner. Given that this game takes place in Dallas, just five hours from Texas Tech’s home campus, and given how many Red Raider fans live in the city, this is basically a home game for the Red Raiders.
I view that as a swing factor to give Texas Tech the edge. If Florida can get better shooting than they did against St. Bonaventure, though, they have a great shot at winning.
Red Raiders vs. Gators NCAAB Odds & Game Preview
“It’s crucial for us to get balanced scoring” – @MikeWhiteUF
Coach White 🎥: https://t.co/L3oVH9khwx Players 🎥: https://t.co/NunSq9A8Fn#OneTeam 🐊🏀 pic.twitter.com/k2uFUgrRVK — Gators Men’s Basketball (@GatorsMBK) 16 de marzo de 2018
- When: Saturday, March 17, 2018, 8:40pm ET
- Where: American Airlines Center, Dallas
- TV: TNT
- Radio: TuneIn
- Live Stream: March Madness Live
- NCAAB Odds: Texas Tech Red Raiders -1
Team Records
- All: Florida Gators 21-12 / Texas Tech Red Raiders 25-9
- Home: Florida Gators 14-8 / Texas Tech Red Raiders 19-2
- Away: Florida Gators 7-4 / Texas Tech Red Raiders 6-7
- ATS: Florida Gators 17-15 / Texas Tech Red Raiders 13-16-1
- Over/Under: Florida Gators 14-17 / Texas Tech Red Raiders 14-16
Why Consider the Red Raiders NCAAB Odds?
Texas Tech went into their game with Stephen F. Austin as 11-point favorites — and they were just a point away from covering. The Lumberjacks led this game for much of the way, but the Red Raiders used a rebounding advantage (41-31) and hot shooting late, upping their percentage to 46.3, to deliver the win. Keenan Evans put up 23 points, going 6 for 10 from the field and a perfect 10 for 10 from the free throw line to lead Texas Tech. He has 23 points or more in three of his last four games. Zhaire Smith led the team with eight boards and posted 10 points. Smith and Evans were the only Red Raiders to hit double figures, showing you the balance that the Texas Tech offense has. Texas Tech has failed to cover the spread in any of their last eight games. However, with this point spread, you’re looking at picking which team will win. Texas Tech has the 14th best defense in the nation, in terms of points permitted (64.6), and the Gators have also tended to play a slower style that leads to fewer points. If Texas Tech can control the boards, and the teams play a slower rhythm, that would play right into the Red Raiders’ hands. Add in a loud crowd full of Tech fans, and you have the recipe for the Red Raiders to move on to the Sweet 16.Team Statistics
Offense- Total Score: 75.09
- Field Goal Percentage: 46.42
- Three-Point Percentage: 36.31
- Free Throw Percentage: 69.99
- Total Rebounds: 35.97
- Total Score: 64.56
- Field Goal Percentage: 40.28
- Three-Point Percentage: 32.86
- Free Throw Percentage: 69.55
- Total Rebounds: 31.74
Why Consider the Gators NCAAB Odds?
St. Bonaventure had to knock off UCLA in a Tuesday night First Four matchup in Ohio before heading to Dallas for Thursday’s first-round game against Florida, so some jet lag could definitely have played a factor. Florida hit 41.5% of their shots, including a 10 of 32 performance from behind the arc. The Bonnies showed tired legs, making just 3 of their 19 attempts from three-point land. Egor Koulechov led the way for the Gators, going 8 for 17 from the floor and leading the team with 20 points. He went 4 for 10 from behind the arc and also pulled down six boards. Chris Chiozza had a poor shooting night, going just three for nine (including 0 for 3 from downtown), but he dished out 11 assists without turning the ball over a single time.
Florida has covered the spread in three of their last four games overall, and although they were disappointed in the SEC Tournament, they finished their regular season with wins over Auburn, Alabama, and Kentucky, so they can definitely hang with the Red Raiders. This line (1 point), though, basically asks you to pick the straight up winner. Given that this game takes place in Dallas, just five hours from Texas Tech’s home campus, and given how many Red Raider fans live in the city, this is basically a home game for the Red Raiders.
I view that as a swing factor to give Texas Tech the edge. If Florida can get better shooting than they did against St. Bonaventure, though, they have a great shot at winning.
Team Statistics
Offense- Total Score: 76.09
- Field Goal Percentage: 43.44
- Three-Point Percentage: 37.28
- Free Throw Percentage: 71.99
- Total Rebounds: 35.00
- Total Score: 69.21
- Field Goal Percentage: 42.74
- Three-Point Percentage: 35.12
- Free Throw Percentage: 73.66
- Total Rebounds: 37.24
Latest NCAAB Betting Trends
- Texas Tech is 0-6-1 ATS in its last 7 games
- The total has gone OVER in 5 of Texas Tech’s last 6 games
- Florida is 7-1 SU in its last eight games
- The total has gone UNDER in 8 of Florida’s last 11 games
