The Ohio Bobcats figure to be getting a handsome check and hope to escape with an upset victory when they visit the Florida Gators at 7 p.m. ET at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida. It is one of 30 NCAA basketball games today.
It’s a satellite game for the Gators on their NCAAB schedule that allows them to go into a recruiting hotbed, though they can’t host recruits in a neutral site setting.
Even though they have similar records, there is a talent disparity between these two NCAA basketball teams. The Bobcats (5-4) compete with a much smaller budget and aren’t privy to getting the top-end talent that the Gators (6-4) once had in the 2000s.
Here is a breakdown of what fans need to know before making an Ohio vs Florida betting prediction.
Ohio Bobcats vs. Florida Gators Game Info and Analysis
Matchup Info
Date: Wednesday, December 13, 2022
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Venue: Amalie Arena
Location: Tampa, Florida
How to Watch: ESPN2
Ohio Bobcats Performance Recap and Analysis
The Ohio Bobcats basketball score on a game-by-game basis has been consistently even. It should play out fairly well when they get into conference play, and the college basketball standings truly matter. If there is such a thing as a good loss, the Bobcats took Michigan to overtime and only lost by four.
The Bobcats have one of the better offenses in the country. They are 79th in scoring 78.1 points per game and are efficient, too. They are 98th in converting 46.8% of field goal attempts and 108th in making 36.0% of 3-point shots.
The Bobcats are 36th in grabbing 36.8 rebounds per game and 132nd defensively in allowing 30.0 rebounds per game. That’s pretty solid for a team that plays at a quicker pace.
Defensively, there is room for improvement, however. The Bobcats are 214th in allowing 69.9 points per game, and the defensive efficiency isn’t great, particularly on the perimeter. They allow teams to make 35.5% of 3-point shots, which is 276th nationally, and 42.4% of field goal attempts, which is 159th.
The Bobcats go pretty deep into their rotation. Forward Dwight Wilson III is active on both ends of the court. He’s averaging team highs of 12.5 points and 10.0 rebounds per game as a 6 foot 8, 250 pounds forward from Tallahassee. He’s one of three scorers averaging double figures and one of seven averaging 7.0 points per game or better.
Miles Brown is averaging 10.6 points per game, and AJ Brown (no relation) is averaging 10.4 points per game in nearly 18 minutes per contest. Jaylin Hunter is the leading assist man at 4.4 per game, and AJ Clayton is the other key forward, averaging 9.4 points and 7.6 rebounds per game.
Key Injuries
The college basketball injury report shows IJ Ezuma is out indefinitely for undisclosed reasons.
Betting Trends to Know
The Bobcats are 4-4 against the spread this season and 5-3 on over/unders. They are 2-1 as underdogs this season and haven’t been this large of an underdog all season.
Florida Gators Performance Recap and Analysis
The Todd Golden era is off to a shaky start. The Gators are 6-4 and have losses to Florida Atlantic, as a 12-point favorite, Xavier, West Virginia (lost by 29 as a two-point favorite), and by 21 to UConn.
The Florida Gators stats show this is a pretty comparable opponent for them. The Gators are 76th in scoring at 78.3 points per game. They are 124th in converting 46.0% of field goal attempts and 55th in making 37.5% of 3-point shots. Should the game be close late, they make 73.2% of free throw attempts, which is 92nd.
Defensively, they are allowing 69.6 points per game, which ranks 206th nationally. They allow opponents to convert 42.4% of field goal attempts, which is 158th, and 36.5% of 3-pointers, which ranks 302nd.
They grab 33.5 rebounds per game, which is 134th, and allow 30.9 per game, ranking 108th.
Colin Castleton, a native of Deland, Florida, is going to be a great NCAAB matchup for Wilson. Castleton is 6 foot 11 and is averaging 16.1 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 2.8 blocks per game – all of which Golden has used a deeper rotation, but it is six players averaging 8.4 or more points per game.
Key Injuries
There is nobody listed on the college basketball injury report.
Betting Trends to Know
The Gators are 4-6 against the spread and 5-5 on over/unders this season. They are 2-3 against the spread as favorites. They are 0-2 as favorites of 10 to 14.5 points.
Ohio Bobcats vs. Florida Gators Odds
NCAAB odds show the Gators as 12-point favorites with an over/under of 143.5 points. The Bobcats are +700 on the moneyline, while the Gators are -850.
Ohio Bobcats vs. Florida Gators Betting Picks
Here is our Ohio vs Florida betting prediction.
Moneyline
We’ll take the Gators to win outright at -850. It’s a short trip from Gainesville to Tampa, where there are a lot of Gators fans. Even if the game is closer than expected, the fans should play a factor in determining the outcome.
Over/Under
We’ll go over 143.5 points. Both offenses have been very strong to start the season. There are difficulties that each team presents with their star post-college basketball players, but each are quality enough perimeter shooting teams that they should be able to score in bunches.
Spread
We’ll take the Bobcats to cover +12. They have risen to the challenge on several occasions this season but have also struggled on the road. Still, the Bobcats have a solid core and quality depth for a mid-major team.
Ohio Bobcats vs. Florida Gators Score Prediction
It seems many concur with our Ohio vs Florida betting prediction. Public betting data shows 68% of bets are on the Bobcats to cover the 12 points. However, it is split between the over and under at 50% in either direction.
This game has the potential to be a fun game with a fast pace and plenty of offense, similar to that of an NBA game but with a little less quality. The battle in the post between Wilson and Castleton will be another fun element to watch in the first meeting between the two programs.
NCAAB Pick: Florida: 81, Ohio 73
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