The Florida Gatos and the Virginia Cavaliers meet on Friday in Omaha for a first round NCAA Tournament game in the West Regional.

The Florida Gators had reasonably high expectations coming into the season but Billy Donovan's team struggled down the stretch and closed out the season losing four of their final five games. Florida was 13-4 in out of conference games, 5-1 in neutral site games, 1-5 against ranked teams, and they played the 22nd ranked schedule in the nation. Kenny Boynton averages 16.3 points per game, Bradley Beal is averaging 14.6 points and 6.5 rebounds, Erving Walker averages 12.1 points and 4.7 assists, and Erik Murphy is averaging 10.7 points. As a team the Gators are averaging 76.3 points, 15 assists, and they are shooting 46.1 percent while defensively they are allowing 66 points and their opponents are shooting 43.3 percent. Florida gets streaky hot shooting but as of late they have been running streaky cold.

The Virginia Cavaliers were in and out of the rankings for part of the year but over the final month of the season Tony Bennett's team was generally disappointing. Virginia is 12-2 in out of conference games, 2-2 in neutral site games, 1-5 against ranked teams, and they played the 90th ranked schedule in the nation. Mike Scott averages 18.1 points and 8.4 rebounds, Joe Harris averages 11.5 points, and Sammy Zeglinsky averages 8.7 points. As a team the Cavs average 63.1 points and they are shooting 46 percent while defensively they are allowing 53.7 points and their opponents shoot just 39.6 percent. Virginia played strong early in the year but they are 4-6 since February began.

Florida is 13-4 against the spread in their last 17 NCAA Tournament games, 1-5 against the spread in their last six games, and 3-1-1 against the spread in their last five non-conference games. Virginia is 15-5 against the spread in their last 20 games as an underdog, 1-3-1 against the spread in their last five games overall, and 7-1 against the spread in their last eight non-conference games.

The total is set at 121 and I have my number higher so the play for me is the over. I also have a pick on who will cover the spread and I will post that in the Premium Area.

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