Florida vs UConn Predictions, Picks & Odds: March Madness Second Round
March Madness rolls on with another full day of college basketball action. Sunday brings along eight more Second Round matchups in the 2025 NCAA Tournament. Let’s focus on one of those with our Florida vs. UConn predictions below.
No. 1 seed Florida takes on No. 8 seed UConn in the second round of the NCAA Tournament West region bracket. It’s time to break down the top stats, players, storylines, and betting odds to know before the game gets underway on Sunday. Check out our Florida vs. UConn predictions and picks.
Florida vs. UConn Predictions for March Madness Second Round, 3/23
Sunday’s March Madness Second Round game between Florida and UConn is a fascinating matchup. On the one hand, we have the two-time defending champion Huskies as a dangerous No. 8 seed. Meanwhile, the No. 1 seed Gators are one of the best teams in the country and a real national champion contender. It sets up to be an entertaining battle.
Let’s now get into the top Florida vs. UConn predictions for tonight’s NCAA Tournament Second Round showdown.
Florida Gators: National Title Contenders Are Rolling
The Gators have been one of college basketball’s best teams all season and they’re proving it in the postseason. Florida dominated the SEC Tournament to earn a No. 1 seed in March Madness. It then comfortably took care of No. 16 seed Norfolk State with a 95-69 win on Friday.
Florida enters this matchup with UConn on a roll. It’s now 31-4 overall this season and 13-1 in the past 14 contests. The Gators rank first in offensive efficiency and 10th in defensive efficiency, per KenPom. They currently boast the second-shortest odds to win the national championship at FanDuel Sportsbook.
Head coach Todd Golden has a loaded roster that presents tough matchups all over the court. Florida’s backcourt is elite with three potent scorers in Walter Clayton Jr. (17.7 PPG), Alijah Martin (14.5 PPG), and Will Richard (13.4 PPG). The Gators also have a ton of size in the frontcourt, led by stud power forward Alex Condon.
UConn Huskies: Quest For Three-Peat Continues
Connecticut is vying to become the first college basketball to win three straight national titles since John Wooden’s UCLA teams did it in the 1970s. The back-to-back defending champs rolled through the NCAA Tournament last year and they’re off to a good start this time around.
No. 8 seed UConn beat No. 9 seed Oklahoma, 67-59, in the first round on Friday. The Sooners made things interesting in the second half after the Huskies got out to a double-digit lead early. Ultimately, Dan Hurley’s squad took care of business with its rebounding and interior offense.
It’s been an up-and-down season for UConn thus far. Things looked murky back in November after the Huskies lost three straight games. Then they reeled off eight wins in a row. The Big East schedule had its fair share of highs and lows, though. Still, this team is 6-1 over the last seven games coming into this matchup.
The Huskies lean on their strong frontcourt with Samson Johnson and Tarris Reed manning the paint. Junior power forward Alex Karaban provides valuable experience from being a core piece of UConn’s previous two title teams. Projected NBA Draft lottery pick Liam McNeeley is a difference-maker on the wing as well.
How To Watch Round Two of March Madness 2025
Sunday’s March Madness Round Two game between Florida and UConn is scheduled to tip off at 12:10 pm ET. You can watch it on CBS or stream it on the March Madness Live app.
The Florida vs. UConn matchup is just one of eight NCAA Tournament games on Sunday. Tune into all of the March Madness 2025 second-round action on CBS, TNT, TBS, or the March Madness Live app. Let’s now dive into Florida vs. UConn picks, odds, and predictions.
Florida vs. UConn Odds, Spreads, Total & Betting Lines
Before we get to our Florida vs. UConn predictions, check out the betting lines on FanDuel Sportsbook. As of this writing, here are the Florida vs. UConn odds:
- Florida Gators (-560) vs. UConn Huskies (+420)
- Spread: Florida -9.5 (-110) vs. UConn +9.5 (-110)
- Game Total: Over 150.5 (-115) vs. Under 150.5 (-105)
Florida vs. UConn Pick: Under 150.5 Points (-105 on FanDuel Sportsbook)
The stage is set for an entertaining second-round matchup between Florida and UConn. The two-time defending champion Huskies take on the national title-contending Gators for a spot in the Sweet 16.
Florida boasts multiple advantages on both sides of the ball. The Gators should win this game and may do so by double digits. However, the spread is a bit too large to back Florida to cover. Connecticut can be a feisty underdog here to make this a tight game. Instead, let’s focus on the total and take the Under 150.5 Points (-105 on FanDuel Sportsbook) for our Florida vs. UConn predictions.
If UConn wants any chance at winning, it has to try to control the pace of this game. The Huskies are 343rd in tempo nationally and usually look to slow things down. They’re methodical on offense while playing tight defense. This is key against a Florida team that prefers to play quick offensively.
The Huskies can lean on their elite interior defense as well. They rank second nationally in block rate and 11th in two-point defense. UConn struggles to defend the perimeter but can make up for it by shutting down the paint. Florida is just 92nd in three-point shooting this season.
On the other end, Florida’s top-tier defense can severely limit UConn’s scoring. The Gators rank 6th in three-point defense and 17th in two-point defense. The Huskies like to score inside with their talented wings and centers, but Florida has the size down low to match them. Plus, UConn is 181st in offensive turnover rate and could have issues protecting the ball.
Finally, Dan Hurley has proven his defense and slower tempo will dictate games in March. The under is 8-1 in UConn’s last nine NCAA Tournament games, including this year’s first-round win. The under is also 20-8 overall in postseason play during Hurley’s tenure. Plus, the under has cashed in each of the Huskies’ last six games coming into this one.
Florida vs. UConn Injury Report & Starting Lineups
Florida Gators Injury Report
- Sam Alexis (F) – Questionable
Florida Gators Expected Starters
- Walter Clayton Jr. (G) – 17.7 PPG, 4.3 APG
- Alijah Martin (G) – 14.5 PPG, 4.5 RPG
- Will Richard (G) – 13.4 PPG, 4.5 RPG
- Alex Condon (F) – 11.3 PPG, 7.8 RPG
- Reuben Chinyelu (C) – 6.1 PPG, 6.5 RPG
UConn Huskies Injury Report
- None
UConn Huskies Expected Starters
- Solo Ball (G) – 14.6 PPG, 3.6 RPG
- Alex Karaban (F) – 14.3 PPG, 5.3 RPG
- Liam McNeeley (F) – 14.2 PPG, 6.1 RPG
- Hassan Diarra (G) – 7.8 PPG, 5.7 APG
- Samson Johnson (C) – 7.4 PPG, 3.3 RPG
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