— Wednesday, January 12th LSU Tigers @ Florida Gators
With one game postponed in December, the start of the SEC schedule has not been kind to the Florida Gators, and on Wednesday, they face their third straight ranked opponent when No. 12 LSU comes to town. The Gators (9-5, 0-2) were ranked in the top 15 a month ago but are 3-5 over their last eight as they take on a battle-tested Tigers team (14-1, 2-1). Tip-off at the O’Connell Center in Gainesville is set for 7:00 pm. ET and will air on ESPN2.
LSU leads the all-time series 65-50, but Florida holds a 31-21 advantage in Gainesville. Florida has won seven of the last ten matchups, including an 83-79 win last January at the O’Connell Center. LSU’s last win in Florida came in March of 2019 with a 79-78 overtime win.
Tigers Defense is Stellar
The Tigers are 12-3 ATS, and the under is 12-3 in their 15 games. They have only played two true road games on the season, with a win at Georgia Tech and a loss at Auburn. Prior to Wednesday’s game, their last three have been against ranked teams, a 15-point loss at No. 11 Auburn, a 5-point win over No. 16 Kentucky and a 12-point win over No. 18 Tennessee.
LSU ranks 7th nationally in defense, allowing just 55.4 ppg, and no team has scored more than 70 against them. They lead the nation in FG shooting percentage defense at 34.9 and rank 11th against 3-pointers at 26.6%. The offense ranks 78th in scoring at 76.9 ppg, and they shoot 32.3% from deep and 44.8% overall.
Tari Eason doesn’t start but leads the team in scoring at 16.2 ppg. He was the leading scorer against Tennessee with 24 points and also against Kentucky with 13. Eason has reached double digits in seven straight games and also averages 7.6 rpg.
Darius Days had 15 against Tennessee and averages 14.6 ppg to go with a team-best 7.9 rpg. Point guard Xavier Pinson had seven assists against UT and leads the team with 4.6 on the season while also scoring 10.8 ppg.
Gators Shooting in a Slump
Flo9rida is 7-7 ATS this season, and the over is 7-6-1 in their 14 games. They are 6-2 at home with losses to No. 15 Alabama and Texas Southern. Florida is 0-2 against ranked teams this season while also losing to Oklahoma and Maryland but knocking off Ohio State, Florida State, and California.
Florida ranks 63rd in defense, allowing 63.4 ppg, but in the last two games, they have allowed 85 and 83 to Alabama and Auburn, respectively. They allow just 29.9% shooting from deep and 43.5 percent shooting overall. The Florida offense averages 73.6 ppg, but they are 252nd in the nation in shooting (42.9) and 287th in 3-point shooting (31.2).
Florida shot just 41% against Auburn, and they were 6-for-22 from 3-point range. Colin Castleton led the team with 22 points and ten rebounds, his second double-double in the last four games.
Castleton leads the team on the season at 15.6 ppg and 9.2 rpg. Philandrous Fleming Jr. is averaging 10.5 ppg, and Tyree Appleby is also in double figures at 10.1 ppg. Myreon Jones leads the Gators with 25 3-pointers made but is shooting just 28% at home.
Betting Analysis
- LSU Tigers +2.5 (-110). Money Line +115
- Florida Gators -2.5 (-110). Money Line -135
- Total Points: 138.5 Over -110. Under -110
Both teams have played a tough schedule to start SEC play, but LSU has navigated that terrain much better than the Gators. They already went on the road to Auburn, and the atmosphere of Rowdy Reptiles in Gainesville shouldn’t bother them.
LSU has the confidence and until Florida actually beats a ranked team, take the visitors to win this one.
Free Pick: LSU Money Line (+115)
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