The nation’s top team will be on the road when the Vermont Catamounts (2-3) head to Stephen C. O’Connell Center to square off against the Florida Gators (3-1). The game begins at 3:00 pm ET on Wednesday, Nov. 25 and will air on SEC and ES3.
The Gators lost to Purdue 85-70 on Sunday. Dorian Finney-Smith played well for Florida, putting up 17 points, eight rebounds, and four assists. The Catamounts are coming off a 77-71 loss at the hands of Buffalo on Sunday. Trae Bell-Haynes had a team-high 15 points.
This one isn’t expected to be close when Florida, a big 13-point favorite, takes on Vermont. The teams combine to set the Over/Under (O/U) at 144 points. The Gators have gone 3-1 Straight Up (SU) and 2-1 Against The Spread (ATS). The Gators have a distinct advantage on the boards in this matchup. They are the 32nd-ranked rebounding team in Division I, averaging 44.5 per game, while the Catamounts rank 195th in the nation with 37.0 per game. As for the Florida defense, it’s been a struggle for opposing teams to score on the Gators. The 60.8 points that Florida’s defense allows per game makes them the 39th-ranked defense in the country. Opposing offenses have been stifled by the Gators, who allow a Division I-low field goal percentage of only .381.
In the other locker room, the Catamounts head into the game with records of 1-1 ATS and 2-3 SU. The Catamounts are shooting lights out from the foul line so far, with a .811 free throw percentage that ranks third in Division I. The Vermont defense has been a problem for competitors, allowing only .435 shooting from the field to its opponents.
This game will be the first meeting for Florida and Vermont in recent seasons.
Predictions: SU Winner – Fla, ATS Winner – Ver, O/U – Over
Notes
Florida is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games at home.
Florida scores 87.0 points per home game (ranked 80th). Vermont ranks a poor 240th in points allowed on the road, allowing 80.2 points.
The Florida Gators have the nation’s top defense, with a defensive rating of 88.0. The Vermont Catamounts have an offensive rating of 104.9 (ranked 193rd).
The Florida Gators average a field goal percentage of 44.6% this season. The Vermont Catamounts are a winless 0-1 when opponents have a FG% of 44.6% or greater.
The Florida Gators rank lower for their field goal percentage (161st) than they do for their effective field goal percentage (150th), but the Vermont Catamounts have a better FG% ranking (119th) than eFG% ranking (123rd).
Florida, the 32nd-ranked team in rebounding, register an average of 44.5 rebounds per game. Vermont does worse, ranked 195th with 37.0.
Vermont ranks 263rd in offensive rebounds, while Florida ranks at 84th in defensive rebounds.
Though Vermont is one of the best in the country in forcing turnovers with opponents averaging a TO% of 15.1% (ranked first), Florida is undefeated (3-0) when its TO% is 15.1% or greater.
