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The 15th ranked Oral Roberts Golden Eagles shocked the world after upsetting Ohio State in the first round. They move on to face the seventh-ranked Florida Gators in a matchup that will have the nation on the edge of their seats. The game takes place on March 21st, at 7:45 pm Eastern. It’s time to continue the NCAA odds series and make an Oral Roberts-Florida prediction and pick.
Oral Roberts snuck their way into the tournament after going 17-10 in the regular season. Meanwhile, the Gators had a pretty solid year, finishing 15-9. Both teams were slotted in the middle of the pack within their respective conferences. Florida is clearly favored, but after the Golden Eagles' massive upset on Friday, anything is possible. Let's see what the NCAA odds are for this game.
Here is how the sportsbooks set the odds for this game.
NCAA Odds: Oral Roberts-Florida Odds
Oral Roberts +8.5 (+310)
Florida -8.5 (-380)
Over 148 (-107)
Under 148 (-107)
Why Oral Roberts Could Cover the Spread
The Oral Roberts Golden Eagles are aiming to be the Cinderella team this year. After stunning the Buckeyes on Friday, they plan to do the same thing to the Florida Gators. The Golden Eagles are led by guard Max Abmas. He leads the team in scoring, averaging 24.4 points per game. In fact, he leads the entire nation as well. Additionally, the team will lean on their forward, Kevin Obanar as well. His 18.6 points and 9.5 rebounds per game have helped give Oral Roberts consistency in the paint.
The key factor for Oral Roberts to cover the spread, or even win the game, will be to maintain possession of the ball. They're one of the best in the nation in not turning the ball over. This gives the Golden Eagles an advantage, as they play smartly with the ball in their hands. Between Max Abmas and Kevin Obanar scoring consistently, and not turning the ball over, the Golden Eagles have a real shot at covering the spread. If they want to win the game, they'll need to dominate the glass and take advantage of second-chance points opportunities. The fact that they have some Cinderella fairy dust on them won't hurt their chances either.
Why Florida Could Cover the Spread
The Florida Gators won in the first round after going to overtime. Tre Mann hit a clutch step-back three-pointer to give the Gators the lead late, which ultimately led to the win. The Gators will be leaning on their star power in this one, and Mann has a chance to shine again in the tournament. He's averaging 15.9 points, 3.4 assists, and 5.6 rebounds per game, and is the team leader in points and assists for his squad. The fact that Florida has the most legitimate NBA prospect from either side bodes well for their chances.
The Gators play in the SEC conference, typically known for football, but the conference stepped up in the basketball world this year. Florida has faced much tougher opponents than the Golden Eagles, which gives the Gators the edge in this match-up. Their experience is how they'll cover the spread and win the game.
Final Oral Roberts-Florida Prediction & Pick
Although the Gators are heavily favored, the Golden Eagles will be fighting for their lives in this one. After securing a victory over the Ohio State Buckeyes, Oral Roberts has every reason to be confident heading into the second round. The Gators won't go down without a fight and will lean on Tre Mann to lead the way for them.
However, everyone loves to root for the underdogs, right? I believe the Golden Eagles keep this one close throughout the game and potentially pull off their second upset of the tournament. Give a long, hard look at the moneyline on this one or else you might be regretting it when Cinderella leaves you behind at midnight.
FINAL PICK: Oral Roberts Golden Eagles win 74-73
