Texas Longhorns vs Florida Gators NCAA Basketball Betting Pick & Prediction 1/18/25
Looking to win big? The Longhorns and Gators face off at 4:00 ET on ESPN2. The Gators are hosting the game at Exactech Arena in Gainesville, FL. The over/under for this Southeastern conference contest is set at 150.5 points, with Florida being favored by -10.5 at home against Texas.
TEXAS LONGHORNS VS FLORIDA GATORS BETTING PICK
The Pick: Texas Longhorns +10.5
This game will be played at Exactech Arena at 4:00 ET on Saturday, January 18th.
WHY BET THE TEXAS LONGHORNS:
- We have this one finishing with a projected score of 75-72 in favor of the Gators.
- Even though we have Florida winning straight-up, we like Texas at +10.5.
- The over/under is currently sitting at 150.5 points, and we like the under with a projected 147 points.
Do the Longhorns Have a Shot at a Road Win?
Texas Longhorns Recent Game/Games
The Longhorns improved to 12-5 on the season with a 77-73 win over Oklahoma on Wednesday. Texas, who entered the game as +2.5 point underdogs, not only pulled off the road victory but also covered the spread.
Texas led 43-27 at halftime but allowed 46 points in the 2nd half while scoring 34. The game’s total points finished just over the O/U line of 149.5, with a combined 150 points.
Jalon Moore and Jordan Pope combined for 56 points in Texas’ win, with Moore shooting 69.2% from the field, including 60.0% from deep. Pope added 27 points, though he hit just 30.0% of his threes.
As a team, Texas shot 48.3% overall, with a 55.2% effective field goal percentage. They hit 58.3% of their two-point attempts and 31.8% from beyond the arc, while also connecting on 77.8% of their free throws.
Texas gave up 73 points in their last game, with their opponents shooting 51% from the field. Inside the arc, they allowed 60% shooting, as their opponents hit 20 of 33 two-point attempts.
From three-point range, Texas held their opponents to 31% shooting, with 5 made threes on 16 attempts. They also sent their opponents to the free-throw line 26 times, where they made 18 free throws, shooting 69%. Texas allowed 6 offensive rebounds.
Can The Gators Secure a Home Victory?
Florida Gators Recent Game/Games
The Gators fell to 15-2 on the season after a surprising 83-82 home loss to Missouri on Tuesday. Florida entered the game as -10.5 favorites but failed to cover the spread. The total points for the game reached 165, exceeding the pre-game over/under line of 154.5.
Florida found themselves trailing 50-34 at halftime but mounted a comeback in the second half, outscoring Missouri 48-33. Despite the strong finish, they couldn’t complete the comeback.
In their latest game, the Gators put up 82 points, shooting 48.1% from the field with an effective field goal percentage of 55.6%. They hit 36% from beyond the arc, connecting on 9 of 25 attempts, and were 58.6% on two-point shots, going 17 for 29.
Caleb Grill knocked down 6 threes at a 60% rate, finishing with 22 points, while Walter Clayton Jr. led the team with 28 points. The Gators also grabbed 12 offensive rebounds and dished out 9 assists in the win.
Florida’s defense struggled in their last game, giving up 83 points on 48% shooting from the field. They allowed 17 two-point baskets on 29 attempts, a 58% conversion rate.
From beyond the arc, the Gators gave up 9 threes on 25 attempts, with the opposing team shooting 36%. They also sent them to the line 31 times, where they hit 21 free throws at a 67% clip. Florida allowed 12 offensive rebounds.