It may not be a big rivalry, but the NIT gave us an intriguing first-round in-state matchup. The UCF Knights got knocked out of the AAC Tournament by Memphis, 81-76 and the Florida Gators were dispatched from the SEC tournament by Mississippi State in a one-point game that narrowly got the Bulldogs into the big dance.
With the NCAA Tournament still a day away from kicking into full gear, our attention can be turned to the NIT, so let’s check out the odds for UCF and Florida.
UCF vs. Florida odds, spread and total
UCF vs. Florida prediction and pick
The Florida Gators are a very different team right now than they were for most of the year. Colin Castleton, their leading scorer, missed most of the last month of the season with a hand injury.
Castleton was named first-team All-SEC for averaging 16.0 points, 7.7 rebounds and 3.0 blocks in 26 games. That’s a lot of production to miss on both ends of the floor. Instead of focusing on their stats for the entire season, it’s more important to view what they’ve done lately without their star center.
In six games without him, the team went 2-4 with its wins coming against a hapless LSU team and a Georgia team that was beaten by LSU in the conference tournament.
Against Mississippi State, Florida’s most recent outing, it was outrebounded 46-35 and surrendered 18 offensive boards. The Gators were only in that game because Mississippi State can’t shoot from deep at all.
In UCF’s last outing, it pounded Memphis on the boards even in a loss. On the season, the Knights are 22nd in offensive rebounding percentage, 32.4% and Florida is missing their most reliable rebounder and size inside. I think UCF rolls in this one.
Follow all Josh Yourish’s bets HERE
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