The Oklahoma Sooners host the No. 19 Florida Gators on Tuesday night in an SEC college basketball matchup. The game tips off at 9:00 p.m. ET in Norman, Oklahoma.
The Gators are listed as 6.5-point favorites on DraftKings Sportsbook, with the total set at O/U 157.5 points. Below is my full preview, prediction and pick for this SEC college basketball matchup.
Oklahoma vs. Florida prediction, preview
Florida is the No. 19 team in the country coming into this matchup. The Gators are led by a strong frontcourt of Thomas Haugh, Alex Condon and Rueben Chinyelu. Florida uses that strong frontcourt to its advantage to dominate on the defensive end. It ranks seventh in KenPom’s defensive rating this season. The defending national champions had to reconstruct a big portion of their rotation, but the team is starting to work things out in conference play. After losing a tight one on the road in Missouri to begin SEC play, Florida has demolished its past two opponents, beating Georgia 92-77 and No. 24 Tennessee 91-67. If the Gators keep that momentum rolling, they should be not just one of the best teams in the SEC, but one of the best teams in the country come March.
It has not been as bright a start for the Sooners. Oklahoma has lost two straight conference games coming into this matchup, to Mississippi State and Texas A&M, both on the road. The Sooners need to correct things fast if they want to make it back to the NCAA Tournament. The Sooners snuck into The Big Dance last season, granted, so did almost the entire conference. However, the loss of last season’s two standout players, Jeremiah Fears and Jalon Moore, has clearly taken a toll on this team. The backcourt duo of Nijel Pack and Xzayvier Brown has led the way for the Sooners so far this season. Both Pack and Brown are experienced players, but this is their first season in Norman. The duo could continue to grow as the season goes on, but they need to figure things out quickly, especially on the defensive end of the floor.
Oklahoma vs. Florida pick
There is a massive defensive mismatch in this game. Florida ranks seventh in defensive rating, while Oklahoma ranks 114th. That is why Oklahoma is also one of the slowest teams in the country. The Sooners rank 251st in the nation in adjusted tempo. They have two good ball-handling guards and struggle on defense. That is why they spend as much time as possible on offense, using up the shot clock and trying to get easy buckets. That also prevents easy scores in transition from opponents. While the Gators aren’t nearly as slow as Oklahoma, they aren’t particularly fast either, ranking 61st nationally in adjusted tempo.
My best bet for this game is the under 157.5 points. There should be a good crowd in Norman to host the defending national champions. That loud crowd and the incredibly slow pace at which Oklahoma plays could combine to frustrate Florida and keep the Gators out of rhythm. The Gators are elite on the defensive end of the floor and should be able to stifle Oklahoma. However, Oklahoma will look to slow the game down and limit the total amount of shots in this game, keeping the total under 157.5 points.
