Florida vs. Oklahoma Odds
| Florida Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-1.5 +100 | 133 -110o / -110u | -115 |
| Oklahoma Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+1.5 -120 | 133 -110o / -110u | -105 |
The Florida Gators are off to a fantastic start this season, as they are currently 6-0. They have wins over Florida State — the first time in their last eight meetings — and Ohio State — after hitting a buzzer beater to win the Fort Myers Tip-Off.
And it isn't going unnoticed. The Gators saw a considerable jump in the Coaches Poll, moving from 24th to 12th. They also moved up to 14th in the AP Top 25.
The Gators will travel to play in their first true road game on Wednesday night against the Oklahoma Sooners.
The Sooners themselves are also off to a strong start. First-year head coach Porter Moser has the Sooners at 6-1, with their only loss coming against Utah State in the Myrtle Beach Invitational Championship.
This is only the fourth matchup all-time between the two teams. The Gators lead the series 2-1 but lost the most recent matchup. In the 2018 Battle 4 Atlantis, the Sooners came away with a 65-60 win over the Gators.
This will eventually become a yearly matchup when the Sooners join the SEC.
Both teams have been better than most expected this season while posting similar numbers on both ends of the floor. Which team will be able to pull away in what is likely to be a close fight?
Florida Gators
The Gators are now the third-highest ranked team in the SEC, behind No. 9 Arkansas and No. 10 Kentucky. UF ranks ahead of No. 15 Tennessee, No. 16 Alabama and No. 21 Auburn.
Florida coach Mike White is off to perhaps his best start with the Gators. However, this game will likely be their biggest test so far, as they play their first away game. This team could enter conference play with a lot of momentum — and potentially, an undefeated record.
Four seniors and a graduate student make up the starting five for the Gators.
Colin Castleton is the team's clear leader after returning to Florida despite considering the 2021 NBA draft. This season, he is averaging team-highs of 14.8 points and 10 rebounds per game, while also being tied for 18th nationally in rebounds per game.
Florida's strengths continue to be its defense and determination in the paint, as it currently ranks 11th in the country in defensive adjusted efficiency and 86th in rebounds per game at 39.2 per night.
Thanks to some extra effort, Anthony Duruji and Phlandrous Fleming Jr. have excelled this year. The latter was the hero against OSU, shooting 90% from the line.
Overall, Florida has been far from lacking on offense, ranking 23rd in offensive adjusted efficiency, per KenPom, while averaging 76.8 points per game.
This season, Florida has also posted a 6-1 ATS record, with its only failed cover coming against Elon to begin the season.
Oklahoma Sooners
The Sooners lost most of the talent from last year's No. 8 seeded NCAA Tournament team. Guard Austin Reaves graduated and moved onto the NBA, while De'Vion Harmon transferred to Oregon and Brady Manek went to North Carolina.
But in his first year, Moser did well in the transfer portal to grab brothers Tanner and Jacob Groves from Eastern Washington. They are two 6-foot-9 forwards who are both highly skilled passers and scorers.
Tanner has been the most productive Sooner to start the season, averaging 15 points, six rebounds and two assists per game. Much of what Oklahoma does offensively runs through him.
Oklahoma shot 55 percent from the field in its last game, but also committed 19 turnovers, the most it has had in a single game this year. Six Sooners accounted for 63 of OU's 65 points.
But that hasn't been the standard for an Oklahoma team that ranks 17th in the country in shooting percentage (50.1%).
Jalen Hill has been a standout for the Sooners through their first seven, as he's shooting a team-high 71.9% from the floor. Four other OU players are shooting over 50%.
Florida vs. Oklahoma Betting Pick
Overall, Oklahoma is a solid team, but it lacks talent and isn't particularly athletic. The Sooners are a team with many players that would be great role players on a better squad, but they don't have the elite players at the top of the lineup to set them apart or put them on the Gators' level.
Florida will be the Sooners' first Power 5 opponent, and while it's Florida's first road game, I think it is the better team and will be able to win in Norman.
The Gators are currently available at +1.5 — which I took — and would take the points as long as they are available. If they move to a favorite, I have no problem taking the juice to bet moneyline.
Pick: Florida ML (Take points if available)
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