The UConn Huskies take on the Florida Gators in the NCAA Tournament. Tip-off is set for 12:10 p.m. ET on CBS.
Florida is favored by 9.5 points on the spread with a moneyline of -525. The total is set at 150.5 points.
Here are my UConn vs. Florida predictions and college basketball picks for March 23, 2025.
UConn vs Florida Prediction
My Pick: UConn +8 or Better
My UConn vs Florida best bet is on the Huskies spread, with the best odds currently available at DraftKings. For all of your college basketball bets, be sure to find the best lines by using our live NCAAB odds page.
UConn vs Florida Odds, Lines
| UConn Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+9.5 -110 | 150.5 -110 / -110u | +390 |
| Florida Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-9.5 -110 | 150.5 -110o / -110u | -525 |
- UConn vs Florida spread: Florida -9.5
- UConn vs Florida over/under: 150.5 points
- UConn vs Florida moneyline: Florida -525, UConn +390
- UConn vs Florida best bet: UConn +8 or Better
My UConn vs Florida NCAA Tournament Betting Preview
By many accounts and many metrics, Florida is one of the best teams in college basketball, if not the favorite to come away as champions in early April.
Their quest to do so comes with a bit of school history in the Round of 32, where the Gators will face two-time reigning national champion UConn. The Huskies are the first team to attempt to three-peat since Florida did so in the mid-00s.
A team as good as Florida can't be happy seeing a team like UConn this early. The Huskies have a roster filled with players who have battled their way through March the last two years, led by a championship-caliber head coach.
The Huskies find themselves facing one of the nation's best teams so early thanks to a weak seed due to a topsy-turvy season. UConn has ridden ups and downs all season, but at the Huskies' best moments, they showed themselves able to compete at the highest levels.
The down moments came largely on the defensive end of the floor. Connecticut has a tendency to be overaggressive and award opponents with trips to the free throw line, ranking 334th in free throw rate allowed.
Fouls also harm UConn by putting its best players into foul trouble, and Danny Hurley's bench has been iffy at best. Connecticut can go eight-deep, but the quality of play in those lineups takes a nosedive.
It'll be absolutely critical to note how this game is officiated. If UConn is able to play physically, the Huskies matchup really well with the Gators.
Todd Golden's offensive attack is spearheaded by a dynamic backcourt of Walter Clayton Jr. and Alijah Martin. UConn should feel good about its starters — Hassan Diarra and Solo Ball — covering that duo. If and when Hurley needs to go to the bench, that feeling turns a lot more murky.
The same is true on the interior, where Florida is big, deep and skilled. UConn's centers — Samson Johnson and Tarris Reed Jr. — can compete, but only if they're on the floor and not worried about nagging foul trouble.
It's March, so your guess on how the zebras will act is as good as mine.
I'm inclined to think UConn will at least survive enough to keep this game close. Prior to the tournament, I penciled a UConn upset in this matchup in my bracket. It was based more on vibes than anything, though.
If you think Hurley has some special March magic up his sleeve, a moneyline bet is on the table, yet based on the matchup on paper, I'm more confident taking the Huskies and the points.
