Vegas Writer - Maryland vs Florida

VW'S CBB SWEET 16 GAME OF THE YEAR +BONUS

Handicapper

Vegas Writer

League

NCAAB

Competition

Maryland vs Florida

Release Date

03/27/2025 12:21 PM

Event Date

03/27/2025 07:39 PM

Bet Type

Point Spread

Pick

Florida -6 (-110) (Consensus Line)

Outcome

Win

Analysis

SWEET 16 GAME OF THE YEAR: Everyone loves a Cinderella, but I don't think the Queen from Maryland can keep things up for the Terrapins. While Derik Queen’s heroics brought the Terrapins to the Sweet 16, but the chariot turns into a pumpkin tonight when the Florida Gators continue their rampage and onto the Elite 8. It’s been eight long years since third-ranked Florida made an appearance into a regional final. Its drought will come to an end as I have the Gators rolling past the Terps tonight. Expected to wrap up the season in sixth place in the Southeastern Conference in the preseason polls, Florida finished second with a 14-4 league record, one game behind Auburn, the NCAA Tournament’s overall No. 1 seed. It went on to win the SEC tourney with an 86-77 win over Tennessee in the final. Florida has played a stronger schedule and comes in with significantly better efficiency when shooting from 2-point range. And when the Gators miss, they have a strong offensive rebounding team that can clean the glass and get second- and third-chance opportunities. Fact is, the West Region top-seeded Gators have been a handful for opposing defenses all season, pouring in the fourth-most 85.4 points per game. They’ve been even more deadly this postseason, where they posted a whopping 91.4 points on average in their past five games. The Terrapins will be playing in the quarterfinal round for just the second time in 22 years, quite the accomplishment for the program, and I'm not convinced they're ready for the pressure that comes with a game like this against a team like the Gators. Maryland means business and is a bonafide Sweet 16 team, but Florida is not what the Terps want to tangle with right now. Side with the Gators to win, cover, and advance to the Elite Eight with a decisive victory in this one.