Florida faces upset-minded Norfolk State in a West Regional third-round game Sunday in Omaha but oddsmakers don't think they can repeat their Missou upset magic.
The seventh-seeded Gators dispatched of Virginia Friday 71-45, while the 15th-seeded Spartans sprung the first big surprise of the tournament when they knocked off second-seeded Missouri 86-84. (Check out the Sportsbook Norfolk State underdog line of 14 points at Sportsbook.)
The Spartans will try to spoil to the party on Sunday; they are 6-1 ATS against the number this season, while the Gators are 14-15 ATS. Norfolk State is 3-4 on the totals; Florida is 18-11.
View Norfolk State vs Florida Odds and Stats.
Power Rankings / Prediction:
The Power Rankings at Odds Shark show No. 103-rated Norfolk State taking on the No. 56-rated Gators in this contest. The scores prediction computer here indicates a possible 80-72 win for the Gators on Sunday.
How They Match Up:
Offensively, the game matches up Florida's No. 30 nationally ranked offense (76.1 points per game) against a Spartans defense that sits as the No. 165 at 66.6 PPG. The Gators have been averaging 46.2% from the field, more than the Spartans have managed so far this season (44.6% on average).
Defensively, Norfolk State features the nation's No. 186-rated defense on the road, allowing 70.3 points per game. Florida, meanwhile, comes in at No. 25 nationally in scoring at home.
Norfolk State was an 86-84 Sportsbook in their most recent outing on the road against Missouri. They covered the 21-point spread as underdogs. Kyle O'Quinn scored 26 points and helped out with 14 rebounds for Norfolk State on Friday, leading the Spartans to an 86-84 victory over Missouri at CenturyLink Center.
Last time out for Florida, they were a 71-45 Sportsbook as they battled Virginia at home. They covered in the match as a 2.5-point favorite. The Gators blew out Virginia on Friday, running up a 20+ point victory in a 71-45 win at CenturyLink Center.
