The Florida Gators are on track for a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament but can’t afford a stumble against the Georgia Bulldogs on Tuesday.
The last time these classic SEC rivals butted heads, there were plenty of fireworks in the first half. That’s not in the cards tonight.
I’m calling for a low-scoring opening 20 minutes, which is where you’ll find my best Florida vs. Georgia predictions and college basketball picks for Tuesday, February 25.
Florida vs Georgia prediction
My best bet
Under 70.5 1H (-110 at bet365)
My analysis
The last time the Florida Gators and Georgia Bulldogs clashed, things got out of hand in the opening 20 minutes. Points off turnovers and hot shooting from beyond the arc powered Florida to 51 points in the first half, holding a 25-point stranglehold over UGA at the break back on January 25.
It was an uncharacteristic start for one of the better first-half defenses in the country.
On the season, Georgia gives up an average of just 30.3 points in the initial 20 minutes and limits those foes to a mere 36.5% shooting in the first half — the fourth-lowest 1H defense FG% in the country.
That ability to shut down shooters right out of the gate has powered some solid derivative results for UGA bettors taking the Under on the first half totals, even going back to last season. According to Covers' NCAAB betting trends, the Bulldogs have stayed Under the 1H Over/Under in 25 of their last 37 games overall. That’s produced +12.55 units of profit.
That first-half defense isn’t exclusively a UGA trait, either.
Florida is nearly as stout in the first frame this season, checking rivals to just 30.7 1H points per game on 37.6% shooting. The Gators have also proved profitable for derivative totals, staying below the 1H number in 23 of their previous 36 games going back to last season (+9.4 units).
Florida’s defense ranks among the Top 10 in the country and gets even stronger with the return of standout sophomore Alex Condon from an ankle injury.
The 6-foot-10 Condon is one of the most impactful two-way talents on the Gators and his size inside, shot blocking, and rebounding will boost a UF defense that has slid a touch without him in the lineup (UF allowed 40% shooting last three games).
As for the home team, Georgia plays a little “defense” on offense, with one of the most plodding paces in the SEC. The Bulldogs run a slower tempo attack and chew up the shot clock on both ends of the floor.
They’re not a team that can break it open with their outside shooting and rely heavily on half-court sets and scoring at the rim. That just so happens to be Florida’s strength on defense, boasting the 13th-lowest defensive 2-point field goal percentage in the country (45.2%).
Since that rotten first half in Gainesville, UGA's games have stayed short of 71 first-half points in five of the last seven contests heading into tonight.
The bulk of full game projections came in shorter than the current total of 149 points, with my number at 146. Given that, the first half tally should be listed around 69 points with reason to believe it should be shorter based on the makeup of these two defenses.
Florida vs Georgia same-game parlay (SGP)
Under 70.5 1H
Florida moneyline
Walter Clayton 3+ assists
The Bulldogs have been competitive in the opening frame before falling apart in the second half. The first frame will be a tight defensive battle.
The Gators’ game projections’ range from a 1-point win to a 10-point cruise. We’ll avoid the spread and take UF outright.
Clayton is forecasted for around four assists for the Gators. He dropped five dimes in the last game with UGA.
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Florida vs Georgia odds
Florida vs Georgia live odds
Florida vs Georgia opening odds
- Spread: Florida -7 | Georgia +7
- Moneyline: Florida -326 | Georgia +266
- Over/Under: Over 149 | Under 149
Odds courtesy of bet365
Florida vs Georgia betting trend to know
Georgia has gone Under the 1H total in 25 of its last 37 games (+12.55 Units/29% ROI). Find more college basketball betting trends for Florida vs. Georgia.
How to watch Florida vs Georgia
| Location | Stegeman Coliseum, Athens, GA |
| Date | Tuesday, 2-25-2025 |
| Tip-off | 7:00 p.m. ET |
| TV | SEC Network |
Florida vs Georgia key injuries
Not intended for use in MA.
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