Sweet 16: BYU Cougars vs Florida Gators | Prediction & Pick

Florida prepares for the coming of Fredette

The No. 2 seeded Florida Gators appear poised at making a run at trip to Houston, but standing in their way is the third-seeded BYU Cougars and quite possibly the best player in college basketball today.

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#3 BYU (32-4, 14-2 MWC) vs. #2 Florida (28-7, 13-3 SEC)

Date/Time: Saturday, March 19, 7:27 PM EST
Venue: New Orleans Arena, New Orleans, LA.
Broadcast: TBS

Money Line: BYU +135, Florida -155
Spread: Florida -3
Over/Under: 149 ½

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Jimmer Fredette will lead his underrated BYU Cougars against Billy Donavan’s Gators as the two tip off in the Southeast Regional Semifinals in New Orleans on Thursday.

Underestimated by many, BYU is making their best tournament run in three decades, even after the season-ending suspension of Brandon Davies. Skeptics have been silenced as the astonishing play of Fredette has propelled the Cougars into the Sweet 16 for the first time since 1981.

After blasting by Wofford and advancing to the round of 32 for the second straight year, the Cougars cruised past Gonzaga 89-67 on Fredette’s 34 points.

The senior guard has continued right where he left off at the end of the regular season, as he led the nation in scoring, averaging 28.5 points per game, including registering 13 games with 30-plus points. He also scored a career-high 52 in the Mountain West semifinals against New Mexico.

Florida will need to shut down Fredette if they wish to press on in this year’s tournament.

Meanwhile, Florida’s SEC Player of the Year Chandler Parsons has been a huge weapon for the Gators who have been equally impressive in their two tournament wins, shooting 52.4 percent from the floor while holding the opposition to 39.0 percent shooting.

The lofty forward is one of the most multifaceted threats in college basketball and inflicts damage on opponents by far more than just points on the scoreboard. Although, he had 10 points and 10 assists with seven boards as the Gators pounded Santa Barbara 79-51 in round one, it was tenacious play that saw him finish with seven points, five dimes and five rebounds in the Gators 73-65 victory over UCLA in the round of 32 last weekend, as he stymied the Bruins attack.

The odds makers have the Florida Gators as a -3 point favorite with an over/under of 149.5.

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The Gators also do hold the size advantage in this match up, as well as a deeper bench. Four players are averaging double figures per game in points. Irving Walker (14.4 PPG) and Kenny Boynton (14.1 PPG). Walker inflicted most of the damage against the Bruins, netting a game high 21 points while Boynton added 12.

The Gators remember what it was like to grab a title, having done so in back-to-back seasons in 2006 and 2007. However, that doesn’t mean Florida will look past the Cougars, because they won’t. They know that BYU can score points, having four players in double figures in each of their first two NCAA tournament games.

Matt’s Free Prediction: This figures to be a tight affair. It is likely to end on a clutch play in the waning seconds. Because of the Gators depth, I’ll lean towards Florida in this one.

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