Florida vs. Michigan: Prediction, pick, line, spread, odds, 2019 NCAA Tournament live stream

Basketball

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The Florida Gators appeared on their way to dominating their first-round match in the 2019 NCAA Tournament, though after a short stumble, they found a way to survive and advance anyway. (10) Florida looks to capitalize on that victory with another on Saturday when it takes on the (2) Michigan Wolverines in the second round. The Gators (20-15) have turned it on over the second half of the season, but the Wolverines (29-6) have been one of the best teams in the nation for most of the year.

What will go down Saturday night? Let’s take a look at what you need to know and how you can watch Florida-Michigan.

Viewing information

Date: Saturday, March 23 | Time: 5:15 p.m. ET
Location: Wells Fargo Arena — Des Moines, Iowa (Capacity: 16,110)

TV: CBS (Kevin Harlan, Reggie Miller, Dan Bonner, Dana Jacobson)
Live stream: March Madness Live | SiriusXM: 135/201 | Radio: WRUF, TuneIn

Live updates: @OnlyGators on Twitter

Tale of the tape

Prediction and analysis

Spread: Florida +7 | O/U: 124

The Wolverines are far better top-to-bottom and game-to-game than the Gators, but Florida has mostly played up to its competition this season. That does not mean it has put together close losses as every matchup against a top 10 team not named LSU has resulted in a defeat of at least nine points. The difference here is that the Gators are playing better than they have all season, and a tough second half on Thursday should give this team some gumption early whereas the Wolverines rolled their opponent. This is a tough game to pick because it could be a close Florida loss or an absolute Michigan blowout. Giving me three baskets has me leaning UF, and even if it is a blowout, this should creep over.

2018-19 records: ATS picks 7-1-1 | O/U picks 6-2

Projected starting five

PG Andrew Nembhard, freshman (6-foot-5, 191 pounds)
G KeVaughn Allen, senior (6-foot-2, 193 pounds)
G Jalen Hudson, redshirt senior (6-foot-6, 195 pounds)
F Keyontae Johnson (6-foot-5, 225 pounds)
F/C Kevarrius Hayes, senior (6-foot-9, 227 pounds)

Game notes

» Florida is 1-2 all-time against Michigan with all three meetings coming in the NCAA Tournament. UF last lost to UM 79-59 in 2013.
» This is just the second time that the same teams have met in a New Year’s Six or BCS bowl game and the NCAA Tournament in the same season. The last such occurrence was Florida and Ohio State in 2006-07.
» The Gators are 44-17 all-time in the NCAA Tournament, 5-2 under White, with seven consecutive appearances in the Round of 32 or beyond (2011-14, 2017-19). UF has advanced to the Sweet 16 in five of its last seven appearances but not since 2017.
» Florida is 17-5 all-time in the Round of 64 and now 1-2 as a No. 10 seed after picking up its first such win Thursday. It has never been a lower seed.
» The Gators are 11-5 all-time in the Round of 32, 7-1 since 2016.
» White is the first coach in program history to earn NCAA Tournament berths in three of his first four seasons.
» Florida entered the NCAA Tournament 4-12 in Quadrant 1 games with two wins over ranked opponents (2-9).
» Florida is 12-23 against AP Top 25 teams and 3-8 against top 10 teams under White.
» The Gators have faced four top 10 opponents over their last six games (1-3). They have faced 10 top 12-ranked teams this season.
» Florida is 5-10 when shooting below 40 percent from the field this season, 15-5 when shooting above 40 percent and nearly undefeated (11-1) when hitting more than 46 percent of their shots. The Gators are 2-1 in overtime.
» Allen enters sixth in program history in scoring (1,715) and has an opportunity to enter the top five before the ending the season. He also has the best free throw percentage in program history (.878) and is third in three-point attempts (738) and sixth in makes (248). This will mark Allen’s 133rd career start, second-most in program history.
» Hayes is second in program history with 214 blocks.