The Florida Gators enter Friday scorching hot after their 86-77 SEC tournament win over Tennessee. They're easily one of the favorites to get back to the Final Four, and even push for a title when its all said and done among a handful of contenders out of the SEC. Norfolk State enters as a 16-seed after earning a bid after their win in the MEAC tournament at home in Norfolk.
Like many 1v16 matchups, there's an undeniable David and Goliath feel to this one, with minimal hope for the underdog but don' t tell that to Spartan head coach, Robert Jones. When asked about the matchup, Jones was passionate about his team's ability "I know Florida's really, really good, and they run a great program, got great players, but are we that bad that the point spread is like that?" Jones exclaimed. "I'm a little angry, and like I said, I'm a little bit more focused and play better when I'm angry."
Whether or not Jones and the Spartans can turn that anger into a competitive performance remains to be seen. Doing so against a Florida team averaging 85 points a game with a plethora of size and scorers will be as uphill a battle as any team will find throughout the first round. The Gators are formidable as a national title contender, led by star guard Walter Clayton Jr. and the 17.5 points and 4.3 assists he's averaging per game.
How to watch Florida vs Norfolk State
- Date: Friday, March 21st
- Time: 6:50 p.m. ET
- Venue: Lenovo Center / Raleigh N.C.
- How to Watch (TV): TNT
- Streaming: fubo TV
- Florida record 30-4
- Norfolk State record 24-10
Florida vs Norfolk State odds, spread and total
Odds provided by FanDuel Sportsbook
Moneyline
- Norfolk State +4000
- Florida -30000
Spread
- Norfolk State +28.5 (-112)
- Florida -28.5 (-108)
Total
- 153.5 (over -110/ under -110)
Norfolk State injury report
There are no injuries for the Spartans ahead of this game.
Florida injury report
Sam Alexis: Questionable (undisclosed)
Florida and Norfolk State series history
Friday marks the second overall meeting between the two schools. Florida cruised to an 84-50 win over the Spartans in the second round of the 2012 NCAA Tournament in Omaha, Nebraska.
Florida vs Norfolk State prediction
Norfolk State will need a career game out of its leading scorer and MEAC Player of the Year Brian Moore Jr. He's been phenomenal all year long, averaging just over 18 points, 3.8 boards, and 3.1 assists per game to lead an offense that's putting up 77 points per night. A total that was strong enough to power a dominant 11-3 record in MEAC play, but will need to be on another level against a defense as rangy and athletic as Florida's .
When you break down this game by the numbers, you see why oddsmakers have the Gators as such a heavy favorite. Per KenPom, the Gators boast the most efficient offense in the country with the Spartans coming in at 168th. And if there was ever any doubt the Gators couldn't score in the important moments, they showed it last week against the Volunteers, going toe to toe with what has become one of the more balanced teams in the country year in and year out.
The question isn't will Florida win this game, It's how dominant can they be and make their statement to the rest of the field that they aren't to be messed with going forward. The Gators remain one of just three teams to rank in the top 10 in both offense and defensive efficiency and they'll show why in emphatic fashion come Friday night.
Prediction: Florida 91, Norfolk State 64