NCAA Picks and Tips: Vanderbilt Commodores at Florida Gators
Saturday, February 04, 2012
by Joe Rodriguez
Both No. 11 Florida Gators and Vanderbilt Commodores are looking up at undefeated and No. 1 Kentucky in the SEC standings, but it's an incredibly important matchup when the two teams square off in Gainesville on Saturday.
Since dropping the conference opener at Tennessee, the Gators have reeled off six straight victories and are alone in second place. The Commodores, meanwhile, are coming off a loss at Arkansas but are still in third place at 5-2.
Florida has won three straight in this series and is 21-11 against Vanderbilt under coach Billy Donovan.
- Vanderbilt Commodores @ Florida Gators
When: 1:00 PM ET, Saturday, February 4, 2012
Where: Stephen C. OConnell Center, Gainesville, Florida
TV: 1 p.m. ET, CBS
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Justbet Sportsbook currently have the Gators listed as 6½-point favorites versus the Commodores.
Vanderbilt Commodores (16-6): In SEC play, Vanderbilt is outscoring opponents by 10 points per game and shooting 44.7 percent on 3-pointers. But in an 82-74 loss at Arkansas on Tuesday, the Commodores shot only 6-of-21 from long range allowed the Razorbacks to connect on nine 3-pointers. Jeffery Taylor is shooting a blazing hot 59.3 percent on treys since conference play began, the most accurate mark in the league. Although Florida is the SEC's highest-scoring team, Vanderbilt isn't too far behind at 74.6 points per game.
Florida Gators (18-4): The Gators are the highest-scoring team in the conference at 80.4 points per game, but they haven't topped 80 points since a 90-70 win over Yale on Dec. 31. Instead, they've been pumping things up on the defensive end, surrendering only 61 points on average in seven league games. A Florida win would create a two-game gap over everyone for second place in the standings and would put the Gators in great position to earn one of the four first-round byes for the conference tournament in March. The Gators have a road trip to No. 1 Kentucky looming on Tuesday.
1. Five players average in double figures for Florida, led by Kenny Boynton’s 17.5 points per game.
2. Vanderbilt coach Kevin Stallings is only 7-19 all-time in Gainesville.
3. The Commodores are next-to-last in the SEC in scoring defense (66.1), ahead of only Arkansas.
BASKETBALL PREDICTION: Gators 75, Commodores 67.
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billy donovan - florida gators - jeffery taylor - kenny boynton - kevin stallings - stephen c. oconnell center - vanderbilt commodores
