SEC Semifinal Matchup
(13) Florida vs. Alabama
Time: 1 PM EST
TV: ABC
Spread: FLA -13

Betting Odds courtesy of Bookmaker

The 13th ranked Florida Gators have a 25-6 record with a 14-4 record in the SEC, the most recent victory of which came in a 80-58 trouncing of the LSU Tigers to advance to semifinal play. The Gators outscored LSU 43-28 in the first half, and Erik Murphy’s 27 points led four Gators in double figures.

Murphy leads the Gators in scoring with 12.9 points per game, but he’s joined by three other Gators who average at least 10 points per game.

Kenny Boynton is the leader of this team, and he plays a team high 32.4 minutes a night, averaging 12.2 points per game, 3.2 rebounds and 3.1 assists.

Boynton is shooting over 5 percent worse from the floor this season and hasn’t been getting to the line as much, but he’s still a key player for a Florida team that averaged 72 points per game this season.

The Alabama Crimson Tide are 21-11 with a 12-6 record in SEC. They defeated Tennessee 58-48 to reach the semifinals, and the Crimson Tide closed the game on a 17-4 run. Trevor Releford scored 14 on 4-of-9 shooting, and Levi Randolph contributed 15 points and five rebounds, while shooting 5-of-9 from the field.

Releford leads the Crimson Tide in scoring, averaging 15.5 points per game. The 6-foot junior guard is having his finest collegiate season, shooting a career high 48.9 percent from the floor and 44.7 percent from three. He’s also a game changer on the defensive end, and is good at playing passing lanes and coming up with steals. His two steals per game lead the Tide and help ignite a decent transition offense for Alabama. Florida will have to get back to prevent Releford from getting his teammates going, or just flat out catching fire.

If the Gators can contain and control Releford, they’ll easily win this contest, as predicted by college basketball oddsmakers who set the line 13 points in favor of Florida.