Florida Gators at Vanderbilt Commodores, Memorial Gym, Nashville, TN
Saturday, March 5, 2011, 6:00 pm Eastern, TV: ESPN
Opening Line: Vanderbilt -3 1/2
Current Line: Vanderbilt -3 1/2
Opening Total: 137 1/2
Current Total: 137 1/2
Money Line: Vanderbilt -170 / Florida +150
After whipping Alabama earlier in the week 78-51, Florida has clinched a least a share of the SEC regular season title. They clinch it outright with a win or an Alabama loss to Georgia today. Florida is 23-6 overall and 12-3 in the SEC. They are ranked #14 in both polls and projected to be a #4 seed in the NCAA tournament. They have a chance to move up to a 3 seed if they win the SEC tournament next week, but could drop to a 5 seed if they lose a game or 2. Florida travels to Vanderbilt tonight to take on the 21-8 Commodores. Vanderbilt is 9-6 in the SEC and ranked #20 or #21 depending on the poll. Vanderbilt is tied with Kentucky for second in the SEC East. The top two teams in each division get first round byes in the first round of the SEC tournament. Vanderbilt lost at Kentucky Tuesday night 68-66. The Commodores are probably pretty safe as far as getting an NCAA bid. Florida beat Vanderbilt 65-61 in overtime in Gainesville February 1 the last time these two played each other.
Vanderbilt leads the overall series against Florida 63-57 and are 40-13 in Nashville against the Gators. Florida has won 3 of the last 5 games in the series, but Vandy is 3-2 ATS in those games, and 3 of those 5 have gone over as well.
Florida has no significant injuries right now but could rest some players if Alabama loses earlier in the day if the Gators have nothing to play for. The Gators are led by guard Erving Walker. He is averaging 14.4 points to lead the team, 3 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 1.2 steals a game to lead the team. He is shooting 37.7% from 3-point range. Guard Kenny Boynton is averaging 13.6 points, 1.6 rebounds, and 2.5 assists a game. Center Vernon Macklin is averaging 11.5 points, 6 rebounds, and leads the team in blocks with 0.8 a game. He struggles from the free throw line converting only 45.5% from the stripe. Chandler Parsons averages 11.4 points, 7.8 rebounds to lead the team, 3.7 assists to lead the team, and 1 steal a game. Florida is outscoring opponents 71-62 on the season. The Gators are shooting 45.9% from the field and 34.5% from 3-point range. Gator opponents are shooting 42.2% from the field. The Gators shoot 66.4% from the free throw line. Florida averages 37.7 rebounds a game and has a rebounding margin of +6.1. They average 14 assists and 12.4 turnovers a game. The Gators force 13.1 turnovers a game on defense. Florida averages 6.2 steals and 3.6 blocks a game.
Vanderbilt has no significant injuries right now. Vanderbilt is outscoring opponents 77-67 on the season. The Commodores are shooting 45.8% from the field and 38.6% from three point range. Vanderbilt is holding opponents to 40.4% shooting from the field. Vanderbilt is shooting 74.4% from the free throw line.Vanderbilt averages 37.7 rebounds and has a rebounding margin of +3.2. They average 13.6 assists and 13.7 turnovers a game. Vanderbilt forces 12.5 turnovers a game on defense. The Commodores average 5.4 steals and 5 blocks a game. Sophomore guard John Jenkins leads the Commodores in scoring with 19.4 points a game. He also averages 3.1 rebounds, and 1.3 assists a game and is shooting 41% from 3-point range. Forward Jeffery Taylor averages 14.5 points, 5.5 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and leads the team in steals with 1 a game. Center Festus Ezeli averages 12.8 points, 6.3 rebounds, and leads the team in blocks with 2.6 a game. Vanderbilt guard Brad Tinsley averages 10.8 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 4.5 assists a game to lead the team. Forward Lance Goulbourne averages 6.9 points, 7.2 rebounds to lead the team, and 1.3 assists a game.
Since Florida has already cliched the top seed in the SEC tournament, I don’t really see them having a lot of motivation in this game. Vanderbilt needs it more to get a first round bye. Kentucky plays at Tennessee tomorrow. Florida is a better team than Vanderbilt, but Memorial gym is a tough place to play. I think this game will be close throughout.
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