The Jacksonville Dolphins take on the No. 21 Florida Gators on Thursday, November 7, at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN+.
The Dolphins began their season with a shaky 78-65 victory over non-Division I Trinity Baptist on Monday. Meanwhile, Todd Golden and the Gators dropped 98 points to win a neutral-site game against USF, 98-83.
The Gators are favored by 20 points on the spread, with a total sitting at 152.5.
Here's my Jacksonville vs Florida predictions and my college basketball picks for Thursday.
Jacksonville vs Florida Odds, Lines, Pick
| Jacksonville Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+24.5 -110 | 152 -110o / -110u | +1600 |
| Florida Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-24.5 -112 | 152 -110o / -110u | -5000 |
- Jacksonville vs Florida spread: Florida -24.5
- Jacksonville vs Florida total: 152
- Jacksonville vs Florida moneyline: Florida -5000, Jacksonville +1600
- Jacksonville vs Florida best bet: Over 152.5
Jacksonville vs Florida Start Time, Channel, Streaming
| Location: | Stephen C. O'Connell Center, Gainesville, FL |
| Date: | Thursday, Nov. 7 |
| Start Time: | 8 p.m. ET |
| TV / Streaming: | ESPN+ |
Jacksonville vs Florida is scheduled for a 8 p.m. ET start time, live from the Stephen C. O'Connell Center in Gainesville, FL, on Thursday. The game is live on ESPN+.
Jacksonville vs Florida NCAAB Betting Preview
Jacksonville Basketball
The Dolphins are projected to be a middle-of-the-pack team in the ASUN this season, but they also have a candidate for league Player of the Year in Robert McCray V.
The junior averaged over 18 points per game last season (including a wild 28.5 PPG over his last four outings) and was a Third-Team All-ASUN member.
But that's not all head coach Jordan Mincy has at his disposal.
The Dolphins have their third-leading scorer back from last season — fifth-year guard Marcus Niblack — as well as junior Stephon Payne III (who scored 18 points vs. Trinity Baptist) and Dayton transfer Zimi Nwokeji (who is a solid pick-and-pop big).
If the Dolphins can get better point guard play, they could surprise a bit in the ASUN.
Florida Basketball
If you're compiling a list of the best backcourts in college basketball, there's no question Florida would be on it.
Against USF, Walter Clayton Jr. and Will Richard combined for 54 of the team's 98 points. Even though FAU transfer Alijah Martin didn't play particularly well against the Bulls, he adds depth, versatility, and physical play to the already stout backcourt.
Where the Gators do have questions, though, is up front, particularly defensively. And those questions weren't answered in the first game.
Without Micah Handlogten (redshirting), the Gators are counting on the combination of Alex Condon, Sam Alexis, Thomas Haugh, and Rueben Chinyelu.
While Condon performed admirably in the opener, Chinyelu scored just two points in 15 minutes and Alexis and Haugh weren't impactful in the scoring column.
Jacksonville vs Florida Betting Analysis
I'm targeting the over in this one.
Why? Well, Clayton and Richard are almost impossible to contain offensively; Clayton gets downhill with ease and has the craftiness in ball screens, while Richard is a winning player who shoots the ball at a high level.
Add Martin into that mix, and there's not many teams in the country that can match that skill and talent in the backcourt.
But Jacksonville has a solid backcourt itself. McCray could go for 20+ against a defense that struggled to slow down an essentially new South Florida lineup. Plus, he's due for a big game after dropping just nine points in the opener.
The Dolphins don't have an elite frontcourt to expose Florida's question marks down low, but Nwokeji's floor-stretching abilities could open up the lane for McCray and Niblack for easy buckets.
Also, let's be honest: Allowing Trinity Baptist to shoot 41% from the floor and score 65 points is a bit concerning for Jacksonville. Now imagine what Clayton and company can do.
Pick: Over 152.5
