CBB Opening Night: Arizona Wildcats vs. Florida Gators: Prediction, Odds, Best Bet

Derek Mountain Sports Betting Expert

8 minute read

_{Image Credit: Alan Youngblood via Imagn Images}

The Arizona Wildcats (0-0) and Florida Gators (0-0) will face off in the NCAAB tonight. Tipoff is set for 7:00 p.m. EST from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. The game will broadcast live on TNT.

The Florida Gators are favored by -3.5 on the spread, with the over/under set at 163.5 total points. The Gators are -162 favorites to win outright on the moneyline, while the Arizona are +136 to pull off the upset.

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Updated on 3/20/26

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Arizona Wildcats vs. Florida Gators Best Bet

Arizona went for a totally different offseason approach than most teams. For one, the Wildcats returned four players who averaged seven-plus points per game in 2024-25, led by point guard Jaden Bradley and big Motiejus Krivas.

The Wildcats will play an up-tempo style like usual, but my concern is what they do when they're forced to play in a half-court setting.

Thankfully, I don't think Arizona will be restricted to a half-court game in this one. The Wildcats finished top-50 or better in adjusted tempo in each of Tommy Lloyd's seasons in Tucson. However, the Gators are top-70 or better in tempo during the Todd Golden era.

On the other side, Fresh off an NCAA Tournament championship, the Gators will look to begin their title defense on a strong note.

Things will be a bit different in Gainesville, though. They lost their entire backcourt, as Walter Clayton Jr., Will Richard and Alijah Martin each were selected in the NBA draft.

The guards tasked with replacing them are Arkansas transfer Boogie Fland and Princeton transfer Xaivian Lee. What we know about those two is that both are stud on-ball guards and both can score.

I'm more curious about the fit, though. The line sits at Florida -4.5, and I can't get there. This game will be close, and I view it as more of a pick'em.

Arizona could win the battle on the glass, and Florida lacks the ball pressure to turn over the fast-paced Wildcats.

Arizona vs. Florida Best Bet: Florida +4.5

(Pick from Sean Paul)

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Derek Mountain

Derek Mountain works in the Boston area as an SEO Performance Associate for Better Collective. Derek is a recent graduate of the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, MA where he played football for five years as well as walking on the basketball team his freshman year. Derek has experience writing and editing casino content for nearly four years. More from Derek Mountain