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Florida vs. Alabama: SEC Showdown with Major Tournament Implications
The stakes couldn’t be higher in Wednesday night’s clash between No. 5 Florida and No. 7 Alabama in Tuscaloosa. With just two games left in the regular season, both teams sit at 12-4 in SEC play, tied for second place. But this battle isn’t just about seeding in the conference tournament—it could be the difference between a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament or a tougher road come March Madness.
Alabama (23-6) will have to rebound fast after a gut-wrenching 79-76 collapse at Tennessee, where they led by four with 36 seconds left but failed to close it out. A buzzer-beating three from Jahmai Mashack sent them home stunned. That loss makes this matchup against Florida a must-win with a trip to No. 1 Auburn looming on Saturday.
Meanwhile, Florida (25-4) is red-hot, winning 10 of its last 12, including an 89-70 rout of No. 12 Texas A&M over the weekend. The Gators finish the regular season at home against Ole Miss, giving them a softer landing if they can steal this one in Tuscaloosa.
Key Players & Betting Angles
- Mark Sears (Alabama): Averaging 27.5 PPG over his last four, Sears has been lights-out from deep (17-of-40 from three). He leads the team with 74 triples on the season.
- Chris Youngblood (Alabama): Can he bounce back? After dropping 27 points and 7 threes vs. Mississippi State, he managed just 2 points in the loss to Tennessee.
- Will Richard (Florida): Absolute flamethrower right now—27.5 PPG over his last two, hitting 20-of-30 shots and 11-of-20 from deep. If he stays hot, Alabama’s perimeter defense will have problems.
- Walter Clayton Jr. (Florida): Leads the team in scoring (16.9 PPG) and 77 threes on the year.
Trends & Matchup History
- Florida swept Alabama last season, winning by 18 at home and dropping 102 points in the SEC Tournament rematch.
- Alabama has lost three of its last five, while Florida has covered in four of its last five games.
- The over has hit in six of Alabama’s last seven games—expect another shootout.
Betting Outlook
Florida comes in playing its best basketball of the season, while Alabama has struggled to close out games. The Gators have an edge in momentum and history, but Alabama is dangerous at home (13-2). Making Alabama First Half ML my play in this one.
Who’s stepping up when it matters most? This game could define both teams’ tournament paths. Buckle up for a high-stakes SEC battle.
