Gators vs Commodores: High-Scoring SEC Showdown

0:00On March 14, top-seated Florida Gators face off against fourth-seated Vanderbilt Commodores in the SEC Tournament Semifinals on Saturday. The defending national champions advanced, with a 71-63 win over 9th-seated Kentucky on Friday. Vanderbilt moved on after beating fifth-seated Tennessee 75-68 in the quarter-finals. Florida enters with a 26-6 record in 12 straight wins, while Vanderbilt is 25-7 with 3 in a row. Both teams have strong momentum heading into tip-off at 1pm, Eastern Time from Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee. The Gators aim for their third straight tournament finals appearance, and a second consecutive title. Vanderbilt hopes to reach the finals for the first time, since winning it all back in 2012. Florida sits as a 7.5-point favorite, with the over-under total at 160.5 points. Fans and analysts see this as a high-scoring affair, based on recent trends. The over has hit in 6 of the last 7 meetings between these squads.

1:02A projection model that simulates games 10,000 times, leans toward the over, forecasting about 163 total points. It expects multiple scores and double figures for both sides, with Vanderbilt's Duke Miles around 16 points, and Florida's Thomas Howe near. 17. This matchup promises plenty of offense as the winner punches a ticket to Sunday's championship game.