NCAA Tournament Pick: West Region – Florida vs. Norfolk State – Friday, March 21, 2025

The 16th-seed Norfolk State Spartans (24-10) will have their shot at history when they face the top-seed Florida Gators (30-4) in the West Region on Friday, March 21 at 6:50 PM ET at the Lenovo Center in Raleigh, North Carolina. MyBookie has the Gators as heavy favorites with a point spread at -27.5 (-115).

Norfolk State Spartans Betting Preview

The Spartans are on a four-game winning streak heading into this matchup. They are coming off a 66-65 performance over the South Carolina State Bulldogs in the MEAC Tournament Final.

Brian Moore Jr. leads them with 18.4 points per game on 54.6 percent shooting from the field and 81.5 percent from the foul line. Jalen Myers helps keep possessions growing with 5.4 rebounds a game and Christian Ings promotes ball movement with his 3.2 assists each game.

Norfolk State is 88th in the country for producing 77.3 points a game. They rank 87th on defense for allowing 69.0 points per contest. This spread is solid if they can keep it up on both ends of the floor.

The Spartans are ranked 200th for their strength of schedule and point differentials. Their efficiency on offense per 100 possessions ranks 69th while their efficiency on the defensive end is at 78th.

Florida Gators Betting Preview

The Gators have one of the better squads in college basketball, but they have to take one game at a time. They have won their last six games, which includes their recent 86-77 outing over the Tennessee Volunteers in the SEC Tournament Final.

Walter Clayton Jr. is having an excellent senior season. He is averaging 17.5 points a game on 44.4 percent shooting and 85.7 percent from the foul line. On top of that, he does a good job at moving the offense with 4.3 assists per game.

Florida is averaging 85.4 points a game, ranking third. Their defense is allowing opponents to average 69.2 points a game, ranking 93rd. This spread is excellent, especially in one of the toughest conferences in basketball.

The Gators are fourth overall for their strength of schedule and winning margins. Their efficiency on offense per 100 possessions ranks fifth, while their defense of the same rate in comparison ranks 30th.

Odds, Series Trends, and Free Pick

MyBookie has you covered for the best Norfolk State Spartans vs. Florida Gators betting odds, as the Gators are expected to blow out the Spartans. Market analysis suggests the Gators having a 97.3 percent chance of winning outright.

The Spartans have had a great season, but their run will end here. The Gators will likely try to put this away as fast as possible so they can move onto the next round, so look for them to cover the spread.

Final Pick: Florida Gators -27.5 (-115)