West Region NCAA Tournament Wagers: Florida Emerges Slight Favorites for Championship Victory
The powerhouse Florida Gators, a fourth overall seed, are ready to make a run at the NCAA championship after being consistently overlooked throughout the season. In a historically deep Southeastern Conference, they managed to hold their own, setting themselves up as a promising contender.
Florida opens as a slight betting favorite, edging out Duke, Auburn, and Houston in the betting lines. While the technical region for the Gators is West, their opening games will take place in Raleigh, North Carolina, where they face Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference champions Norfolk State. With the West Sweet Sixteen set for San Francisco, the Gators are aiming to avenge a first-round loss from the 2024 tournament.
Coach Todd Golden has instilled a sense of underdog mentality in his team, knowing full well that they will be under the national spotlight. The Gators boast a impressive 12-1 record in their last 13 games, having secured victories over Missouri, Alabama, and Tennessee in the SEC tournament.
Leading the charge for this balanced attack is first-team AP All-American guard Walter Clayton Jr., who averages 17.9 points, 2.9 three-pointers, and 4.3 assists per game. He's been on a hot streak lately, scoring over 22 points in four of his last five games, including wins against Alabama and Tennessee in the SEC finals.
Besides their stellar offense, the Gators have also excelled on the boards, boasting a plus-8 rebounding margin, thanks to big men Alex Condon and Thomas Haugh. These versatile bigs can score from the perimeter, causing headaches for opposing defenses.
Although they've made it to the national title twice before, Florida is looking to capture their third title in the 2022-23 season. The spirits in Gainesville are high, but the team must manage their newfound celebrity status while maintaining their underdog mentality to reap their potential rewards.
Other top seeds joining Florida in the West Region include Saint John's, Texas Tech, and Maryland. The defending champions UConn are the eighth seed, set to meet Oklahoma in the Raleigh games. Four SEC teams have secured a spot in the tournament, including Florida, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Arkansas, with a possibility of Missouri squaring off against Arkansas in the second round.
Three players to watch are RJ Luis Jr. of Saint John's, JT Toppin of Texas Tech, and PJ Haggerty of Memphis. Luis has been a force in the Big East, averaging 18.4 points and 7.2 rebounds, while Toppin has showcased his athleticism as the leading scorer and rebounder for the Red Raiders. Haggerty is an aggressive scorer, having led the American Conference with 21.8 points per game.
The West Regional schedule kicks off on March 20, with key games featuring Kansas vs Arkansas, Missouri vs Drake, Saint John's vs Omaha, and Texas Tech vs UNC-Wilmington. The Sweet Sixteen and Regional Finals will follow respectively on March 27 and 29.
In the 2022-23 NCAA tournament, the Florida Gators, seeded fourth, aim to avenge a first-round loss from the 2024 tournament as they compete in the West Regional, despite their opening games taking place in Raleigh, North Carolina. Coach Todd Golden's underdog mentality/the team's newfound celebrity status will be tested as they face Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference champions Norfolk State. Apart from Florida, other top seeds in the West Region include Saint John's, Texas Tech, and Maryland, with RJ Luis Jr., JT Toppin, and PJ Haggerty being notable players to watch. The West Regional schedule starts on March 20, with potential games such as Kansas vs Arkansas, Missouri vs Drake, Saint John's vs Omaha, and Texas Tech vs UNC-Wilmington.
