Florida vs. UConn: Best bet and preview for Jimmy V Classic clash
By Adam Spencer
Published:
The defending national champion Florida Gators are in the Big Apple for tonight’s Jimmy V Classic at Madison Square Garden.
Their opponent? Dan Hurley’s UConn Huskies.
This is a battle between the last 2 champions, as Florida took the crown in 2025 and the Huskies won it all in 2024.
This Tuesday night matchup tips off at 9 p.m. ET and can be seen on ESPN. UConn is currently 8-1 overall, with wins over BYU, Kansas and Illinois on its résumé. The only blemish is a loss to current No. 1 Arizona.
Florida is only 5-3 on the season, but lost by only a single point at Cameron Indoor against Duke in the ACC/SEC Challenge. Issues shooting the 3-pointer have plagued the Gators.
Florida is currently No. 18 in the AP Poll, while the Huskies check in at No. 5. Let’s dive into this matchup a bit more.
Florida vs. UConn Odds
The oddsmakers have installed UConn as the favorite for this marquee neutral-site clash. The spread sits at 3.5 points in favor of the Huskies, with standard -110 juice on both sides. The total for the contest is pegged at 145.5 points.
Check out our list of the best Florida sports betting apps to get in on the action for this epic Tuesday night clash.
Tale of the Tape
The numbers paint a picture of 2 teams with strong offenses, but with differing levels of success on defense:
The most glaring disparity shows up on the defensive end, where UConn has been absolutely dominant by surrendering just 60.4 points per contest. That stingy defense fuels the Huskies’ impressive +19.7 scoring margin, nearly double Florida’s +11.5 mark despite the Gators’ superior offensive output of 83.4 points per game.
Florida has yet to notch a signature win this season, going 0-2 vs. Top 25 competition. The neutral-site splits also lean UConn’s way, as it’s perfect at 2-0 away from home courts compared to Florida’s even 2-2 record.
What makes this particularly intriguing is the revenge factor. Florida eliminated UConn from last year’s NCAA Tournament, giving the Huskies extra motivation in this rematch. The Gators’ offensive firepower hasn’t faced a defensive unit of this caliber, while UConn will look to prove its championship pedigree against the team that ended their title defense.
The Pick: Back the Gators to Keep It Close
While UConn’s defensive numbers are undeniably impressive, there’s value in backing the defending champions getting points in this spot. Florida’s 83.4 points per game represents legitimate offensive firepower, and championship DNA has a way of showing up in big moments like this Madison Square Garden showcase.
Keep in mind that Florida only lost by 1 in Cameron Indoor, one of the toughest road environments in all of sports. Todd Golden and company might not win tonight at MSG, but they should be competitive throughout.
Pick: Florida +3.5 (-110 at BetMGM)
Adam is a daily fantasy sports (DFS) and sports betting expert. A 2012 graduate of the University of Missouri, Adam now covers all 16 SEC football teams. He is the director of DFS, evergreen and newsletter content across all Saturday Football brands.
