2011 Sweet 16 Free Picks: BYU Cougars vs Florida Gators Odds and Predictions – NCAA Tournament Betting 3/24/11: Naismith National Player of the Year finalist Jimmer Fredette will lead the No. 3 seed Brigham Young Cougars on the road to the New Orleans Arena to take on guard Erving Walker and the No. 2 seed Florida Gators at 7:25 PM ET on Thursday evening on TBS. BYU has won 2 in a row and sit at 32-4 – 1st in the Mountain West Conference – while Florida is also on a 2 game win run at 28-7 – good enough for 1st in the South Eastern Conference and a trip to the sweet 16.
Florida is familiar with Jimmer as he torched them for 37 points as BYU ousted Florida in the NCAA first round last season. Ferdette has scored 66 points in 2 games so far in the tournament. “I think that we had to play our best game in this situation. Gonzaga was on a great streak. It was a game where we knew that we had to play together. We had to play with confidence. We had to play on attack. I thought for 40 minutes, we might have been as good as we’ve been all year.” — Cougars coach Dave Rose on the impressive victory over Gonzaga that put BYU into the Sweet 16. The oddsmakers at BetUS have the Florida Gators a -3 point favorite in the Sweet 16 round against the BYU Cougars.
The Gators are coming off a victory 73-65 over UCLA to move to 16-14-1 ATS for the season. Walker scored 21 to lead the way along with 3 boards and 2 assists while Kenny Boynton chipped in 12 points and dished 5 assists. “It has been incredibly rewarding and fulfilling to see where these guys get to where they have gotten to this point in time,” Florida head coach Billy Donovan said. The total has gone OVER in 8 of last 10 games. Vegas oddsmakers have the Florida Gators +1200 to win the 2011 NCAA Championship.
The Cougars are coming off a victory 89-67 over the Gonzaga Bulldogs to move to 15-17 ATS for the season. Jimmer poured in 34 points pulled down 2 rebounds and dished 6 assists in the victory. Back court mate Jackson Emery added 16 points, 3 boards and 4 assists. “I take a lot of pride in setting the tone,” Emery said. “Jimmer is going to demand so much attention because of the player he is. But the most important thing is that his supporting cast hit shots.” Vegas odds makers have the over/under for the total score at 149 points combined of the BYU Cougars and Florida Gators.
I predict a BYU victory.
GAME: No. 3 Brigham Young (32-4) vs No. 2 Florida (28-7)
TIME: 7:25 PM EST
TELEVISION: TBS
VEGAS ODDS: Favorite: Florida -3
Total: Over/Under 149
* Vegas Betting Lines at Ceasars Palace
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FREE PICK: BYU +3
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