Florida vs. Georgia Prediction, Game Preview

Florida vs. Georgia prediction and game preview. The Gators seek a fifth consecutive victory when they visit the upset-minded Bulldogs on Tuesday night.

Florida vs. Georgia Game Preview

When: Tuesday, Feb. 7 – 7 p.m. ET
Where: Stegeman Coliseum, Athens, Ga.
TV Broadcast: ESPN2

Most figured Florida had a good chance to beat Kentucky at home Saturday night. Few – if any – believed the Gators would absolutely stomp the Wildcats, though.

Florida pulled away in the second half for a convincing 88-66 victory to pick up its first win over a ranked opponent this season. The Gators had chances with losses to Gonzaga, Duke and South Carolina while also falling to Florida State before the Seminoles entered the polls. But the win over Kentucky comes as validation for Michael White’s team that hasn’t been on the radar as a true national contender, especially after the loss to Vanderbilt on Jan. 21. The Gators have won four straight since then to improve to 18-5 overall and 8-2 in the SEC while jumping up to No. 17 in this week’s AP Top 25.

They’ll try to avoid a letdown against the Bulldogs, who have dropped four of their last five games. Included in that slump, though, is a tough overtime loss at Kentucky that Georgia led in the final seconds of regulation. Three of Georgia’s defeats in that stretch have been by fewer than three points or went to OT. The Bulldogs suffered a 77-75 loss to South Carolina on Saturday despite 18 points apiece from J.J. Frazier and Yante Maten.

Frazier lit up the Gators for 25 points in the first meeting Jan. 14, when the Gators won, 80-76, in overtime. Florida has won the last three meetings.

Florida Wins If …

… Kasey Hill continues his strong play. Hill is scoring only 9.9 points per game and 4.9 assists on the season, but he’s averaged 14.7 points and 6.0 over the last three and tied his season high with 21 points against Kentucky. He’s taken on a more active offensive role in those games, too, and attempted a season-high 16 shots Saturday, making half.

Canyon Barry has been fantastic off the bench over the last three as well, averaging 15.3 points and shooting 54.2 percent, including 6 of 12 from 3-point range. He scored a season-high 27 points in the first matchup with the Bulldogs.

Georgia Wins If …

… it can contain the Hill-Barry duo. Georgia held Hill to 11 points in the first matchup as he shot 2 of 8 from the field and did the bulk of his scoring at the free throw line. But Barry went off, hitting 7 of 13 from the field and 5 of 8 from beyond the arc in 34 minutes off the bench as Florida’s reserves outscored Georgia 51-5. He twice converted four-point plays.

Frazier did his best to make up for the points allowed at the other end, but it wasn’t enough. And it likely won’t be enough again if he and his teammates let Barry get going early.

Matchup To Watch

Maten vs. Devin Robinson

Maten has been a load to defend. The 6-foot-8 forward is averaging 19.7 points and 7.4 rebounds and also added four blocks against the Gamecocks just for good measure. Robinson had 16 points against Kentucky, and this could be a back-and-forth matchup for a good portion of the evening.

Betting Odds

Spread: Florida -5
Over/Under: No line as of post