Florida basketball heads to Tallahassee on Tuesday night to take on the Florida State Seminoles in their annual rivalry game. Ahead of the Sunshine State showdown, BetMGM's betting odds favor the Gators to emerge victorious for their third win of the season.
Florida enters the second week of the season holding onto its top ranking in both the USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll and AP Top 25, while ranking second in the Basketball Power Index and Pomeroy College Basketball Ratings. Meanwhile, FSU is unranked and voteless in both major polls while sitting at Nos. 66 and 56, respectively. Both teams have won their first two games of the 2026-27 campaign, but only one will emerge undefeated after Tuesday night's affair.
The Gators lead the all-time series
against the Seminoles, 48-28, dating back to 1951 and have won the past five meetings between the two in-state schools. Last year was a close call, however, with Florida narrowly avoiding an upset on its home court in a thrilling 78-76 victory.
UF has previously defeated both Miami and Florida State in the same season 13 times in program history and can make it 14 after beating the Hurricanes in the season opener, 77-67.
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Florida vs. FSU odds, money line, over/under
Odds courtesy of BetMGM as of Tuesday, Nov. 10
- Moneyline: -475 / +360
- Spread: Florida by 9.5
- Over/under: 166.5
Florida vs. FSU predictions, picks for college basketball
The Gators have looked good in their first two games of the season, but for the first time this year, they will face a hostile crowd inside the Donald L. Tucker Civic Center. This will be Florida's only true road game until the SEC schedule begins, so how the team deals with the adversity will be a major focus for Todd Golden.
FSU's frontcourt poses a significant threat on Tuesday night, but what they bring to the court talent- and size-wise can be mitigated by their lack of experience. The Orange and Blue have the best front three in the country and have been tested on the court over the course of a few seasons, so the Gators most certainly have the edge there.
I expect this to be an entertaining matchup with moments where it looks like the Seminoles might have a chance to upset their in-state rivals, but Florida eventually prevails thanks to a late-game push.
PREDICTION: Florida 88, FSU 78
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This article originally appeared on Gators Wire: Florida vs. FSU predictions, picks, odds for Tuesday's rivalry game
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