How to watch Alabama basketball vs. Florida, the odds, and a prediction

The upcoming men’s college basketball game between the No. 7 Alabama Crimson Tide and the No. 5 Florida Gators is set for Wednesday, March 5, 2025, at Coleman Coliseum in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. This Southeastern Conference (SEC) matchup is scheduled to tip off at 7 p.m. ET and will be broadcast on ESPN2.

How to Watch

Fans can catch the action live on ESPN2. For those preferring to stream the game, services like FuboTV offer live access to ESPN2 broadcasts. FuboTV provides a streaming platform that includes live sports and other programming.

Team Overviews

Alabama Crimson Tide

The Alabama Crimson Tide enter this game with a 23-6 overall record and a 12-4 mark in SEC play. They are currently ranked No. 7 nationally. Alabama boasts a high-octane offense, leading the nation with an average of 91.0 points per game. They have a field goal percentage of 48.3%, ranking 29th nationally. On the defensive end, the Crimson Tide allow 80.1 points per game, with opponents shooting 41.8% from the field. They are also strong on the boards, averaging 39.8 rebounds per game, which ranks second nationally.

Florida Gators

The Florida Gators come into the matchup with a 25-4 overall record and a 12-4 record in SEC play, earning them a No. 5 national ranking. Florida averages 83.8 points per game, placing them ninth nationally, with a field goal percentage of 46.7%. Defensively, they are more robust than Alabama, allowing just 67.2 points per game and holding opponents to a 39.4% shooting percentage, which ranks 13th nationally. The Gators also excel in rebounding, averaging 39.1 per game, ranking third nationally.

Key Players

Alabama

• Mark Sears: Leads the team in scoring with 19.1 points per game and assists with 4.9 per game.
• Grant Nelson: Averages 11.8 points and leads the team in rebounding with 8.0 per game.
• Labaron Philon: Contributes defensively with 1.3 steals per game.

Florida

• Walter Clayton Jr.: Leads the team in scoring with 16.9 points per game and assists with 4.0 per game.
• Alex Condon: Averages 10.5 points and leads in rebounding with 7.7 per game, also adding 1.5 blocks per game.
• Alijah Martin: Leads the team in steals with 1.8 per game.

Betting Odds and Predictions

As of March 5, 2025, Alabama is favored by 3.5 points over Florida, with the over/under set at 177.5 points.

ESPN’s Basketball Power Index (BPI) gives Alabama an 86.5% chance of winning, predicting a 13.4-point margin.

KenPom projects a final score of 93-84 in favor of Alabama, giving them an 80% win probability.

Analysis and Prediction

This matchup features two of the nation’s top offenses, with Alabama leading in points per game and Florida not far behind. However, defensively, Florida has the edge, allowing significantly fewer points per game and holding opponents to a lower shooting percentage.

Alabama’s high-tempo offense, led by Mark Sears and Grant Nelson, will test Florida’s stout defense. Conversely, Florida’s balanced attack, with contributions from Clayton Jr. and Condon, will look to exploit Alabama’s defensive vulnerabilities.

Given Alabama’s home-court advantage and potent offense, they are favored to win. However, Florida’s strong defense could keep the game close. A predicted final score might be Alabama 85, Florida 80.