Georgia Florida Betting – Gators Look To Extend Run To Six Against SEC Rivals Thursday

Whether in basketball or football, the No. 13 Florida Gators have long held a rivalry with the Georgia Bulldogs in the SEC East. This time around its basketball being played, and the Gators holding a two-game lead in the SEC East standings with Vanderbilt and Kentucky both trying to make their move. Florida has won five straight entering the latest installment in the ongoing rivalry, and will need to capitalize on the opportunity of playing both of their remaining home games against unranked opponents.

• Georgia Bulldogs @ Florida Gators (13)
• Thursday, February 24, 2011 – 7:00 PM ET
• Stephen C. O’Connell Center, Gainesville, Florida
• Online Sports Betting Odds: Panthers – 5.5

That’s because their two road games are against the two teams right behind them in the SEC East rankings, as the Commodores and Wildcats both have home court advantage for their rematches. The Bulldogs have been a tough road team lately however, with three straight road wins including their latest a 69-63 victory over the Tennessee Volunteers.

College Basketball Betting Preview: Georgia

The Bulldogs have actually been better on the road than they have at home, with three straight road victories compared to consecutive home losses. Junior forward Tyson Thompkins is a big reason for the team’s success this season, leading Georgia in both scoring and rebounding with averages of 16 and 7.7 respectively. Thompkins has 11 in the Bulldogs’ win over Tennessee on the weekend, as Jerry Price took the spotlight for a team-high 20 points in the win. Georgia led by as many as 15 in that victory and have shown flashes of being a legitimate NCAA college basketball betting threat, but will still need to prove their merit against a nationally ranked team to be recognized as a threat.

College Basketball Betting Preview: Florida

The Gators have reeled off five straight wins, and that has set the magic number for clinching the SEC East division at two. Florida still has a couple of tough games against Vanderbilt and Kentucky left on their schedule, but if they can find a way to win against the two unranked opponents they still have to face and then take down either of the Commodores or Wildcats on the road then they won’t have a problem. The biggest improvement this season has been their play on the road, and they enter Thursday night with a 7-1 record away from home, but will need to show they can still get the job done at the Stephen C. O’Connell. Three starters hit double figures for the Gators in their win over LSU this past weekend, and they will need that kind of balanced scoring to be successful going forward.

College Basketball Betting: Outlook & Pick

The Gators needed double overtime to eventually pull away from Georgia in a 104-91 victory in late January, but should have an easier sports betting bonus time at home. That is if they can continue to move the ball the way they have during their current win streak, against a tough Bulldogs’ team that has played well on the road.