SportsLine’s model just made its CBB picks and predictions for Florida vs. Troy
By CBS Sports Staff
2 min read
The No. 23 Florida Gators will try to remain undefeated when they host the Troy Trojans on Sunday at the O’Connell Center in Gainesville, Fla. The Gators (5-0) are coming off a 71-68 victory over Ohio State that was won on Tyree Appleby’s buzzer-beating 3-pointer, which is Florida’s only victory by fewer than 13 points this season. A win would give the Gators their first 6-0 start since the 2012-13 team began the season 7-0. Meanwhile, the Trojans (4-2) are coming off an 83-78 overtime victory over Florida Atlantic in the Paradise Classic.
Tip-off is set for noon ET. The Gators are favored by 21.5 points in the latest Florida vs. Troy odds from Caesars Sportsbook, while the over-under for total points scored is 134.5. Before making any Troy vs. Florida picks, check out the college basketball predictions from the SportsLine Projection Model.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every Division I college basketball game 10,000 times. Over the past five-plus years, the proprietary computer model has generated an impressive profit of almost $2,100 for $100 players on its top-rated college basketball picks against the spread. Anyone who has followed it has seen huge returns.
Now, the model has set its sights on Troy vs. Florida. You can visit SportsLine now to see the picks. Here are the college basketball lines and trends for Florida vs. Troy:
- Florida vs. Troy spread: Gators -21.5
- Florida vs. Troy over/under: 134.5 points
- FLA: The Gators rank 14th in the country in blocked shots per game (6.2)
- TROY: The Trojans force opponents into 20.6 turnovers per game, which ranks fifth in the country
Why Florida can cover
Florida will have the best player on the court in Colin Castleton. A preseason first-team All-SEC selection, Castleton leads the team in scoring (15.8 points per game) and rebounding (10.4). Earlier this season against No. 20 Florida State, he had 15 points, 16 rebounds and six blocks, becoming the first Gator since Joakim Noah with a 15/15/5 stat line.
In addition, Florida does a great job of protecting the rim. The Gators lead the SEC and rank 14th in the country in blocked shots per game (6.2). Castleton leads the way with 3.0 blocks per game, which leads the SEC and is 18th in the nation.
Why Troy can cover
Troy plays a high-pressure style of defense that has been successful disrupting opponents this season. The Trojans force opponents into 20.6 turnovers per game, which leads the Sun Belt Conference and ranks fifth in the country. They also make 11.4 steals a game, which leads the conference and is 11th in the nation. The high-pressure defense has helped Troy to a +6.6 turnover margin per game, which is 14th in Division I.
In addition, freshman Duke Deen has been a revelation so far this season. A 5-foot-8 guard from Shreveport, La., Deen leads the team and ranks ninth in the Sun Belt in scoring (13.3 points per game). He also leads the Trojans in 3-pointers (11), assists (26) and steals (nine).
