#3 Florida vs. #13 Arizona Picks and Predictions: College Hoops Begins!

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Jaden Bradley averages 16 points per game for the Wildcats this season - Arizona UCLA Picks

Rejoice all you sickos, college hoops finally returns this Monday, November 3. While the entire day is filled with NCAA Basketball action from sun up to sun down with games starting as early as 8:00 a.m. eastern as Winthrop takes on Queens, we don’t have the most exciting matchups on the very first day of hoops. However we still have a marquee matchup in Las Vegas that will get the juices flowing. Let’s get into our favorite picks as the No. 13 ranked Arizona Wildcats take on the defending National Champions, the No. 3 Florida Gators.

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#3 Florida Gators vs. #13 Arizona Wildcats NCAA Basketball Insights

Look, this is the opening game of the season. We aren’t going to go crazy, and it’s not like we have any data to work with really. However, when looking at these teams last year compared to this year, there are plenty of similarities (and differences) between the two.

Tommy Lloyd and Todd Golden are two of the best coaches in all of college hoops. Lloyd was an assistant at Gonzaga under Mark Few for quite some time before taking over the Wildcats. He led the team to 61 wins in his first two seasons in Tucson, which is an NCAA Division 1 record. As for Golden, he led the Gators to a 36-4 record and a National Championship in his third year at the school, and now he is looking to repeat.

Matchup Information – Florida vs. Arizona – November 3

  • Venue & Location: T-Mobile Arena (Las Vegas, NV)
  • Date: Monday, November 1, 2025
  • Kick Off: 7:00 p.m. Eastern
  • Broadcast: TNT

Florida vs. Arizona Betting Odds

Odds are courtesy of BetOnline, one of our favorite online sportsbooks, as of November 2, 2025 at 9:12 a.m. eastern. Sign up today with Promo Code BNBOL55 for a 55% deposit bonus. BetOnline offers a wide variety of unique markets across nearly every sport imaginable.

Spread

  • Florida -3.5 (-110)
  • Arizona +3.5 (-110)

Moneyline

  • Florida -170
  • Arizona +145

Total

  • Over 164 (-105)
  • Under 164 (-115)

The Wildcats have tons of production to replace, and so do the Gators. However, Florida’s returning pieces give me much more confidence than those of the Wildcats. I believe Golden has completely reloaded, and is well on the road to repeating as champions, just like Billy Donovan did in 2006-2007.

#3 Florida vs. #13 Arizona NCAA Basketball Picks and Predictions

Alex Condon could be one of the best players in the country this year - Florida Arizona Picks

Alex Condon could be one of the best players in the country this year

Florida vs. Arizona Prediction: Florida Wins & Covers, Over 164

Best Bet: Florida Gators -3.5 (-110) BetOnline

Last season, Arizona had nine guys in their rotation, all playing at least 19 minutes a game. They have to replace over half of those guys, four of which were regular starters. Caleb Love, KJ Lewis, Henri Veesaar, Trey Townsend and Carter Bryant all departed from the school (for one reason or another). Jaden Bradley and Tobe Awaka will have their hands full leading a band of misfits against the defending national champions, alongside Motiejus Krivas and Anthony Dell’Orso and freshmen Koa Peat, Brayden Burries, and Bryce James.

Sure, Florida no longer has their guard trio of Walter Clayton, Alijah Martin and Will Richard. But they return one of the best, and deepest, front courts in the country, led by Alex Condon and Rueben Chinyelu. Seven footer Micah Handlogten will come off the bench, and Thomas Haugh will see more of a starting wing role, rather than a back up stretch four. What about the guards?

Todd Golden brought in Boogie Fland and Xavian Lee to run the offense, along with AJ Brown and freshman CJ Ingram, who will likely be a one and done player. The point is, Florida will not see a championship hangover. This team has loads of talent, plenty of motivation, and should have a multitude of opportunities to cover this number against the Wildcats.

Both play very fast with tons of possessions, but I see the Gators defense being the difference maker in this game out in Sin City.

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