Guide to Maryland vs Florida: Predictions, Betting Odds, and Viewing Information for Sweet 16 Matchup

• West Region #1 seed Florida is a 6.5-point favorite vs #4 Maryland in Sweet 16 NCAA Tournament play
• The Gators have won eight in a row
• See the Maryland vs Florida odds, player props, and predictions for March 27

A trip to the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament is on the line Thursday in the West Region, where the #1 seed Florida Gators (32-4, 26-10-0 ATS) square off with the #4 Maryland Terrapins (27-8, 19-16-0 ATS). Sweet 16 action tips off at 7:39pm ET from the Chase Center in San Francisco, CA, with TBS providing the broadcast coverage.

Check below for the Maryland vs Florida odds, player props and my betting prediction.

Maryland vs Florida Odds

The top-seeded Gators enter as healthy 6.5-point favorites in the college basketball odds, and a short -290 on the moneyline. The total comes in at a high 157.5 points, which fits Florida’s offensive attack, cashing the Over in nine straight games. The Terps, on the other hand, have seen the Under go 6-1-1 in their last eight games.

Odds as of March 25 at DraftKings. Read SBD’s guide to the March Madness betting strategy.

There haven’t been many signature moments in this tournament (so far), but the Terrapins have one, which vaulted them into the Sweet 16 for the first time in nearly a decade. Derik Queen’s off-balance, off-foot banker fell through with no time left to give Maryland a huge 72-71 win over the Colorado State Rams.

Queen’s last two points were the biggest of his game-high 17, but he had plenty of help as all five starters finished in double-digit scoring. Jullian Reese had 15 points and 11 rebounds, while Ja’Kobi Gillespie had 11 points, seven assists and four steals.

After a stress-free romp off Norfolk State to open the tournament, the Gators outlasted the reigning 2-time defending champion UConn Huskies 77-75 in Round 2, ensuring there would be a new school to cut down the nets in 2025.

Walter Clayton Jr has been the high man for the Gators offensively, posting back-to-back 23-point games. Teammates Alijah Martin and Will Richard also chipped in with double-digit outputs.

Maryland vs Florida Prediction

At this point in the tournament, there are no easy outs.

The Gators are KenPom’s third-ranked team overall, and second-best in offensive efficiency, while ranking 11th in defensive efficiency.

A date with the Huskies might be the scare the Gators needed, as they ended the season on a six-game winning streak, beating five ranked teams, including heavy hitters Alabama (twice), Tennessee, and Texas A&M. Only one of those games was settled by five points or less.

Balance is what gives them a great chance to run the table: the Gators were the only school in the talented SEC to finish Top 3 in scoring (85.4 ppg) and points allowed (69.4).

We’re going to soon find out if Maryland has more magic up its sleeve or if it was all used up to get to the Sweet 16.

With the Terrapins’ run of buzzer-beating bad luck exorcised in Round 2, we can look at Maryland now as KenPom’s 10th-ranked team, with a defensive efficiency that ranks sixth, though its offensive efficiency is left as a Bottom-4 ranking of the teams left standing.

Like the Gators, the Terps were Top 3 in Big Ten scoring at 81.4 points per game, and in scoring defense at 66.6 points per game.

Maryland has hit better than 40% from 3-point range in both their tourney wins, and rank inside the NCAA’s Top 40 at a healthy 37.5% clip. We’re going to see how they do against a Top 10 team defending the arc, as the Gators allow teams to shoot just 29.3%.

While the Gators have looked every bit the top seed, they have not yet covered a game in the tournament – this after coming into March Madness 7-1-0 ATS in their final eight games of the regular season. Maryland has covered four of its last six, and they carry the current factor of invincibility after staring death in the eye in Round 2.

Unfortunately, the magic stops here. The Gators got the scare they needed, and should be able to slide past a Maryland team I believe will fade down the stretch in the second half.

• Florida vs Maryland pick: Florida -6.5 (-105)

Maryland vs Florida Public Betting Splits

The March Madness public betting splits aren’t giving Maryland much of a shot. A whopping 91% of moneyline bets are on the Gators, including a hefty 89% of the money. The Terrapins are getting only 9% of the bets and 11% of the money.

Even on the spread, it’s oveerwhelmingly Gator country, with 75% of the bets and a crisp 86% of the money on Florida covering the 6.5 points, with UM getting just 14% of the money on the other end.

As for the total, 76% of the bets are taking the Over, with another overwhelming 83% of the money going that way. The Over consists of 24% of the bets and 17% of the money.

Maryland vs Florida Player Props

Maryland vs Florida player props from bet365 on Mar 25. Claim the current bet365 bonus code to get a bonus for Thursday’s NCAAM slate.

The best aspect of Gators guard Walter Clayton Jr is that he shows up in big games. He’s been Florida’s leading scoring in the tournament, and he’s topped his 19.5 scoring line set for Thursday six times in the last seven games. That’s against the defending national champs, and a slew of Top 25-ranked clubs in the SEC. He’s as good a bet as any to find the again.

For Maryalnd, Queen has the highest scoring prop at 16.5, but all five Terps listed have lines in the double figures. Queen is the most known, and likely most bet on because of his heroics, as he’s crossed his total in three of the last four.

But if you’re looking for an easier win, consider senior Julius Reese. He’s got an 11.5 scoring line, and he’s cruised past it in four of his last five, missing the other by a bucket.

The Sweet 16 matchup between the Maryland Terrapins and the Florida Gators is shaping up to be an exciting game for college basketball fans. Both teams have had impressive seasons so far, and this game has the potential to be a close and competitive battle.

Maryland comes into this game as the higher seed, having finished the regular season with a 25-7 record and earning a No. 4 seed in the NCAA Tournament. The Terrapins have been led by senior guard Eric Ayala, who is averaging 17.2 points per game this season. Maryland also boasts a strong frontcourt with big men Jairus Hamilton and Qudus Wahab, who have been dominant on the boards all season.

On the other side, the Florida Gators have had a solid season as well, finishing with a 21-10 record and earning a No. 9 seed in the tournament. The Gators are led by sophomore guard Tyree Appleby, who is averaging 15.3 points per game and has been a key playmaker for Florida all season. The Gators also have a strong defense, led by forward Colin Castleton, who is averaging 2.6 blocks per game.

In terms of betting odds, Maryland is currently favored to win this matchup, with most sportsbooks giving them a slight edge over Florida. However, with both teams playing at a high level, this game could easily go either way.

For fans looking to watch the game, it will be broadcast on CBS on Thursday, March 24th at 7:29 PM ET. The game will also be available to stream on the CBS Sports app or website for those who prefer to watch online.

Overall, this Sweet 16 matchup between Maryland and Florida promises to be an exciting and closely contested game. Both teams have the talent and experience to make a deep run in the tournament, so fans can expect a high level of play from both sides. It will be interesting to see which team comes out on top and advances to the Elite Eight.