March Madness comes to its grand finale this Monday in San Antonio, Texas, as the Houston Cougars and the Florida Gators face off to determine who will be crowned the king of NCAA basketball.
In a game to remember, Houston pulled off a dramatic comeback, overcoming a seven-point deficit in the final 1:26 to defeat the favored Duke 70-67, eliminating projected No. 1 NBA Draft pick Cooper Flagg, LJ Cryer led the way with 26 points in that semifinal.
The Gators, meanwhile, advanced thanks to a superb performance from Walter Clayton, who scored 34 points to lead Florida past Auburn, 79-73, in their semifinal matchup.
Cougars vs. Gators Betting Odds and Info
| Houston 1.8 | Florida 1.769 |
| When? | Monday, April 7 at 8:50 pm ET, 7:50 pm CST, 6:50 pm MT, and 5:50 pm PT |
| Where? | Alamodome. |
| Where Can I Watch it? | CBS |
Why Bet on the Cougars?
Controversy or not, the Houston Cougars completed the incredible feat of eliminating Duke and punched their ticket to the NCAA Championship game, where they’ll face the Florida Gators for the title of college basketball’s best.
In the Final Four semifinal, Houston edged out Duke 70-67 despite a brilliant 27-point performance from Cooper Flagg. It wasn’t enough to break through the Cougars’ tough defense.
Houston dominated the rebounding battle, finishing with nine more boards than Duke. J’Wan Roberts led that effort with 12 rebounds. On the offensive side, LJ Cryer led all scorers with 26 points.
Cryer has emerged as Houston’s top offensive weapon, averaging 18.6 points and 3.4 assists per game this season.
The Cougars enter the championship game riding an 18-game winning streak, a testament to a phenomenal season in which they’ve lost only four times.
Why Bet on the Gators?
The Florida Gators entered the year as one of the teams expected to make a strong March Madness run—but the reality has exceeded expectations, as they now stand just one win away from an NCAA championship.
To reach the final against Houston, the Gators defeated Auburn 79-73 in the semifinals, thanks to a spectacular performance from Walter Clayton, who finished with 34 points, four rebounds, and two assists.
Rueben Chinyelu also made his presence felt with nine rebounds, while Alex Condon contributed three assists.
Florida was in command on the boards and also in attacks to the paint, drawing 21 points off fouls, five more than their opponent. That proved to be a key factor, especially since Auburn had the edge in both two- and three-point shooting percentages.
Condon, the team’s top NBA Draft prospect, continues to impress, and Florida now rides an 11-game winning streak heading into the final.
Additionally, this is the Gators’ first NCAA title game appearance since 2007, when they last reached the summit of college basketball.
Final Betting Analysis: Cougars vs. Gators
We expect this to be a tight matchup due to the quality on both sides of the court. However, Houston enters riding a red-hot streak, having just eliminated Duke, and it’s clear that their defense is superior to Florida’s.
The Odds at Gambyl Exchange reflect Gators as the favorite, as the Moneyline for them shows 1.769. Meanwhile, Cougars have 1.8.
This will be a historic first-time matchup in an NCAA championship game, and it’s worth noting that both programs reached the final as top seeds, further highlighting the high level of this showdown.
Go for a win for the Cougars. If you bet $100 at 1.8, you will gain $80 for a total payout of $180.
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