Kentucky Wildcats vs Florida Gators Picks and Prediction for Friday March 13 2026
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The Kentucky Wildcats face the Florida Gators in the SEC Tournament Quarterfinal on Friday, March 13, 2026, at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee. Tipoff is scheduled for 1:00 PM ET with television coverage on ESPN. According to DraftKings, Florida is an 11.5-point favorite with the total set at 159.5. Be sure to check out our free college basketball picks for more daily predictions and betting insights.
Kentucky Trying to Keep Tournament Run Alive
Kentucky enters the SEC Tournament Quarterfinal with a 21-12 overall record and a 10-8 mark in SEC play. The Wildcats advanced to this round after recently winning over Missouri 78-72 in the second round. Over their last five games, Kentucky has recently won over Missouri, LSU, and Vanderbilt while recently losing to Florida and Texas A&M.
On the season, Kentucky averages 81.4 points per game while allowing 73.9 points per contest. The Wildcats shoot 47% from the field while averaging 38.1 rebounds and 16.2 assists per game. Defensively, Kentucky averages 4.3 blocks and 7.0 steals per contest while attempting to create turnovers and fast-break opportunities.
In the tournament win over Missouri, Otega Oweh led Kentucky with 21 points while Mouhamed Dioubate led the team on the boards with seven rebounds. The Wildcats shot 49% from the field and made 18 free throws in that victory, showing strong offensive balance. However, Kentucky now faces a short turnaround after playing the previous day, and maintaining that offensive efficiency against a deep Florida roster will be a major challenge.
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Florida Ready After Strong Regular Season
Florida enters the SEC Tournament Quarterfinal with a 25-6 overall record and a dominant 16-2 conference mark. The Gators earned a bye into the quarterfinal round thanks to their strong regular season performance. Over their last five games, Florida has recently won over Kentucky, Mississippi State, Arkansas, Texas, and Ole Miss.
Florida has been one of the most explosive teams in the conference this season, averaging 87.7 points per game while allowing 71.7 points per contest. The Gators shoot 48% from the field while averaging 45.5 rebounds and 16.9 assists per game. Defensively, Florida contributes 5.1 blocks and 6.7 steals per contest while using its size and rebounding advantage to control games.
In their most recent game, an 84-77 win over Kentucky, Thomas Haugh led the Gators with 20 points and also led the team in rebounding with nine boards. Florida shot 46% from the field and connected on 44% of its three-point attempts in that matchup. With the added rest from the tournament bye and a strong rebounding presence, the Gators enter this quarterfinal with both momentum and matchup advantages.
Kentucky vs Florida Pick
Kentucky vs Florida Spread Pick
- Pick: Florida -11.5
Florida has already defeated Kentucky recently and enters this matchup with a significant rest advantage after earning the tournament bye. The Gators also hold a clear edge in rebounding and overall offensive efficiency. Kentucky played well in its win over Missouri but now faces a quick turnaround against one of the top teams in the SEC. With Florida’s depth and ability to score both inside and from the perimeter, the Gators have a strong opportunity to create separation and cover the spread.
Kentucky vs Florida Total Pick
- Pick: Over 159.5
I like the over in this matchup because both teams play at a fast tempo and have proven scoring ability. Kentucky averages over 81 points per game while Florida averages nearly 88 points per contest. Even in their recent meeting that finished with 161 total points, both teams generated plenty of offensive opportunities. I expect another up-tempo contest with both teams pushing the pace, which should help the total climb past this number.
Final Score Prediction: Florida 89, Kentucky 76
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