Florida vs. Arizona Prediction & Odds Today: College Basketball Betting Preview for Nov. 3

My Florida vs. Arizona prediction breaks down this ranked-vs.-ranked matchup on the first day of the college basketball season.

No. 3 Florida looks to kick off the new season as the defending national champion with a high-profile win tonight against No. 13 Arizona. Florida is a 3.5-point neutral-site betting favorite, with tipoff from T-Mobile Arena in Paradise, Nev., set for 7 p.m. ET (TNT/truTV).

✅ Florida vs. Arizona prediction & expert picks

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📊 Florida vs. Arizona odds

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🏀 Florida vs. Arizona preview & score prediction

Florida used a balanced offense and defense, each ranked sixth in adjusted efficiency last year, to end the season on a 12-game winning streak en route to the national title. And while each team is breaking in new players at key positions this season, this opening matchup should be played at a breakneck pace, which has me backing the Over.

Florida’s big size advantage

The Gators lost a lot of their shooting prowess from last year’s team. Walter Clayton, Alijah Martin, and Will Richard all made 79-plus 3-pointers, while the next closest Gator had 36 3-point makes. But Florida will likely use its massive frontcourt to generate easy buckets and open up perimeter looks for its shooters. One of those shooters, Boogie Fland, features in my college basketball player props & best bets.

Florida is projected to go 6-foot-9 and 6-foot-11 across its frontline with Thomas Haugh and preseason AP-first team All-American Alex Condon. Condon withdrew late from the NBA Draft after averaging 10.6 points and 7.5 rebounds last year, and Haugh is a stretch-four mismatch that will clear the paint for Condon and fellow frontcourt returnees Rueben Chinyelu and Micah Haandlogten.

Arizona, meanwhile, has finished the season 11th or better in adjusted offensive efficiency in each of the last four seasons under head coach Tommy Lloyd. The Wildcats averaged 91 points in three NCAA Tournament games last year, and their best chance at an upset is likely to get involved in an up-tempo affair in an attempt to wear down Florida’s bigs.

The Over cashed in 70% of Arizona’s 10 neutral site games last year, and the Wildcats should be spurred on by a partisan T-Mobile Arena crowd.

Over backers will find outstanding value making this wager at FanDuel, whose O/U is two points lower than the 164.5 found at the high end of the market. At FanDuel’s -110 price, with 52.38% implied odds, my $10 wager would net $9.09 in profit if the Over cashes.

Score prediction: Florida 86, Arizona 80

🆚 Florida vs. Arizona matchup to watch

Xavian Lee vs. Arizona backcourt

Florida’s Xavian Lee transfers in from Princeton after having experience on the team’s Sweet 16 run from three years ago.

Sharing the backcourt with fellow Arkansas transfer Boogie Fland, head coach Todd Golden likely does not need much scoring from Lee right away. Instead, Lee will likely be utilized as a distributor after ranking in the top two in Ivy League play in assist rate each of the last five seasons (and top 20 nationally last year).

Lee averaged 5.5 assists per game last year, and should be in for a career year in that department in an even more up-tempo Florida offense.

If Lee ends with five or more assists, my $10 wager through bet365’s -115 odds would net $8.70 in  profits.

Best prop bet: Xavian Lee Over 4.5 assists (-115 via bet365)

📺 How to watch Florida vs. Arizona

• Date: Monday, Nov. 3
• Tipoff: 7 p.m. ET
• Location: T-Mobile Arena (Paradise, Nev.)
• TV: TNT/truTV