#23 Alabama vs. #19 Florida Picks and Predictions: Ranked SEC Hoops
Written by: Nate Hornung
Published: Sat Jan 31, 2026, 8:00 pm ET
Read Time: 5 minutes
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Nate Oats and Todd Golden meet in Gainesville as the No. 19 Florida Gators host the No. 23 Alabama Crimson Tide on Sunday for some SEC basketball. Both of these teams haven't necessarily lived up to expectations this year, and both seem to be doing anything they can to turn things around. For the Gators, that's camping in the lane for 6, 7, 8, 9 or 10 seconds (according to Nate Oats), while the Crimson Tide need judges to bend the rules and circumvent the NCAA's authority in order to add players to their roster midseason. Let's get into this circus of a game and see if we can find some picks.
Best Bet: Florida -7.5 (-110) Lucky Rebel Sportsbook
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#23 Alabama Crimson Tide vs. #19 Florida Gators NCAA Basketball Insights
Can Alabama keep things close against the Gators on the road?
Alabama is 4-3 in SEC play so far, but they have only played one ranked squad so far. They've been toying around with the middle of the pack in the conference, and now they might be in for a wake up call in Gainesville. Plus, they face Texas A&M on Wednesday, who don't have a little number next to their name just yet, but they will next week after sitting alone on top of the conference. The Tide could be looking ahead.
Plus, the Gators have figured things out. They've played a very tough schedule so far, and were bested by Auburn by nine as double digit favorites in their last game at home. It's time to turn things on for the fans, and a ranked win over the Crimson Tide is the perfect way to do it. Two of the Tide's conference losses game against Tennessee at home and against Vanderbilt on the road. The Gators beat the Vols at home and the Commodores in Nashville. Maybe its an oversimplification, but it still gives me more faith in the hosts.
Matchup Information – Alabama vs. Florida – February 1
- Venue & Location: Stephen C. O'Connell Center (Gainesville, FL)
- Date: Sunday, February 1, 2026
- Kick Off: 1:00 p.m. Eastern
- Broadcast: ABC
Alabama vs. Florida Betting Odds
Odds are courtesy of Lucky Rebel, one of our favorite online sportsbooks, as of January 31, 2026 at 7:26 p.m. eastern. Sign up today with and get a $1,250 deposit bonus, as well as 50 slot spins immediately. Lucky Rebel Sportsbook offers a wide variety of unique markets across nearly every sport imaginable.
Spread
- Alabama +7.5 (-110)
- Florida -7.5 (-110)
Total
- Over 174 (-115)
- Under 174 (-105)
#23 Alabama vs. #19 Florida NCAA Basketball Picks and Predictions
The Gators are looking for a win after losing their last contest at home
Alabama vs. Florida Prediction: Florida Wins and Covers, Over 174
Best Bet: Florida -7.5 (-110) Lucky Rebel Sportsbook
I missed out on -6.5, but don't think it should matter. Now I was also eyeballing Florida's team total over in this game, but it has not dropped yet and will likely be around 90.5. This is going to be a fast game with plenty of opportunities for the Gators to score the ball. Alabama will speed things up, but if their threes aren't falling, things could get ugly quickly.
Tennessee and Vanderbilt were able to hold the Tide to just 15/66 from the beyond the arc, well below their 34.8% average. The Gators play just as good of defense as those two. Florida is ninth overall in the country, top 20 in opponent eFG% and 3P rate defense. They hold teams to roughly 30% from downtown, and have the clear advantage on the glass as well, ranking second in the country in offensive rebounds allowed and gained. And they aren't afraid to run either.
Get ready for plenty of points from both sides, however I trust the Gators' defense much more to slow down their visitors.
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Nate has been a recreational sports bettor for about 5 years. In that time, he has grown to love the pursuit of winners and sticking it to The Man. Nate loves data and uses his understanding of numbers to help him be a more profitable sports gambler, however he will be the first to tell you this game is about more than just stats.
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