March Madness: Predicting NCAA Tournament Finals results between Florida and Houston
March Madness: Predicting NCAA Tournament Finals results between Florida and Houston
Monday night features the 2025 NCAA Tournament Finals matchup between the Florida Gators and Houston Cougars — a pair of top-seeded schools that have fought tooth and nail to reach the men's basketball championship game.
Both teams are riding double-digit win streaks along with conference tournament crowns entering this epic March Madness matchup while approaching the game from seemingly opposite directions. Florida is a famously offensive-minded team, while Houston's laurels rest on its punishing defense; however, both programs are also top-10 teams in the opposite categories, making this an evenly-matched event.
With mere hours remaining before the opening tipoff, USA TODAY Sports' staff offered their predictions for the national championship game, with the majority leaning toward the Cougars. Here is a look at their respective takes.
READ MORE: Gators Wire's expert predictions for Florida vs Houston in NCAA Finals
Jordan Mendoza: Houston 72, Florida 69
"After each team pulled off second-half comebacks in the Final Four, which one has enough left to win the national title? Houston proved it could slow down a premier offense like Duke, but no one has had an answer for Walter Clayton Jr. this tournament," Mendozza notes.
"Given the 'never quit' mentality each team possesses, expect this one to go down to the final minutes. The Cougars hit their 3-pointers and are able to limit the Florida star, and they fend off a late rally by the Gators to win their first national championship."
Paul Myerberg: Houston 71, Florida 63
"Houston carries over the ferocious rally in the final minutes against Duke and slows down Florida's perimeter shooting to win the first national title in program history. In addition to its No. 1 defense, the Cougars have another edge in the turnover battle," Myerberg begins.
"They rank third in Division in turnover margin while Florida ranks 118th. Houston also leads the nation in 3-point shooting percentage, potentially negating the Gators' typical production from deep."
Erick Smith: Florida 66, Houston 65
"We use cliches in sports like the irresistible force facing the immovable object way too often. This matchup, however, does present a simple premise: Which team will be able to dictate how the game is played? Florida wants to go fast to take advantage of its open-court game and also diminish the half-court defense of Houston," Smith said.
"The Cougars, meanwhile, want to slow the game down and make it a grinder. It's hard to see either dominating, and that forecasts a close game down the wire. The Gators have the best clutch player on the court in Walter Clayton Jr. And he does it again for the SEC's first title since 2012."
Eddie Timanus: Florida 68, Houston 65
"Picking against Houston at this point seems like a bad idea given the way it has shown the ability to find ways to win in the most difficult of circumstances. Of course the same can be said of the Gators, who have also staged an improbable comeback or two this postseason," Timanus explains.
"So one more time, I'll stick with my choice from the beginning."
Blake Toppmeyer: Houston 75, Florida 71
"I picked Houston to beat Florida in the national championship before the tournament tipped, so I wouldn't dare fade that pick now. Houston's experienced lineup, elite defense and clutch shot-making ability uphold the Cougars as a strong pick. Florida's Walter Clayton Jr. has been the nation's best player for the past several weeks. Stellar though he is, Houston counters with a variety of proven weapons," Toppenmeyer points out.
"This game should be a great show. Get the popcorn ready."
Dan Wolken: Houston 61, Florida 57
"Both teams have pulled out improbable victories in the NCAA tournament to get to this point, so both may feel that a championship is their destiny. But the Cougars' relentlessness and ability to take away what an opponent does best is the intangible that just wears people out," Wolken offers.
"Houston may not have the most talent, but they've got plenty to hang in a close game, which is the area where they thrive. Betting against Kelvin Sampson with a 40-hour turnaround seems like a bad idea."
Follow us @GatorsWire on X, formerly known as Twitter, as well as Bluesky, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Washington Post
13 minutes ago
- Washington Post
Oilers likely making a change for Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final. Who starts in goal is a mystery
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Kris Knoblauch said Wednesday the Edmonton Oilers are likely making a change in their lineup for Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final against the Florida Panthers , though the second-year coach would not reveal what it would be or who he plans to start in goal on Thursday night. Stuart Skinner was replaced by Calvin Pickard late in Game 3 after allowing five goals on 23 shots on the way to a 6-1 defeat . Pickard allowed one more in mop-up duty. Knoblauch, captain Connor McDavid and others defended Skinner's play, insisting the team needed to be better in front of him. 'We've got to help him, for sure, and I think that he's been playing unbelievable in the last, what, three, four, five weeks,' defenseman Mattias Ekholm said. 'I don't know how long it's been now, but it feels like a long time and he hasn't had a bad game. Maybe last night was one of those when it was good to get it out of the system. Hopefully it's one of those, a night off.' Skinner has allowed 13 goals on 97 shots in the final, an .866 save percentage. Florida's Sergei Bobrovsky has allowed nine on 125, a .928 save percentage. 'He gives us a chance every night,' Panthers forward Evan Rodrigues said. 'That's all you can ask for, right? Some big saves, key saves at key moments and we're not taking him for granted, that's for sure.' Edmonton started the playoffs with Skinner, went to Pickard after two losses to open the first round against Los Angeles and won six in a row. Pickard was injured in the second round against Vegas, so Skinner got the net back and has been the starter since. He allowed 10 goals on 132 shots in five games against Dallas in the West final, a .924 save percentage. 'Calvin was playing really well but I think, also, we've always felt confident in Calvin,' Knoblauch said. 'Calvin's always been a guy who (has) been able to come in and give us good, quality starts.' The play in front of the crease is a bigger concern for the Oilers. Veteran defenseman John Klingberg is a team-worst minus-4 through three games. 'John's been great through the playoffs: He's gotten us through a lot of rounds,' Knoblauch said. 'At this time of the year, you want depth. You know there's going to be injuries and things you have to change up to your lineup.' Troy Stecher, who played a handful of games earlier in the playoffs when Ekholm was out, figures to take Klingberg's place if that is the move. 'Troy's been very valuable to our team, through regular season, playoffs and probably one thing we as a coaching staff appreciate a lot from Troy is just how dependable he is,' Knoblauch said. 'No matter if he's playing big minutes regularly, hasn't played for a long period of time, any time we've needed him he's given us really good minutes and usually not making mistakes.' Top-line forward Ryan Nugent-Hopkins is again going to be considered a game-time decision with an undisclosed injury. Nugent-Hopkins did not skate Tuesday. The Oilers had a (well-attended) optional practice Wednesday that included McDavid and Leon Draisaitl among the more than half-dozen players on the ice. One of the most noticeable moments of Game 3 was Aaron Ekblad connecting with McDavid on a clean, hard open-ice hit. McDavid almost helicoptered down to the ice as Panthers fans cheered. McDavid went to the locker room not long after but with an equipment manager, not a member of the training staff. Ekblad did not think much of it. 'I didn't think it was that big hit, no,' Ekblad said. 'I don't even think I got him that good, realistically. So, I don't know, I'm just trying to get in his way and separate man from puck and that's all you can ask for against a guy like that.' The body checks are piling up. Ekblad had three of the five on McDavid in Game 3, and the reigning playoff MVP has been hit nine times in the series. Florida has outhit the Oilers, but not by much: 137-124. Only nine-time Stanley Cup champion Scotty Bowman — father of Oilers general manager Stan Bowman — has coached more games in the NHL than Florida's Paul Maurice. With that comes some full-circle moments. On the other bench in the final this year and last is Hall of Fame defenseman Paul Coffey, an assistant on Knoblauch's staff. Maurice when asked about older players delivering in the playoffs in light of Brad Marchand and Corey Perry starring in the final told a story about making Coffey a healthy scratch for the first game of the first round in 1999 against Carolina in his 'foolish youth.' 'He handled it great,' Maurice said. 'He said, 'I don't agree with it, but I understand it.' He went back and I think he rode the bike for about three hours. ... And then he went into Game 2 and he was maybe our best player (and) one of the best players on the ice. And I always remembered that as these older players view the playoffs differently.' ___ AP NHL playoffs: and
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Travis Hunter's Madden Rating Raises Rare Questions
Travis Hunter's Madden Rating Raises Rare Questions originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Two years ago, a Reddit poster on r/Madden asked, 'Why do people care about Madden ratings?' Another replied: 'Some people like seeing what EA thinks of their favorite player.' Advertisement Jacksonville Jaguars rookie wide receiver and cornerback Travis Hunter will debut in Madden 26 with an overall rating of 76 — out of a possible 99. Considering that Hunter won the 2024 NCAA Heisman Trophy and was selected second overall in the 2025 NFL draft, is 76 too low? Too high? Or just right? Travis Hunter at Jaguars practice.© Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images Hunter himself didn't react much to it when asked about his 76 after the second day of Jaguars' minicamp on Wednesday. The highest possible overall rating in the iconic video game is 99. In Madden 25, players like Lamar Jackson, Derrick Henry, Justin Jefferson, Travis Kelce, and Trent Williams all earned that score. Advertisement On one hand, Hunter's a rookie. On the other hand, he's featured in Madden 26 marketing videos, used to generate excitement for fans to play him in the game. He was ultimately rated a 99 in EA Sports' College Football 25. Of course, the NCAA is not the NFL. So … 76. Are we good? Not many fans have weighed in yet, as Madden 26 doesn't launch until August 14. In a June 5 article, Hunter rated himself at least an 85. Chad 'Ochocinco' Johnson, a former NFL receiver and one of EA Sports' live ratings adjusters, was more like nah. 'The best I could do for you as a rookie coming into the league … I give you a 76,' Johnson told the Jaguars' top draft pick. Advertisement Hunter enters his first NFL season with the Jaguars as the league's first legitimate two-way star since Deion Sanders in the early-to-mid 1990s. Sanders happened to be Hunter's head coach and mentor in college, at Jackson State and then at Colorado. The Jacksonville coaching staff is more concerned with how the flesh-and-blood Travis Hunter plays, and so far, are giving him high ratings for his play on both sides of the ball. 'It takes a really sharp person to be able to do that,' Jags defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile said. 'He's blessed with a lot of intelligence and maturity. It's impressive to watch.' 'I've been doing it my whole life,' Hunter said after Wednesday's minicamp, in which he only played offense. In 11-on-11 drills, Hunter caught a touchdown pass against cornerback Tyson Campbell. Advertisement In his senior year at Colorado, Hunter caught 96 passes for 1258 yards and 15 touchdowns. He also rushed for a touchdown. On defense, he intercepted four passes, broke up 11 more, and made 26 tackles, 25 of them solo. '(Hunter) is a fun guy to coach, to be around,' Campanile added. 'His position coaches love coaching him.' Related: Colorado Coach Lavishes High Praise On Travis Hunter Related: Travis Hunter Dominates College Football Awards Season This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 12, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Gulf Coast coaches hard at work for summer recruitment
PANAMA CITY, Fla. (WMBB) – Gulf Coast State College coaches speak on the summer recruiting process and how they are preparing to build the next season's rosters. 'We've been working on next year's team since the end of last season,' said head basketball coach Lane Below. Different sports follow different timelines and recruiting strategies, but summer is viewed as a crucial time across all programs. For some teams, only a few roster spots remain. 'We only need to fill a couple more spots. I feel like we're in a good place,' said head baseball coach, Tyler Younger. 'The biggest thing is making sure the guy fits, not just talent-wise, but philosophically. If it's not a fit, then he's not the right addition.' Fall sports like volleyball are on a tighter clock, with preseason preparation already underway. 'As they come in, we're making sure they're registered for classes and staying active back home,' said volleyball head coach Scott Allen. 'We want them sharp when they show up, not rusty.' Other programs are still in the middle of roster-building, scanning high schools and taking advantage of the NCAA transfer portal. 'Last year, we brought in six Division I transfers,' Below said. 'This year we've added two junior college transfers who we believe can be among the best in the country. The transfer portal has also helped us land great high school players, especially since a lot of Division I schools are now focused on recruiting older guys.' While each program has its own methods, collaboration between coaches at Gulf Coast State coaches is common. 'You can learn something from everyone,' said Younger. 'Whether it's how they communicate, how they scout, or who they talk to, I'm always bouncing ideas off Coach Below, Coach Kuhn, or Coach Thomas.' Below said, 'We all hang out, whether it's with Coach Tyler or Coach Rory, and we bounce ideas off each other. Everyone's got their own way, and that's what makes each of us effective.' Though summer is in full swing, final decisions are still being made. At Gulf Coast State College, the groundwork for the upcoming season is being laid, one conversation, workout, and recruit at a time. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
