Teams looking to improve on their fortunes from a year ago meet when the Florida Gators take on the Boston College Eagles in a 2020 Roman Legends Classic matchup on Thursday. The Gators (1-0) tied for fourth with Mississippi State in the Southeastern Conference at 11-7 and were 19-12 overall in 2019-20. The Eagles (1-2), meanwhile, tied for 10th with Virginia Tech and Miami (FL) in the Atlantic Coast Conference at 7-13 and were 13-19 overall a year ago. Florida has won both of the previous two games in the series, including a 91-65 triumph on Nov. 29, 1994.
The game is slated to begin at 9:30 p.m. ET from "Bubbleville" at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn. Florida had the 146th-best offense last season, averaging 71.9 points per game, while Boston College was 321st at 64.6. The Gators are 5.5-point favorites in the latest Florida vs. Boston College odds from William Hill Sportsbook, while the over-under for total points scored is set at 139.5. Before making any Boston College vs. Florida picks, check out the college basketball predictions from the SportsLine Projection Model.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every college basketball game 10,000 times. Over the past four-plus years, the proprietary computer model has generated an impressive profit of almost $2,600 for $100 players on its top-rated college basketball picks against the spread. It's also off to a fast start in the 2020-21 season, going 4-1 on its top-rated picks and returning over $300. Anyone who has followed it has seen huge returns.
Now, the model has set its sights on Florida vs. Boston College in the Roman Legends Classic 2020. You can visit SportsLine now to see the picks. Here are the college basketball lines and trends for Boston College vs. Florida:
- Florida vs. Boston College spread: Florida -5.5
- Florida vs. Boston College over-under: 139.5 points
- Florida vs. Boston College money line: Florida -260, Boston College +210
- FLA: Was on the verge of its fourth straight NCAA Tournament bid before COVID-19 ground last season to a halt
- BC: All three of its games this year have been decided by nine points or fewer
Why Florida can cover
The Gators had to wait a bit to start their season, but came out on top against Army on Wednesday thanks in part to a pair of transfers. They will look to build on their 76-69 victory with the help of junior forward Colin Castleton, a versatile big man who played two seasons at Michigan. He is known as a top-notch defender and shot blocker. In the win over Army on Wednesday, Castleton scored nine points, grabbed eight rebounds and blocked one shot. He averaged 2.3 points and 1.8 rebounds in 44 appearances at Michigan.
Also expected to power the Gators is junior guard Tyree Appleby, who scored 15 points in the win over Army. He was one of the best players on the Cleveland State roster and averaged 14.3 points and 4.7 assists in 63 appearances with the Vikings. He earned All-Horizon League honors as a sophomore. Appleby scored 17.2 points, shot nearly 39 percent from 3-point range and averaged 5.6 assists per game for Cleveland State in 2018-19.
Why Boston College can cover
Even so, the Gators aren't a lock to cover the Florida vs. Boston College spread. That's because the Eagles have played well in losses at St. John's and against Villanova, and in a 69-64 win over Rhode Island. Sophomore guard Jay Heath, who was second on the Eagles in scoring last year at 13.1 points per game, is averaging 15 points so far this year. He poured in 16 against St. John's. He has scored in double figures in 17 consecutive games.
Also playing well is junior guard Wynston Tabbs, who had been limited due to injury in his first two seasons with the Eagles. In three games so far this year, Tabbs is averaging 16.7 points, including a 23-point performance against St. John's. In the season opener against Villanova, Tabbs scored 11 points in 22 minutes of action. Prior to injury, Tabbs started 14 of the 15 games he appeared in in 2018-19. He was the first freshman in Boston College history to score at least 15 points in each of his first three games.
How to make Florida vs. Boston College picks
SportsLine's model is leaning over on the total as six players score 10 or more points in the simulations. The model also says one side of the spread hits in well over 60 percent of simulations. You can only get the pick at SportsLine.
So who wins Florida vs. Boston College? And which side of the spread cashes in well over 60 percent of simulations? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the Boston College vs. Florida spread to jump on, all from the advanced model that is up almost $2,600 on its top-rated college basketball spread picks over the past four-plus years, and find out.
