NCAA Championship Basketball Game @ Georgia Dome, Atlanta, Georgia

Monday, April 2, 2007

(No. 1 South) Ohio State Buckeyes vs. (No. 1 Midwest) Florida Gators

Game Time: 9:21 p.m. EST

Line: Florida -4½

Total: 140½

March Madness Betting Stats

Ohio State: 3-2 ATS, 4 Overs and 1 Under

Florida: 3-2 ATS, 4 Overs and 1 Under

Synopsis

Back in January, the Florida Gators' football team gave the boots to Ohio State's gridiron gang more than adequately covering as 7-point underdogs.

Now, about four months later, the two square off for the college basketball crown and the roles are somewhat reversed as Florida has been pegged the favorites by close to five points.

The Gators are a stacked team with the likes of last year's tourney MVP Joakim Noah, Taurean Green, Corey Brewer, Al Horford and Lee Humphrey, the new career leader in three-pointers. In fact, all five average double digit PPG.

Everybody knows about Ohio State C Greg Oden, but the big guy has been on the pine quite a bit because of foul trouble the last few games and that has allowed other Buckeyes to shine. G David Lighty, G Ron Lewis and especially G Mike Conley Jr. have picked up the slack for their freshman C friend.

Florida will be trying to be the first college hoops team since Duke to win back-to-back titles, Ohio State will be searching for its first title since 1962.

The Buckeyes were hammered 86-60 by the Gators when they met on December 23. Florida was favored by 5½-points in that contest.