Norfolk State vs Florida Prediction 3/21/25 College Basketball Picks

The Norfolk State Spartans and the Florida Gators meet Friday in college basketball action from the Lenovo Center. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best bets for this game. Here’s a Norfolk State vs. Florida prediction.

Norfolk State Recap

The Norfolk State Spartans come into the NCAA tournament as the representative from the MEAC, finishing the year with an overall record of 24-10 including an 11-3 mark in MEAC conference play to win the MEAC regular season title. As the top seed, Norfolk State upended Maryland Eastern Shore, Morgan State and South Carolina State on their way to the MEAC tournament title.

Spartans Back In NCAA Tournament For First Time Since 2022

Brian Moore Jr. leads the Spartans in scoring with 18.4 PPG along with 3.8 RPG and 3.1 APG while Christian Ings has 11.9 PPG with a team-high 3.2 APG to lead the Spartans in the assist department. Jalen Myers also has 10.6 PPG with a team-high 5.4 RPG to lead Norfolk State in rebounding to make up the trio of double-digit scorers for Norfolk State up to this point in the year. As a team, Norfolk State is averaging 77.3 PPG on 48.9% shooting from the field, 33.1% from behind the three point line and 75.6% from the foul line so far this season.

Why the Norfolk State Spartans will win

• Norfolk State has won nine of its last 10 night games played at neutral venues.
• Florida has lost three of its last four NCAA Tournament games.

Florida Recap

The Florida Gators come into the NCAA tournament on behalf of the SEC, finishing the year with an overall record of 30-4 including a 14-4 mark in SEC conference play. As the 2-seed in the conference tournament, Florida took down Missouri, Alabama and Tennessee for their first SEC tournament title since 2014.

Gators Making Second Straight NCAA Tournament Appearance

Walter Clayton Jr. leads the Gators in scoring and assists with 17.5 PPG and 4.3 APG along with 3.8 RPG while Alijah Martin has 14.5 PPG with 4.6 RPG and 2.3 APG. Will Richard has 13.6 PPG with 4.5 RPG and 1.7 SPG and Alex Condon’s added 11.2 PPG with a team-high 7.9 RPG to lead Florida on the glass and to round out the group of double-digit scorers for Florida so far this season. Thomas Haugh also has 9.4 PPG with 6 RPG and Denzel Aberdeen has 8 PPG and Rueben Chinyelu has 6.5 RPG as well on the year. As a team, Florida is averaging 85.4 PPG on 47.3% shooting from the field, 35.5% from three and 71.8% from the foul line this season.

Why the Florida Gators will win

• Norfolk State has lost each of its last 15 games against AP-ranked opponents.
• Florida has won each of its last 13 games against non-Conference opponents.

Total Points Facts

• Fourteen of Norfolk State’s last 15 games against AP-ranked opponents have produced a total of 153 or fewer points.
• Each of Florida’s last seven games have produced a total of 159+ points.

Norfolk State vs. Florida Prediction

I’m on Florida here. It’s a big number and Norfolk State in my opinion is still one of the more underappreciated low-major teams out there, but the problem is that there’s a clear talent discrepancy here, and I don’t see the Spartans being able to navigate past that here. The Spartans have been crushed more often than not in these matchups against the high seeds and Florida’s offense is so electric that I think that the Gators steamroll the Spartans here. Give me Florida.

Chris Ruffolo's Pick: Florida -28.5