College Basketball: Mitch Picks Florida at Tennessee (Jan. 31)

Florida (18-3) at Tennessee (12-7), Saturday, Jan. 31, 2009,  9 PM EST

The Line: Tennessee -4

I have had the chance to see a lot of both of these teams in action and have seen different results.

When I have seen the Florida Gators, they have lit up the scoreboard, pouring in every shot in sight.

When I have seen Tennessee this season, they have been on the wrong end of the scoreboard, failing to "step it up" against tough competition.

In the Volunteers' defense, their schedule has been brutal, the third toughest in the country. The Vols have played four teams in the top 25.

This was supposed to be a rebuilding year for Florida. However, in a day when so many college hoops stars are one-and-done, the Gators are finding success with young sharpshooters for whom shooting over 70 percent in one half is almost normal.

Florida enters this one at 6-7-1 against the spread, while Tennessee is 7-9-1 against the number. Florida is 4-0-1 against the spread in their last five overall and 4-1-1 against the spread in their last six on the road.

Tennessee is 1-4 against the spread in their last five overall and 0-5 against the spread in their last five home games.

Tennessee has covered in five of the last six meetings overall, and six of the last seven in Knoxville.

This Florida Gator team is red hot, and if they are going to break these negative trends, now is the time for them to do it.

Mitch's Pick: Florida +4

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