NCAA Bracket Championship Game 2025 Early Preview for Florida vs. Houston

The Houston Cougars' epic comeback win over the Duke Blue Devils set up an NCAA tournament championship game matchup with the Florida Gators.

The pair of No. 1 seeds will face off on Monday night in San Antonio.

Florida and Houston come into Monday with three combined defeats since February 1. Two of those three losses came on the first day of February.

Florida used a comeback effort of its own to knock off the Auburn Tigers in Saturday's first game.

NCAA Men's Championship Game Info

Date: Monday, April 7

Start Time: 8:50 p.m. ET

TV: CBS

Spread (via DraftKings): Florida -1

Moneyline Odds (via DraftKings): Florida (-112), Houston (-108)

Game Preview

Florida and Houston used come-from-behind efforts of different fashions to reach the title game.

The Gators erased an eight-point halftime deficit thanks to a 41-point second half to get past Auburn and land in the title game.

Houston advanced in far more dramatic fashion, as it used a 25-8 run in the final eight minutes to eliminate Cooper Flagg and Duke.

Houston's defense will be put to the test again on Monday against Walter Clayton Jr. and a Florida offense that loves to score in the high 70s and 80s.

Florida hasn't scored fewer than 77 points since its February 1 defeat to Tennessee in which it only managed 44 points.

The Gators have had a knack for clutch play throughout the NCAA tournament. They erased second-half deficits against UConn, Texas Tech and Auburn to stay alive.

Houston might not allow the Gators to bounce back in the final 20 minutes with the way it plays defense

The Cougars held Duke under 70 points for the first time since January 25.

Houston has always had an impressive defensive tenacity under Kelvin Sampson, but the difference between this year's team and previous ones is that it has a handful of incredible shooters, led by LJ Cryer and Emanuel Sharp.

The Cougars could potentially go shot-for-shot with the Clayton and the Gators, but a more challenging game in the 60s or low 70s better suits their game.

As for Florida, the Gators need to force Houston into a high-scoring battle through Clayton, Alijah Martin and their three-point shooters.

Todd Golden's team will likely win the national championship if it drains a handful of three-point shots and forces the game into the high 70s or 80s.

It is an intriguing clash of styles and you could make the case that either team can impose its will on the contest and cut down the nets in San Antonio.