Kansas State Wildcats at Florida Gators

Betting Odds

Point Spread: Kansas State Wildcats (-11)
Game Total Line: (134)
(wagering lines available at 5Dimes)

The Kansas State Wildcats head south to tangle with the Florida Gators in the Metro PCS Orange Bowl Classic this Saturday afternoon in a battle of nationally ranked teams.Tip-off from the BankAtlantic Center in Sunrise, Florida is set for 3:30 p.m. (ET).

Kansas State’s only setback in its first 10 games was an 82-68 loss to No.1 Duke as a 5.5-point underdog in the CBE Classic. The Wildcats do have victories over two teams that were ranked at the time. In mid-November they knocked off then-No. 24 Virginia Tech 73-57 as a 6.5-point home favorite and later that month they beat then-No. 12 Gonzaga 81-64 as a six-point favorite.

Kansas State is currently 9-1 straight-up and is 3-3 against the spread in games with a posted line. Through the first 10 games, senior guard Jacob Pullen is the Wildcats leading scorer; averaging 16.3 points per game as well the leader in assists with 4 per game. Junior forward Jamar Samuels leads the team in rebounds with 6.4 per game and senior forward Curtis Kelly is averaging 11.3 points and four assists per game. As a team, they are averaging 76 points a game. Kansas State is shooting 45.2 percent from the floor but just 54.3 percent from the free-throw line.

Florida started the season as the No.10 ranked team in the country, but a 57-54 loss to Central Florida on Dec. 1 as a 3.5-point road favorite sent it tumbling in the rankings. This was the Gators second loss of the season after getting thumped by No. 2 Ohio State 93-75 as a 2.5-point home favorite in their second game of the season.

Florida is currently 7-2 SU on the year but just 1-6 ATS in the seven games that had a posted line. The Gators have four starters that are averaging double-figures led by junior guard Erving Walker and sophomore Kenny Boynton, who are both averaging 12.1 points per game. Walker also leads the team in assists with 3.6. Senior center/forward Vernon Macklin is averaging 10.9 points per game and leads the team in rebounds with 5.9 per game. Florida has a field goal percentage of 48.2 percent and is hitting 66.3 percent of its free throws. The Gators are averaging 71 points per game.

Kansas State is 1-2 ATS in its last three road games and 2-2 ATS in its last four games overall. The total has stayed ‘under’ in their last six games overall.

Florida is 0-5 ATS in its last five games at home and 1-7 ATS in its last eight games overall. The total has stayed ‘under’ in four of its last five games overall.

ATS Game Pick

This will be the first time these two teams have faced each other in recent memory so there is no previous history in this matchup. While this is technically not a home game for the Gators it should feel like one given the location which will most likely make them just a slight underdog. That being said, unless the line creeps up to five of more points in Florida’s favor, stick with the deeper and more-athletic Wildcats in this one.
Take Kansas State -1 at 5Dimes where you can get reduced juice on this game!