Norfolk State Spartans vs Florida Prediction & Picks - NCAA Basketball

Prediction published on 3/20/25, 10:00 AM  by Paul Tamayo | Modified on 3/20/25 at 10:49 AM in NCAA Basketball Picks

The 1st-ranked Florida Gators take on the 16th-ranked Norfolk State Spartans in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Friday, March 21, 2025, at the Lenovo Center.

The top-seeded Gators start their NCAA championship bid against the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) champions Spartans. Florida has won 12 of their last 13 games, including their last six games. They defeated Missouri, Alabama, and Tennessee on the way to conquering a stacked SEC group.

Florida achieves most of their success on offense. They have the 5th-best offensive rating (120.6) in the country. The Gators run up the score on their opponents, averaging a third-best 85.4 points per game.

Norfolk State has forged a run of their own, winning four straight games on their way to the MEAC championship. In that span, their defense held opponents to below 71 points.

However, dealing with Florida is another ballgame. This season, Norfolk State's lone matchup with an SEC opponent resulted in a 67-52 loss to Tennessee, a team that's not popular for its offense.  

Walter Clayton, who is averaging 17.5 points and 4.3 assists, will lead the Gators' attack. On the other side, junior guard Brian Moore produces a team-high 18.4 points for the Spartans.