Florida Gators vs UConn Huskies Prediction and Picks - December 9, 2025
It's the SEC vs the Big East College Basketball action on Tuesday evening, and we have a Florida vs UConn prediction ready to rock and roll. The Gators come in off a 67-66 loss to Duke on the road and are now 5-3 on the year. UConn comes in at 8-1 on the season and they are off an 83-59 home win over East Texas A&M. These teams met last season and the Gators won that game 77-75 at home. Continue reading to see our Florida vs UConn prediction.
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Gators Fall Short Against The Blue Devils
Florida’s most recent game was a 67–66 loss at No. 4 Duke on December 2, a thriller in the ACC/SEC Challenge where Thomas Haugh scored 24 points and Rueben Chinyelu grabbed 14 rebounds, but the Gators couldn’t hold off Cameron Boozer’s late heroics. It was a gut‑punch defeat, their second in three games, and it highlighted both their resilience and their struggles to close against elite opponents.
The Gators average 83.4 points per game, shooting 43.2% from the field and just 27.4% from three, a glaring weakness that has cost them in tight contests. Haugh leads the team at 18.6 points per game, while Alex Condon adds 15.1 points and 9.0 rebounds, giving Florida a reliable frontcourt duo. Boogie Fland has been streaky but dangerous, scoring 12.5 points per game, and Chinyelu’s rebounding dominance (11.3 per game) has been a major factor in their ability to control the glass. Florida ranks 2nd nationally in rebounding (47.6 per game), which has kept them competitive even when shots aren’t falling.
Defensively, Florida allows 71.9 points per game and holds opponents to 38.8% shooting, but turnovers (14.4 per game) and poor free‑throw shooting (72.1%) remain issues. Their size inside makes them tough to score against, yet perimeter defense has been inconsistent. Against UConn, the Gators will need Haugh and Condon to carry the scoring load while relying on Chinyelu to battle the Huskies’ frontcourt. Florida’s rebounding edge is real, but their shooting inefficiency could be exposed against one of the nation’s best defenses.
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Huskies Shred East Texas A&M
UConn’s most recent game was an 83–59 win over East Texas A&M on December 5, where Alex Karaban scored 12 points and freshman Eric Reibe added 13 with six rebounds and three blocks. The Huskies improved to 8–1, extending their winning streak to four, and showed off their depth even with Tarris Reed Jr. sidelined by an ankle injury.
The Huskies average 80.1 points per game, shooting 49.1% from the field and 33.3% from three, with Reed leading the team at 15.5 points and 8.3 rebounds when healthy. Solomon Ball adds 14.6 points per game, while Karaban chips in 13.4 points and nearly six boards. Silas Demary Jr. has been the playmaker, averaging 5.6 assists, and Reibe’s emergence gives them another weapon in the paint. UConn shares the ball well (17.9 assists per game) and has multiple scoring options, making them difficult to defend.
Defensively, UConn has been elite, allowing just 60.4 points per game and holding opponents to 37.4% shooting. They rank among the nation’s best in limiting field‑goal attempts and controlling the glass, giving up only 30.4 rebounds per game. Their perimeter defense has been suffocating, allowing just 26.8% from three, and their ability to force opponents into long possessions has been a hallmark of Dan Hurley’s system. Against Florida, UConn’s defense will be tested by the Gators’ rebounding dominance, but their efficiency and depth give them the tools to control tempo and grind out another win at Madison Square Garden.
Florida vs UConn Pick
Florida vs UConn Spread Pick
- UConn -4 (5 Units)
UConn -4 feels like the right side because of how consistent the Huskies have been on both ends of the floor. They’re coming off an 83–59 win over East Texas A&M on December 5, where Alex Karaban and freshman Eric Reibe combined for 25 points and the defense completely smothered the Aggies, holding them under 35% shooting. For the season, UConn allows just 60.4 points per game and keeps opponents to 37.4% from the field, one of the best marks in the country. Solomon Ball and Tarris Reed Jr. lead a balanced attack that averages 80.1 points per game, and the Huskies share the ball well with nearly 18 assists per game. That blend of efficiency and depth makes them tough to crack, especially in a neutral‑site showcase like this.
Florida, meanwhile, has shown fight but also clear flaws. The Gators dropped a 67–66 heartbreaker to Duke on December 2, despite Thomas Haugh’s 24 points and Rueben Chinyelu’s dominance on the boards. They average 83.4 points per game, but their three‑point shooting sits at just 27.4%, which is a dangerous weakness against UConn’s perimeter defense that allows only 26.8% from deep. Florida’s rebounding edge is real — they rank 2nd nationally at 47.6 boards per game — but turnovers (14.4 per game) and poor free‑throw shooting (72.1%) have cost them in close contests. Against a disciplined Huskies team that thrives on forcing mistakes and grinding opponents down, UConn -4 is backed by both the numbers and the matchup dynamics.
Florida vs UConn Over/Under Pick
- Under 146 (4 Units)
The Under 146 looks like the right call in Florida–UConn because both teams lean on defense and rebounding to dictate pace. Florida just lost 67–66 to Duke on December 2, and while they average 83.4 points per game, their poor three‑point shooting (27.4%) and turnover issues (14.4 per game) often stall possessions. UConn, meanwhile, held East Texas A&M to just 59 points on December 5, and for the season they allow only 60.4 points per game while keeping opponents under 38% shooting. The Huskies’ ability to grind games down and Florida’s reliance on second‑chance points through rebounding suggest a slower, physical matchup where scoring won’t come easy. With both defenses ranked among the nation’s best, the Under 146 is supported by recent form and season‑long numbers.
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