Florida vs. Quinnipiac: Preview, Prediction, Odds, Where to Watch and More

Everything you need to know before the Gators close out their non-conference slate of contests in the 2023-24 season against the Quinnipiac Bobcats.

Photo: Florida head coach Todd Golden; Credit: Zach Goodall

For the final time in the 2023-24 regular season, the Florida Gators (9-3) will take on a non-conference opponent as Todd Golden and Co. battle Quinnipiac (9-3) on Saturday afternoon in Gainesville.

Florida aims to extend its current winning streak to six against a viable Bobcats squad before meeting No. 8 Kentucky to tip off SEC play on Jan. 6.

Below, you can find everything you need to know before tip-off, including an in-depth rundown of the matchup and game prediction.

Florida Gators (9-3) vs. Quinnipiac Bobcats (9-3)

Where: Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center, Gainesville, Fla.

When: Saturday, Dec. 29 at 1 p.m. ET

Watch: ESPNU

Radio: Gator Sports Network from LEARFIELD | FloridaGators.com | The Varsity Network App | SiriusXM 382 & SXM App

Odds: The Gators are 20.5-point favorites over the Bobcats, according to SI Sportsbook. The over/under for the contest is set at 157.5 points.

Series history: This is the first matchup in series history between Florida and Quinnipiac.

Important stories

• Riley Kugel Considered Probable for Florida's Non-Conference Finale
• Florida Gators' SEC-Opening Contest vs. Kentucky Sold Out
• Florida Gators Trounce Grambling State Tigers, 96-57
• Gators Guard Riley Kugel Inactive vs. Grambling State on Friday
• Gators Outlast Wolverines in Double OT Thriller, 106-101
• Florida Avoids Upset Scare, Edges Out East Carolina 70-65
• Gators Control Spiders En Route to 87-67 Orange Bowl Classic Victory
• Second-Half Surge Notches Florida 20-Point Victory Over Merrimack
• Center Micah Handlogten to Return to Florida Lineup vs. Merrimack
• Gators Late Offensive Slump Results in 82-71 Loss to Demon Deacons
• Gators Forward Tyrese Samuel Earns SEC Player of the Week HonorsShorthanded Gators Go Toe-to-Toe With No. 13 Bears, Fall 95-91
• Center Micah Handlogten Suffers Ankle Injury in Florida's 15-Point Win Over Pitt
• Walter Clayton Jr.'s 28-Point Night Leads Florida Past Pitt, 86-71
• Gators Roll Seminoles, 89-68
• Golden: Guard Zyon Pullin Will' Raise the Level' of Gators Squad
• Denzel Aberdeen a 'Great Example' for Gators' Program Under Todd Golden
• Gators Overcome Sluggish Start to Crawl Past FAMU, 89-68
• Florida Outlasted by Virginia in Hall of Fame Series Contest, 73-70
• Florida Cruises to Victory over Loyola Maryland in Season Opener
• Exclusive: Golden's Gators Striving for 'Next Step' With Reconstructed Roster

The rundown

The Gators are vying to complete the sweep of opponents in December when they face off against Quinnipiac. A win would advance Florida to 6-0 in the month and 10-3 overall heading into the gauntlet that is league play in the SEC.

The unit will host a Bobcats squad that has proven formidable throughout the season's first two months.

They're led by a dynamic trio of Matt Balanc, Amarri Tice and Savion Lewis, with each player serving as a different key piece in the team dynamic.

Balanc — a talented, multi-faceted scoring guard — leads the unit in scoring at 18.7 points per game on  46% from the floor and nearly 40% from three. He's been supported considerably by Lewis, who averages over seven assists per game as the squad's primary facilitator.

The duo's impact has elevated Quinnipiac to rank as No. 99 in scoring offense to begin the year, scoring 78.6 points per game.

Tice has aided their excellence as a do-it-all forward throughout the year, posting a team-leading 6.8 rebounds, 1.8 steals and 1.4 blocks per game. The sophomore has added 11.3 points per contest in the 12 outings, aligning as the second-best scoring output on the team.

However, despite the offensive sustainability, which has led to wins over Army and Navy this season, the lack of size and rebounding ability may present concern for the Bobcats against a physically imposing, highly efficient team on the boards like Florida.

It gives Gators' Gators frontcourt, Tyrese Samuel, Micah Handlogten, Alex, Condon and Thomas Haugh, an upper hand.

The contest, on a broader scale, will be a battle of similar styles. A back-and-forth duel is expected, as both teams rank in the top 70 in adjusted tempo per Kenpom. 

The desire to run the floor, and Florida's evident advantage in athleticism and size, positions the Gators as a 20.5-point favorite in the matchup.

Brandon's Prediction (6-1): Florida 88, Quinnipiac 70

Florida set out on a mission to go undefeated in December following a tough loss to Wake Forest to end the first month of the 2023-24 campaign. Just one game away from accomplishing that feat, the Gators have the opportunity to reel off their second-straight convincing win against a noticeably inferior opponent.

However, unlike Grambling State — a troubled squad with several holes — Quinnipiac is playing inspired basketball at the moment. It makes it uber-important for the Gators to find success before commencing their conference schedule against Kentucky on Jan. 6.

I think they’re able to.

Given the aforementioned up-tempo style of both teams and the size advantage Florida sports, I expect UF to produce well offensively, per usual, while stealing several possessions with another game of over 20 offensive rebounds.

It enables the Gators to produce a high-80-point score over the Bobcats, cruising to an 88-70 win. However, Quinnipiac stays just close enough to produce a back door cover. 

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