Florida v Houston, National Title Prediction

The No.1 seeded Florida Gators (West) outlasted the No.1 seeded Auburn Tigers (South)
behind 34 points from the great Walter Clayton Jr. in what my cousin Camper O’Neal and I
said was a Kobe Bryant-Steph Curry performance for the ages. The Tigers looked to have control at halftime, but had no answers for Clayton Jr. in the second half though they gave it a good effort. Johni Broome was shut down in the second half. Still, the Tigers made it their second Final Four under Pearly, the other being in 2019, and look to have a bright future unless transfer attrition gets them, which it does to a lot of teams. Pearly is 65 now, and the job takes a massive amount of energy, so I know Tiger fans are hopeful he can get his next team over the top and capture it all. Auburn looked like the best team in the country in mid February, but lost some momentum when Florida came to visit and defeated them at Neville Arena. Then, the Crimson Tide upset the Tigers at home the last game of the regular season, and they lost in the semis of the SEC tourney to Tennessee and could never completely get that winning edge back. Still, a great showing by the Tigers and a lot to be proud of if you’re an Auburn Tiger fan. Same with the Crimson Tide. They had a tough matchup with Duke in the Elite Eight and just didn’t have enough size for the Blue Devils. Still, a Final Four appearance (2024) and an Elite Eight in back to back years is a lot to be proud of. Nate Oats is 50 years old and has a lot of good years left. The Tide did lose Grant Nelson, Mark Sears, Chris Young and Clifford Omoruyi, as they ran out of eligibility, and Mouhamed Dioubate transferred, so there is some reloading to do, which Coach Oats is good at.

But it’s the Gators and the Houston Cougars playing for the National Championship tonight at the Alamodome in San Antonio. The game tips off at 7:50 CT, and CBS will televise. The Cougars made an improbable comeback against Duke on Saturday Night after trailing throughout the entire game by double digits much of the time and by 8 with a minute left in the game. When Houston finished off the comeback behind 26 points by marksman guard L.J. Cryer, a clutch three by Emmanuel Sharp and two critical free throws by big man J’Wan Roberts, who was a 61% free throw shooter when he stepped to the line with 19 seconds with Houston trailing 67-66. Roberts calmly drained both shots, and Cooper Flagg, showing his youth and inexperience in big moments as a true freshman, missed a turn around jumper that the Cougars rebounded and Cryer was fouled Cryer, a 92% free throw shooter, sank both shots to clinch the game for the Cougars, 70-67. When the game ended, Beth looked at me and said, “What a gag job.” I agree. The young team of all star freshmen and their young 37 year old third year coach, who has never been a head coach before Duke, couldn’t get the job done in the clutch in a game they were expected to win. Heck, everybody had already started saying this was the greatest team of all time? Come on, Man. Not even close and they proved it. Meanwhile, the Cougars showed their experience and mental toughness under 69 year old veteran coach Kelvin Sampson.

So it’s Florida and Houston playing for it all. Awesome matchup against a prolific offensive team in Florida versus a prolific defensive team in Houston. Who will prevail? Here’s my prediction.

White’s World’s Record from the SEC Tournament till now

SU: 18-10; ATS: 13-14; O/U: 13-9

Tonight

Florida (35-4) vs. Houston (35-4)

Alamodome, San Antonio, 73,086

7:50 CT

CBS

Ian, Bill, Grant, Trace, Gene-Rules

Gators by 1 1/2 O/U: 140 1/2

Florida is the one seed out of the West and Houston is the one seed out of the Midwest. It’s in San Antonio, so the Cougars have a pretty strong home court advantage. The Cougars are a tough out, but I’m going to put my trust in Clayton Jr. and the Gators.

Florida 70, Houston 68

Final Four Most Valuable Player

Walter Clayton Jr.

An Epic Final Four in Store: Florida vs. Auburn; Houston vs Duke

Auburn versus Florida and Duke versus Houston makes for a tremendous Final Four at the Alamodome in San Antonio on Saturday. Can the Auburn Tigers knock off Florida and make it to their first National Championship Game, or will the Gators continue their stellar play in 2024-25 and play for a chance to cut down the nets on Monday Night.

The Duke Blue Devils have been an unstoppable force in the last two months and throughout the tournament. Not only do the Blue Devils play prolific offense, as always, their defense, led by 7’2″, 250 pound center Khaman Maluach, is superb. They wore out a very good offensive team in the Alabama Crimson Tide last Saturday Night in Newark. Copper Flagg and Kon Knueppel are pretty phenomenal players, also. But the Houston Cougars are no slouch, either. They have the No.1 scoring defense in the country, they rebound at an extremely high level, and they can fill it up many times, too.

Will be a couple of classics in San Antonio. Here are predictions for these two contests.

White’s World’s Records from the SEC Tourney through the Elite Eight

SU: 17-9; ATS: 11-14; O/U: 12-8

Saturday

First Semifinal

No.1 Florida (34-4, West Region) vs. No.1 Auburn (32-5, South)

Alamodome, 73,086

5:09 P.M. CT

CBS

Ian, Bill, Grant, Trace, Gene Steratore-Rules

Gators by 2 1/2, O/U: 159 1/2

I like a really fine game between these two contentious, highly talented rivals from the SEC. I’ll take stellar marksman Walter Clayton Jr., 6’9″ 215 power forward Thomas Haugh, and the Gators, barely.

Florida 78, Auburn 75

Second Semifinal

No.1 Houston (34-4, Midwest) vs. No.1 Duke (35-3, East)

Alamodome

7:49 P.M. CT

CBS

Ian, Bill, Grant, Tracy, Gene

Duke by 5 1/2, O/U, 135 1/2

I’m looking at an intensely hard fought, heavyweight championship fight, an Ali-Fraziuh matchup, with Duke just getting by a terrific Houston team to make it to the National Championship Game and set their sights on their 6th national championship versus a very good Florida Gators team.

Duke 64, Houston 62

Tide/Tigers continue their pursuit of the Final Four today and Sunday

Alabama and Auburn continued their stellar play Thursday and Friday Night respectively as both teams inched closer to the Alamodome and San Antonio for the Final Four, which would be the second Final Four for both teams and both coaches as Bruce Pearl took his team there in 2019 and barely missed out on a shot at the national championship due to a missed double dribble call on Virginia’s Ty Jerome with seconds winding down in regulation in the semifinals. After Jerome double dribbled with 7 seconds left, he took dribbled down the floor and tossed it to Kyle Guy in the left corner and Guy shot a potential game tying three which he missed. However the Tigers were called for a foul on Guy’s shot, which was also controversial. Guy sank all three free throws and Virginia won the game in overtime and went on to capture the national championship the following Monday over Texas Tech. Tough one for Bruce and the 2019 Tigers. However, they have another shot in 2025. Nate Oats’ Crimson Tide made it to the Final Four last year only to fall to unstoppable UConn in the semis. UConn went on to win it all and win back to back national titles in 2023 and 2024.

Now both Alabama and Auburn face major tests as they home in on advancing to the arena all 352 schools in Division I aspired to be at in November; the Alamodome in San Antonio sire of the 2025 Final Four, which commences next Saturday, April, 5th on CBS with game times to be determined. Most likely a 5:09 P.M. CT tip and a 7:49 P.M. CT tip.

Here are previews and predictions for the Elite Eight games today and Sunday.

White’s World’s 2024 Sweet 16 through Championship Records

SU: 11-4; ATS: 11-4

This Postseason, 2025: Sweet 16 record:

SU: 7-1; ATS: 5-3; O/U: 6-2

Overall 2025 record including the SEC Tournament

SU: 15-7; ATS: 12-9; O/U: 9-7

Today’s Games

West Regional Final

No.3 seed Texas Tech (28-8) vs. No. 1 Florida (33-4)

Chase Center, SF, CA. 18,064

5:09 P.M. Central Time

TBS/truTV

Kevin Harlan, Dan Bonner, Stan Van Gundy, Lauren Shehadi, Gene Steratore-Rules

Gators by 6 1/2, O/U, 157 1/2

I like the Gators to show the country once again what a prolific team they have led by their stellar guards, Walter Clayton Jr., Alijah Martin and Will Richard, and big men Alex Condon, Reuben Chinyelu and Thomas Hough.

Florida 83, Texas Tech 75

East Regional Final

No. 2 Alabama (28-8) vs. No.1 Duke (34-3)

Prudential Center, Newark, 16,755

7:49 P.M. CT

TBS/truTV

Brian Anderson, Jim Jackson, Allie LaForce, Gene (rules analyst throughout).

Duke by 7 1/2; O/U 174 1/2

Nate Oats had a premonition for his backcourt on Thursday at the Prudential Center in Newark telling Mark Sears, Labaron Philon, Chris Youngblood and Aiden Holloway before the game that, “We’re going to rain threes.” Coach Oats was a prophet. The Tide drained trifectas to the tune of 25-of-51, 49%, the most made threes in NCAA Tournament history surpassing Loyola Marymount’s 21 in 1990 against Michigan. Mark and Aiden were knocking down threes from Yankee Stadium; Mark to the tune of 34 points on 10-of-16 from triple, and Aiden to the tune of 23 on 6-of-13 from deep downtown. Youngblood added 19 on 5-of-11 from three. Mercy, what a performance by those guys. Now the Tide faces the vaunted Blue Devils and player of the year candidate, along with Auburn’s Johni Broome, and soon to be first overall pick in the NBA draft (most likely) Cooper Flagg. Can the 2025 version of the Crimson Tide repeat and make it back to the Final Four? I like them to do that.

Alabama 94, Duke 92

Sunday’s Games

Midwest Regional Final

No.2 Tennessee (30-7) vs. No.1 Houston (33-4)

Lucas Oil Stadium, Indy, 35,000

1:20 P.M. CT

CBS

Andrew Catalon, Steve Lappas, Evan Washburn, Gene

Houston by 3 1/2; O/U: 124 1/2

Looking for a hard fought, hard-nosed game, with stellar point guard Zakai Zeigler and the Vols outlasting the Cougars.

Tennessee 62, Houston 61

South Region

No.1 Auburn (31-5) vs. No.2 Michigan State (30-6)

State Farm Arena, ATL, 17,044

4:09 P.M. CT

CBS

Ian, Bill, Grant, Trace, Gene

Auburn by 4 1/2; O/U: 147 1/2

The Tigers had a sluggish start in the first half last night versus Michigan, but rallied in the second half with a 20-2 run to defeat the Wolverines, 78-65. Johni Broome finished with 22 points and 16 boards, a huge night. Tahaad Pettiford and Denver Jones added 20. Jones was 4-of-7 from triple, while Pettiford was 2-of-7. Auburn was 8-of-28 from three on the night. But they out-rebounded the Wolverines 48-33, held the Wolverines to 21-of-59 from the field, 36%, and 5-of-17 from trifecta, 29%. The Tigers were also 14 of 18 from the stripe, 78%. They really amped it up in the second half. In Michigan State, Auburn plays a similar hard hat, lunch pale team that plays terrific defense, hits the boards and can be prolific from three when they’re on. But I’ll take Johni and the Tigers to punch their ticket to San Antonio.

Auburn 75, Michigan State 72

Sweet 16 Predictions

The Sweet 16 commences Thursday featuring 7 SEC teams that are competing, including the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Auburn Tigers, which is tremendous for both the conference and the state. The 2nd seeded Crimson Tide (East Region) kicks off the spectacle Thursday as they square off with the 6th seeded BYU Cougars. The South Region’s No.1 seed, the Auburn Tigers, face the 5th seeded Michigan Wolverines on Friday. Brownie and EHS ’80 will have later nights watching their team. I’ll be joining them in that pursuit. I’m not an Auburn fan per se, but very interested in the Tigers and Tide always. Pretty excellent teams to be interested in.

Here’s a breakdown of the games along with White’s World’s Sports Confidential’s predictions on which teams will emerge from this round and matriculate to the coveted Elite 8, and move one step closer to the Alamodome in San Antonio for the Final Four Saturday, April 5th.

Record so far

SEC Tournament: SU-8-6, ATS: 2-6, O/U: 3-5.

Picked Florida to win it all, which they did, and Walter Clayton Jr. to win the MVP of the tournament, which he did. Used numbers for the games I had teams competing in. Bracket struggling so far, but there’s still hope.

Thursday’s games

East Region

No.2 Alabama (27-8) vs. No.6 BYU (26-9)

Prudential Center, Newark, NJ., 16,755

6:09 PM CT

CBS

Brian Anderson, Jim Jackson, Allie LaForce

Bama by 5 1/2, Over/Under 175 1/2

I like Mark Sears, Grant Nelson, Mouhamed Dioubate, Chris Youngblood and the emerged rim protector and

offensive weapon 6’11”, 250 center Clifford Omoruyi to lead the Tide to victory and enable them to advance to

Saturday and the Elite 8.

Alabama 92, BYU 86

West Region

No.4 Maryland (27-8) vs. No.1 Florida (32-4)

Chase Center, San Francisco, 18,064

6:39 PM CT

TBS/truTV

Kevin Harlan, Dan Bonner, Stan Van Gundy, Lauren Shehadi

Gators by 6 1/2, O/U, 156 1/2

It’s too bad the Crimson Tide and the Gators are on at roughly the same time. You either can jump, unless

you’re exclusively a Bama fan or Gators fan, or get Youtube TV on your computer and watch Florida or

Alabama that way when they run over each other on their respective broadcasts.

Gators 82, Terps 75

East Region

No.4 Arizona (24-12) vs. No.1 Duke (33-3)

Prudential Center, Newark

8:39 PM CT

CBS

Same announcers as above in East.

Duke by 9 1/2, O/U, 153 1/2

Duke is a juggernaut right now and looks unstoppable. They can be stopped, but it’ll take a heroic effort.

Cooper Flagg, Kon Kneuppel and company are going to be tough to knock off. It can be done with a physical,

hard-working effort, but it’ll be a major task.

Duke 80, ‘Zona 70

West

No.10 Arkansas (22-13) vs. No.3 Texas Tech (27-8)

Chase Center, SF

9:09 PM CT

TBS/truTV

Texas Tech by 5 1/2, O/U 148 1/2

Give me Cal and the Hogs in the upset.

Hogs 72, Red Raiders 70

Friday

South Region

No. 6 Ole Miss (24-11) vs. No.2 Michigan State (29-6)

State Farm Arena, Atlanta, 16,888

6:09 PM CT

CBS

Ian, Bill, Grant, Trace

Mich. State by 3 1/2, O/U, 143 1/2

This is a tough one because I think the Rebels have a real shot here. However, I’ve got Tom Izzo and his

Spartans advancing to the Elite 8, so I’ll take them in a slugfest.

Michigan State 70, Ole Miss 68

Midwest

No.3 Kentucky (24-11) vs. No.2 Tennessee (29-7)

Lucas Oil Stadium, Indy, 67,000, maybe not that many allowed in game.

6:39 PM CT

TBS/truTV

Tennessee by 4 1/2, O/U, 144 1/2

The Vols lost not once, but twice to the Wildcats, 78-73 at home, and 75-64 on the road. They’re a better

team now. It’s hard to beat a team three times as the old basketball adage goes, so I like the Vols to move on

to the Elite 8. The Vols’ defense, which is prolific, should be the difference.

Tennessee 73, Kentucky 70

South

No.6 Michigan (27-9) vs. No.1 Auburn (30-5)

State Farm Arena

8:39 PM CT

CBS

Tigers by 8 1/2, O/U, 154 1/2

I like Johni Broome, Miles Kelly, Denver Jones, Chad Baker-Mazzara and the star studded company to get the

job done for the Auburn Tigers. Willie and Hamilton will be chanting, “It’s Great to Be..” loudly Friday

Night/Saturday morning? at Otey’s.

Auburn 78, Michigan 75

Midwest

No. 4 Purdue (24-11) vs. No.1 Houston (32-4)

Lucas Oil

9:09 PM CT

TBS/truTV

Houston by 7 1/2, O/U, 132 1/2

The Cougars are one team that can definitely hang with Duke. There are some others, but Houston really

sticks out to me as one of those teams. They are highly athletic, they can score and are elite defenders and

rebounders.

Houston 67, Purdue 59

Saturday, Elite 8 Predictions

Bracketology 2025

The Alabama Crimson Tide, the No.2 seed in the East Regional, the Auburn Tigers, the No.1 overall seed and in the South Region, the Florida Gators, the SEC Tournament Champion and the No.1 seed in the West Region, and 11 other SEC teams for a total of 14 compete in the NCAA Tournament starting Tuesday Night with the First Four.

The Crimson Tide faces No.15 seed Robert Morris Friday in Cleveland at 11:40 A.M. CT on truTV, while the Tigers square off with the winner of the Alabama State/Saint Francis winner Thursday in Lexington at 1:50 P.M. CT on CBS. The Gators face No.16 Norfolk State Friday, at 5:50 P.M. CT in Raleigh on TNT.

After months of hikes and fishing in Oak Mountain State Park while contemplating my future
bracket, hours of transcendental meditation with a sports psychologist, acupuncture to relieve the stress of trying to figure this out, White’s World has come up with a bracket for 2025. Should be another epic tournament as it always is. What a time of the year for sports. Here’s my 2025 bracket.

2025 White’s World Bracket