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
13 Responses
Good stuff DW. I’d love an SEC to take it all; however, I think the field is going to get “Dooked”!
Thanks, Charles B.
Thanks for the previews, DW! Agree with your picks. Like the way Maluach has been controlling the paint!
Like your picks! Two great matchups that will hopefully produce close and exciting games.
Thanks, Bill! Maluach is a beast!
Thanks, Walter! Expect them to be classics. Maybe not, but it sure looks that way.
Thanks, Dave. I like your picks too but any of these four can win it. Look forward to watching.
Thanks, D. Hoping for accurate picks. Yes, Auburn and Houston are both tough teams and tough outs.
DW I am going with the Cougars and AU in the finals. I always pull for the underdogs..
I guess we’re on opposing sides, Joseph. I pull for underdogs too; heck I went to Vanderbilt. Just trying to pick objectively even though you could be right. Thanks a lot.
Great stuff. Duke is strong. 2 great games, 4 very good teams. Auburn in a rematch vs Gators but just a “little different situation” than their home loss to Florida.
War Eagle!
Thanks, ‘80!
svivs0