The NCAA Men’s Division I Basketball Tournament kicks off with a first-round game between the Prairie View A&M Panthers and the Florida Gators. This game will take place at Amalie Arena in Tampa, FL. Fans can catch the action on Friday, March 20, 2026, at 9:25 PM ET on TNT.
The Prairie View A&M Panthers enter the tournament as a 16 seed. They finished the regular season with an 18-17 overall record and a 13-9 record in the Southwestern Athletic Conference. The Panthers are looking to make a strong impression in this postseason game.
The Florida Gators, ranked #4 in the AP poll, are the 1 seed in this matchup. They ended their regular season with a 26-7 overall record and a 17-3 record in the Southeastern Conference. In their recent games, the Gators had a win against Kentucky but lost to Vanderbilt. Florida aims to start their tournament run with a victory.
Florida Preview
The Florida Gators are ranked #4 in the AP poll. They play in the Southeastern Conference. The team had a strong postseason in 2025. They won the championship by beating Houston 65-63.
During the 2026 regular season, the Gators had a 26-7 overall record. Their conference record was 17-3. They scored an average of 86.8 points per game. This ranked them 15th in the nation for points per game.
In recent games, the Gators had mixed results. They lost to Vanderbilt 91-74 at home. However, they won against Kentucky twice. The scores were 71-63 at home and 84-77 away.
Key players for the Gators include Thomas Haugh and Alex Condon. Haugh averaged 17.1 points and 6.2 rebounds per game. Condon averaged 15.0 points and 7.6 rebounds per game. Both players contributed significantly to the team’s success.
Prairie View A&M Preview
The Prairie View A&M Panthers play in the Southwestern Athletic Conference. In the 2026 regular season, they had an overall record of 18-17. Their conference record was 13-9, showing they had more success within their conference games.
Offensively, the Panthers scored an average of 78.9 points per game during the regular season. They had 70.1 possessions per game and attempted 60.1 field goals per game. Their field goal percentage was 44.3, and they made 19.5 free throws per game, ranking 12th in this category.
Defensively, the Panthers averaged 7.9 steals and 4.6 blocks per game. They turned the ball over 11.7 times per game and committed 19.1 fouls per game. These stats show areas where the team could improve to strengthen their defense.
Key players include Dontae Horne, who averaged 20.2 points and 4.5 rebounds per game. Lance Williams contributed with 10.1 points and 3.2 rebounds per game. Tai’Reon Joseph also added 17.6 points per game, making him a significant part of the team’s offense.
Statistical Breakdown for Florida vs Prairie View A&M
The game between the Florida Gators and Prairie View A&M Panthers will be influenced by several key stats. The Gators have a strong offense, scoring 86.8 points per game, while the Panthers average 78.9 points. Florida’s rebounding strength, with 45.4 rebounds per game, could be a factor against Prairie View’s 33.9 rebounds. Defensively, the Panthers have more steals and blocks per game, which might challenge the Gators’ scoring. Key players like Thomas Haugh and Dontae Horne will also play crucial roles in determining the outcome.
- Florida Gators Points Per Game: 86.8 (15th)
- Prairie View A&M Panthers Points Per Game: 78.9 (122nd)
- Florida Gators Rebounds Per Game: 45.4 (3rd)
- Prairie View A&M Panthers Rebounds Per Game: 33.9 (335th)
- Florida Gators Assists Per Game: 16.6 (46th)
- Prairie View A&M Panthers Assists Per Game: 11.9 (355th)
- Prairie View A&M Panthers Steals Per Game: 7.9
- Florida Gators Steals Per Game: 6.7
- Prairie View A&M Panthers Blocks Per Game: 4.6
- Florida Gators Blocks Per Game: 5.1
Betting Insights
The Prairie View A&M Panthers and the Florida Gators have different betting trends from last season. The Panthers struggled in many areas, while the Gators showed strong performances. Here are the top betting trends to consider for this game:
- Florida Gators are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 games.
- Florida Gators are 3-0 ATS in their last 3 games.
- Florida Gators are 9-1 ATS in their last 10 games.
- Florida Gators have a 100% O/U record in their last 3 games.
- Florida Gators have a 100% O/U record in their last 5 games.
Free Betting Prediction for Florida vs Prairie View A&M
The Florida Gators have a strong offense, scoring 86.8 points per game. Their rebounding is also impressive, with 45.4 rebounds per game. This gives them an edge over Prairie View A&M, who average 33.9 rebounds. The Gators’ recent performance against Kentucky shows they can win against tough opponents.
Prairie View A&M Panthers have a decent offense, scoring 78.9 points per game. Dontae Horne is a key player, averaging 20.2 points. However, their defense might struggle against the Gators’ strong offense. The Panthers’ rebounding and assists are areas of concern when facing a team like Florida.
Considering the stats and recent performances, the Gators are likely to win. Their strong offense and rebounding should help them control the game. The Panthers will need to improve their defense to keep up. The spread of -33.5 for Florida suggests a comfortable win.
- Our Free Prediction: Florida -33.5
