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

Another early season test is on the slate for the Florida Gators (7-3) on Tuesday as they'll take on the Michigan Wolverines (6-5) in the second annual Jumpman Invitational.

The Gators are freshly removed from narrowly escaping the upset bid of East Carolina in Lakeland, Fla., to extend their winning streak to three while the Wolverines are riding a two-game high of their own with wins over Iowa and Eastern Michigan.

Below, you can find everything you need to know before tip-off in Charlotte at 7 p.m. ET, including an in-depth rundown of the matchup and game prediction.

Florida Gators (7-3) vs. Michigan Wolverines (6-5)

Where: Spectrum Center, Charlotte, N.C.

When: Tuesday, Dec. 19 at 7 p.m. ET

Watch: ESPN

Radio: Gator Sports Network from LEARFIELD | FloridaGators.com | The Varsity Network App | SiriusXM 374 & SXM App

Odds: Florida is a 3.5-point favorite over Michigan, according to SI Sportsbook. The over/under for the contest is set at 157.5 points.

Series history: The Gators are 1-3 all-time against the Wolverines. In the most recent meeting between the two Power Six programs on March 23, 2019, Florida fell to Michigan in the NCAA Tournament, 64-49.

Important stories

The rundown

The Gators are gearing up to face their sixth Power Six opponent of the season on Tuesday with the Michigan Wolverines on the slate in the Jumpman Invitational.

Florida — vying for its fourth-straight win and second Quad II victory of the season — will have to combat the impressively stout offensive attack Michigan displayed throughout its first 11 contests.

Ranking No. 20 per Kenpom in adjusted offensive efficiency to a third of the way through the 2023-24 regular season, the Wolverines have found immense success scoring the basketball. They're averaging 82.2 points per contest — and 116.5 points per 100 possessions — with Dug McDaniel leading the way.

The sophomore guard has accounted for 17.9 points per game, the nation's 87th-best mark, while former Tennessee forward Olivier Nkamhoua supplements his efforts with 16.5 points and a team-high 7.3 rebounds per outing.

Michigan's well-distributed attack involving members of both the frontcourt and backcourt has led them to wins against St. John's, Stanford and Iowa, as well as tightly contested matchups with Oregon (loss in overtime) and Indiana.

However, the unit has been reliant on its' scoring prowess. When the Wolverines falter, the defensive effort is usually to blame.

Through 11 games, they've held just one team (Youngstown State) under 70 points and are ranked No. 126 in adjusted defensive efficiency.

Florida, imposing its own offensive firepower with an assortment of productive backcourt contributors and veteran forward Tyrese Samuel, can exploit the lackluster defense in Charlotte on Tuesday.

After a slow start to the year in that category, the Gators also present an increasing defensive threat, ranking No. 54 in AdjD.

It's another matchup of conflicting styles as well, as Florida sports one of the most up-tempo attacks in the country while Michigan settles in at 219th in adjusted tempo.

Brandon's Prediction (4-1): Florida 84, Michigan 76

If I had picked this game two weeks ago, I probably would've written Florida down to notch a double-digit victory and not thought twice about the decision.

Circumstances change.

However, the unit has struggled at points against the mid-major opponents it's faced of late, although Richmond and East Carolina present demanding styles directly conflicting with UF's strengths.

The Gators' sputtering play, paired with Michigan's improved form in the last two contests — even if it's minimal — made the decision a bit more difficult.

An offensively-oriented battle is what I expect from two teams ranked within the top 35 in offensive efficiency so far in the 2023-24 campaign. And there are plenty of options for both squads to utilize to score the basketball.

But, while Florida's offense is its leading force, it's not the end-all-be-all, at least of late. Michigan's attack is more often than not.

Even with Michigan's more deliberate tempo, its tendency to lean into the offensive attack to post rallies in the win column bodes well for Florida's attempt to post points in transition, thus speeding the contest up to their desired pace.

Ultimately, I think the Gators' more balanced approach — with both the offense and defense ranking in the top 55 — positions them to come away victorious. They've played up to their competition throughout the year, and I think they do so again.

Golden and UF move to 1-1 in the Jumpman Invitational, avenging the loss to Oklahoma in the 2022 rendition of the event with an 84-76 win over the Wolverines.

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