Florida Gators vs Auburn Tigers PPH Prediction & Picks – April 5, 2025
The Florida Gators will meet the Auburn Tigers in the first Final Four game of the 2025 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament. The game takes place Saturday, April 5, at the Alamodome in San Antonio. It’s a rematch of a February game that Florida won 90-81 on the road.
Both teams are No. 1 seeds and have strong tournament resumes. Florida has scored 77 or more points in every tournament game. Auburn has held all its tournament opponents under 70 points. Be sure to visit WagerHome for Final Four betting tools and to become a PPH bookie today.
GATORS Preview – Can the Offense Stay Hot?
Florida has leaned on guard Walter Clayton Jr., who led the team with 19 points and nine assists in the win over Auburn earlier this year. He played all 40 minutes in that game and hit four three-pointers. Clayton also hit big shots to help Florida beat Texas Tech and reach the Final Four.
The Gators are averaging over 77 points per game in the tournament. Even against strong defenses like UConn, Florida found ways to score. That balance has helped them beat high-level opponents and stay efficient on offense.
Florida’s defense ranks in the top 20 in both opponent 2-point and 3-point percentages. That could be key again versus Auburn, who has scorers like Denver Jones and Johni Broome. Florida will try to control the pace and limit Auburn’s easy baskets.
TIGERS Preview – Defense Leading the Way
Auburn has won four tournament games in a row, including wins over Creighton, Michigan, and Michigan State. None of those teams scored more than 70 points. Auburn’s defense has been consistent, and that gives them a real shot to slow down Florida.
Johni Broome had 18 points, six rebounds, and six assists in the last meeting with Florida. He’ll be key again, along with Jones and the rest of Auburn’s frontcourt. Auburn shot well from deep during the regular season but will need to do it again in a tough shooting environment at the Alamodome.
That game in February was a high-scoring one, but Final Four games usually slow down. Auburn has covered in three of four tournament games and is coming into this matchup with strong momentum. They’ll need to force turnovers and win the rebounding battle to flip the result from their last game against Florida.
PPH Betting Prediction
The spread has Florida as a small 2.5-point favorite. That’s a 13.5-point swing from when Auburn was an 11-point home favorite in February. The Gators won that road game, but Auburn has shown strong defense since then. The total is set at 160.5, but both defenses could keep this game under that number.
This is a close game on paper. Florida has been scoring more, but Auburn has been better on defense. The winner likely comes down to who controls the pace. We think Florida edges it out again, but the best value is the under. For more betting tools and to start your own bookie business, visit WagerHome.
Pick: Under 160.5
Duke Blue Devils vs Houston Cougars PPH Prediction & Picks – April 5, 2025
Duke will take on Houston in the second Final Four game on Saturday, April 5, at the Alamodome. Both are No. 1 seeds with strong seasons. Duke enters as the betting favorite, but Houston has won 17 games in a row and is known for elite defense.
This is a matchup of top-level units. Duke is ranked No. 1 in offense. Houston is ranked No. 1 in defense. That makes this game one of the most even matchups in the tournament. You can bet on it now at WagerHome.
BLUE DEVILS Preview – Offense Has Been Rolling
Duke has outscored its four tournament opponents 367-273. That includes a 20-point win over Alabama in the Elite Eight. Freshman Cooper Flagg is the key to the Blue Devils’ run and leads the team in scoring and playmaking.
Duke is top 5 in both offensive and defensive efficiency. They don’t get to the foul line often, but they rebound well and move the ball. They’re also good at wearing down teams with long possessions on defense, forcing opponents to use nearly 20 seconds each trip down.
While Duke’s defense has been strong, this is the first top-15 defense they’ve faced since December. That could lead to some problems if their offense struggles. The Blue Devils will need Flagg to create and hit outside shots to beat a tough Houston team.
COUGARS Preview – Defense Carries Them Again
Houston beat Tennessee 69-50 to reach the Final Four. The Cougars have not lost since early December. They are holding opponents to just 44.8% effective field goal percentage and have one of the slowest tempos in the country.
Houston’s offense is led by guards L.J. Cryer, Emanuel Sharp, and Milos Uzan. All three can score one-on-one, which is important in a slower-paced game. The Cougars also grab nearly 37% of their own misses, creating second chances.
Joseph Tugler is a top defender who could guard Cooper Flagg. Houston is also strong against three-point shooting, holding teams to just 30.1% from deep. If the game slows down and turns into a half-court battle, Houston’s experience and physical play may be the difference.
PPH Betting Prediction
Duke is a 4.5-point favorite, but most models say this should be closer. Houston’s defense and rebounding give them a shot to win outright. The total is 136.5, which is low, but both teams play slow and defend well. That supports the under.
This will be a low-scoring, close game. Duke has more stars, but Houston may have more ways to create shots late. With that in mind, we like Houston to cover the spread and maybe win. Visit WagerHome today to build your own sportsbook and bet on all the March Madness action.
Pick: Houston +4.5
