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SEC Tournament: Texas A&M vs. Florida odds, picks and predictions

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SEC Tournament: Texas A&M vs. Florida odds, picks and predictions


The Texas A&M Aggies (20-13) and Florida Gators (23-10) meet in the semifinals of the SEC Tournament Saturday at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville. Tip-off is scheduled for approximately 3:30 p.m. ET (ESPN). Below, we analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the Texas A&M vs. Florida odds, and make our expert college basketball picks, predictions and best bets.

The 7th-seeded Aggies upset 2nd-seeded Kentucky in the quarterfinals Friday, winning 97-87 as 5.5-point underdogs as the Over (160) cashed. Texas A&M also topped Ole Miss, and it has won and covered 5 straight games with the Over connecting in 4 in a row.

The 6th-seeded Gators surprised Alabama Friday, winning 102-88 as 5-point underdogs as the Over (175) cashed. Florida is 5-3 straight up (SU) in the past 8 games, but it is just 2-5 against the spread (ATS) in the previous 7 outings. The Over has cashed in 6 straight and 8 of the past 9 contests.

Texas A&M topped Florida 67-66 in the only regular-season meeting, with the Gators cashing as 4-point underdogs in College Station Feb. 3 as the Under (151.5) cashed. The Aggies have won 5 straight in the series while covering 3 of those outings. The Under has cashed in 3 straight meetings while going 4-1 in the previous 5 in the series dating back to Feb. 15, 2022.

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Texas A&M vs. Florida odds

Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 9:15 a.m. ET.

  • Moneyline (ML): Texas A&M +135 (bet $100 to win $135) | Florida -160 (bet $160 to win $100)
  • Against the spread: Texas A&M +2.5 (+100) | Florida -2.5 (-120)
  • Over/Under (O/U): 151.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)

Texas A&M vs. Florida picks and predictions

Prediction

Florida 82, Texas A&M 80

Moneyline

Florida (-160) will cost you almost 2 times your potential return, and that’s a little too much risk for not enough reward.

Texas A&M (+135) has been hot in this tournament, and it has racked up 5 huge wins in a row to strengthen its resume for an at-large NCAA Tournament bid. It won’t go quietly, though, despite feeling much better after an upset of Kentucky.

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PASS.

Against the spread

TEXAS A&M +2.5 (+100) is a strong play.

This is going to be a tussle, and the Aggies are playing with a lot of confidence after upending the 2nd-seeded Wildcats. Texas A&M has covered 5 in a row, and it’s worth playing as the underdog.

Florida -2.5 (-110) has won just 5 of the past 8 games while going 2-5 ATS in the past 7 outings.

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Over/Under

OVER 151.5 (110) is a strong play in this SEC semifinals matchup.

The Over is on a 6-0 run for Florida, as it is filling up the basket with a lot of ease lately. In fact, the Gators have hit triple digits in 2 of the past 4 games, and neither of those games went to overtime. The Gators are good for 81 or more points in 10 of the past 14 outings.

The Aggies aren’t usually known for their offense, but they dropped 97 on Kentucky Friday, and Texas A&M has scored 85 or more points in 4 straight outings, cashing the Over in each game.

For more sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW.

Follow Kevin J. Erickson on Twitter/X. Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter/X and like us on Facebook.

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‘All over’: Florida mental health counselor finds 50 bats inside her office

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‘All over’: Florida mental health counselor finds 50 bats inside her office


SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA)— A Florida mental health counselor walked into a surprising number of bats inside her office last week.

“We had about 50 bats. In the toilet, in the sink. All over,” Shaltala Boss, a licensed mental health counselor, said.

Boss has since moved her office due to maternity season, when it is illegal to exclude or remove bats from April 16 to August 14, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

Credit: Shantala Boss

“Any form of eviction during this time period will result in baby bats being trapped along with adult bats that may not have emerged. Trapped bats will attempt to escape and may end up in the living space of buildings,” FWC said.

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Video provided by Boss showed a bat lying on the ground.

“You definitely didn’t want to come to counseling that day,” Boss said.

Boss has since moved to another location and said it is bat-free.

“Most bats will avoid humans at all costs and use natural roosting structures for shelter during the day. However, bats sometimes find their way into our homes and structures, which can present a health hazard,” FWC said.

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Byron Donalds’ chances of winning Florida governor’s seat, new poll shows

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Byron Donalds’ chances of winning Florida governor’s seat, new poll shows


Republican Congressman Byron Donalds is trailing Democratic candidate David Jolly in the race to become Florida’s next governor, according to a new poll from Change Research, a Democratic-aligned polling firm.

The survey could be an encouraging sign for Florida Democrats, who have not won a statewide election since 2018 and have struggled as the state shifted steadily toward Republicans in recent election cycles.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, a Republican who is term-limited and cannot seek reelection in 2026, won a second term by nearly 20 percentage points in 2022, while Republicans have expanded their voter registration advantage and maintained control of every statewide elected office.

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Still, some recent polling has suggested the push to replace DeSantis could be a bit more competitive than many have expected.

President Donald Trump last month again vocalized his support for Donalds, saying in part, “I know Byron well, have seen him tested at the highest and most difficult levels, and he is a TOTAL WINNER!” The president added, “Byron Donalds will be a truly Great and Powerful Governor for Florida, and has my Complete and Total Endorsement — HE WILL NOT LET YOU DOWN!”

Trump won the Sunshine State by 13 points in 2024 against then-Vice President Kamala Harris and no Democrat has won the Florida governorship in more than 20 years.

When reached for comment regarding the new poll, Donalds’ campaign referred Newsweek to the X post of Gates McGavick, the team’s communications director. McGavick said in reaction to the poll, “I hear Change Research also sells tremendous ocean front property in Arizona.”

The campaign also referred Newsweek to Ryan Smith’s post on X, while saying he is also affiliated with the campaign. Smith said, “This is a push poll by Democrats for Democrats. The truth is, Florida Democrats will be crying in their kombucha on November 3 when @ByronDonalds is elected governor.”

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What To Know

The Change Research survey found Jolly, a former Republican congressman who switched parties and entered the race as a Democrat, leading Donalds in a hypothetical general-election matchup.

Jolly has centered his campaign on affordability issues surrounding insurance costs, housing and healthcare, while Donalds has campaigned as a conservative successor who will attempt to enact Trump’s agenda and fight illegal immigration.

According to the poll, Jolly leads Donalds 47 percent to 42 percent and has a slightly larger margin among likely voters with 49 percent compared to 43 percent.

The poll surveyed 1,273 registered voters of which 1,015 said they will likely vote in the 2026 midterm election. The survey’s margin of error is 2.8 percent.

Also in the poll, Jolly garners 94 percent support from Democrats compared to Donalds’ 77 percent among Republicans.

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What Other Polls Show

Another recent Change Research poll shows Jolly leading Donalds 46 percent to 42 percent. The poll was taken from May 13 to May 16 among 2,070 registered voters, of whom 1,593 say they will likely vote in the midterm election. The poll has a margin of error of 2.3 percent.

In a survey at the end of March by Emerson College Polling, Donalds landed 44 percent of the vote compared to Jolly’s 39 percent. The poll shows that 17 percent are undecided. It was taken from March 29 to March 31 among 1,125 likely voters and has a margin of error of 2.8 percent.



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‘You’ll get capped:’ New viral challenge could get teens shot in Florida, sheriff warns

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‘You’ll get capped:’ New viral challenge could get teens shot in Florida, sheriff warns


FLAGLER COUNTY, Fla. – A recent viral trend — dubbed the “Door Kick Challenge” — has been causing issues as of late in Central Florida.

The challenge involves teens covering their faces, kicking or pounding stranger’s front door when it’s dark outside, and sprinting off into the night.

[WATCH: FCSO releases footage of ‘Door Kick Challenge’ in action]

But on Wednesday, Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly warned there could be deadly consequences.

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According to the sheriff’s office, these pranks may come across as an attempted home invasion for some, and with Florida being a “Stand Your Ground” state, neighbors have the right to treat it as such.

[ Central Florida deputy consoles 12-year-old accused in door-kicking incident]

“Parents, keep an eye on your children. We know they want to have fun, but they are taking huge risks when they mask up and kick strangers’ doors,” Staly said. “Be the sheriff of your own home, talk to your kids, know their friends, and make sure they know the risks associated with doing what the internet tells them to do.”

But in a release, the sheriff’s office delivered the message in a “language” that teens may better understand:

“This door kick ‘challenge’ is not the side quest you think it is.

It’s trendslop, pure brain rot straight off the FYP. You think you’re the alpha chad of the cul-de-sac? Nah bruh, you’re one hoodie masked-up sprint away from priors. The kind of rap that gets you cancelled before you ever stack any clout. Zero drip in our jail’s barbershop-looking mugshots.

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Okay, real talk. Florida is a Stand Your Ground state. A NPC wakes up to two randos kicking their door at 1 a.m. wearing sheisties — they don’t see a flex, they get the ick, and think your side quest is a home invasion. And no cap, you’ll get capped.

Taking an L on TikTok? Recoverable. Taking a round to the chest? There’s no respawn.

So skip this one, chief. Find clout elsewhere.”

Flagler County Sheriff’s Office

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