Florida

Best Texas Tech vs. Florida props, ATS picks: Gators clear favorites

Published

4 weeks ago

March 29, 2025

Best Texas Tech vs. Florida props, ATS picks: Gators clear favorites

The Big Dance heats up on Saturday night with Elite Eight matchups between Texas Tech (3) and Florida (1) and Alabama (2) and Duke (1).

In tonight’s opener, SEC Tournament champ Florida (33-4, 14-4 SEC) will look to stay hot against the best team it has seen in the West Region, the Texas Tech Red Raiders.

Florida reached this stage with wins over 16-seed Norfolk State, 8-seed UConn and 4-seed Maryland, sandwiching blowouts of the Spartans and Terrapins around a close call vs. the Huskies in the round of 32.

Texas Tech (28-8, 15-5 Big 12) needed a furious late rally and overtime to survive vs. Arkansas (10) on Thursday night. This team beat a 14-seed (UNC Wilmington) in the first round and an 11-seed (Drake) in the second ahead of the Sweet 16 battle with Arkansas. The way those teams were seeded undersells how stiff the Red Raiders’ NCAAT competition has been, though.

Texas Tech vs. Florida Odds: Spread, ML, Total

	DK	FD	bet365
TT spread	+6.5 (-105)	+6.5 (EVEN)	+7 (-110)
FLA spread	-6.5 (-115)	-6.5 (-122)	-7 (-110)
TT ML	+260	+245	+265
FLA ML	-325	-310	-330
Total	157.5 (o-105; u-115)	156.5 (o-115; u-105)	157.5 (o-110; u-110)

The player to watch tonight is TT star JT Toppin, who won Big 12 Player of the Year after averaging just over 18 points and 9 rebounds per game. Florida boasts a star of its own in Walter Clayton Jr., but how Toppin fares on the block will likely have more impact on who wins, as the heavily favored Gators are balanced enough to survive a quiet night from Clayton.

The Red Raiders could* also get a boost from All-Big 12 Second Teamer Chance McMillian, who is a 43.4 percent 3-point shooter, but he’s been listed as day-to-day for multiple weeks now.

*Key word “could.” As of Saturday morning, it was unclear whether McMillian would return tonight from an oblique strain he suffered in his team’s Big 12 Tournament quarterfinal matchup vs. Baylor.

How to Watch Texas Tech vs. Florida

Tipoff: 6:09 p.m. ET
Channel: TBS/truTV

Best Texas Tech vs. Florida Player Prop

Thomas Haugh o11.5 points (+100 at FD) — 1 units

The balanced Gators are not an easy team to target on the props front, but one particular player on Florida’s deep bench appears primed to have a huge night.

Sophomore big man Thomas Haugh has come off the bench in all but five games this year, but his minutes and production are trending in the right direction right now.

Obviously, if starter Alex Condon is hobbled or has to miss this game, Haugh’s ceiling is sky-high. But even if Condon manages to both suit up and be effective tonight, Haugh is playing too well right now not to get minutes.

His numbers in just 22 minutes vs. Norfolk State (No. 178 per KenPom) should be taken with a grain of salt, but are still worth mentioning: 13 points, 3 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal, 2 blocks.

His production vs. Connecticut and Maryland doesn’t need a caveat, though.

Haugh had 7 points, 7 rebounds and 2 assists vs. in 27 minutes vs. the reigning national champs, and he was even better in an extended appearance (32 minutes) vs. the Terps, with 13 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals and 1 block.

Against a Texas Tech frontcourt that boasts not only one of the best back-to-the-basket scorers in the country in Toppin, but also 6-foot-6 battering ram Darrion Williams, Haugh will be needed, even if Condon is 100 percent healthy.

Haugh’s rebounds prop — Over 6.5 Rebounds (+100 at bet365) — is also extremely tempting at even money.

These prices and lines will change in a big way if Condon is ruled out, so if these interest you, now is the time to hop on them.

Florida vs. Texas Tech Prediction, Best Bets

I’ve got two takes on this matchup. Unfortunately, they kinda contradict each other, but bear with me here as I explain myself:

JT Toppin won’t be as effective as usual offensively.
Texas Tech will keep this close

If you just look at the box score from Thursday night, you’ll see that Maryland big man Derik Queen lit the Gators up for 27 points on 8-for-17 shooting. But that doesn’t mean Toppin is positioned for the same kind of production. Queen did his damage off the dribble, and that is not how Toppin operates.

It’s hard to deny that Florida’s ceiling is higher than Texas Tech’s, especially if Condon is anywhere near 100 percent and McMillian remains sidelined.

Florida, however, was sloppy at times vs. both Connecticut and Maryland — some of the mistakes were caused by great defense, but a number of them were not — and I think we’ll see some lulls from the Gators again tonight.

Ultimately, though, Florida is well-suited to contain Toppin and Williams — who are two of the biggest bullies (in a good way) in the country — and it has the firepower in the backcourt to pull this thing out.

It won’t be a cakewalk, though.

Remember, Texas Tech is the only team in the country that has beaten Houston since February. Also keep in mind that the Red Raiders pulled that off on the road in a game they essentially played without Toppin, who was ejected in the first five minutes.

Obviously, Texas Tech won’t be able to hang with Florida if it starts this contest in a shooting funk like the one it was in for most of the Arkansas game. That being said, I do like the underdogs to keep this thing competitive from start to finish (cover).

Florida vs. Texas Tech Best Bets

Texas Tech +7 (-110 at bet365) — 1 unit

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Florida

1 dead, multiple injured after boat hits ferry in Florida

Published

4 hours ago

April 28, 2025

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1 dead, multiple injured after boat hits ferry in Florida

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Amazon rocket launch, Atlas V from Cape Canaveral, Florida, may be seen in Fort Myers, Cape Coral

Published

23 hours ago

April 27, 2025

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Amazon rocket launch, Atlas V from Cape Canaveral, Florida, may be seen in Fort Myers, Cape Coral

What time is United Launch Alliance Atlas V, Amazon rocket launch? Liftoff will potentially be April 28, 2025, from Cape Canaveral, Florida.

When the Amazon rocket launch lifts off from Cape Canaveral, Florida, there’s a chance it’ll be visible in Fort Myers.

Not only that, when United Launch Alliance sends its Atlas V rocket to space, there’s a chance people beyond Florida − like in other states as far as New York or Indiana − could possibly see it light up the sky.

Visibility from most of Florida is possible, according to ULA.

What’s on board the ULA Atlas V? Amazon founder Jeff Bezos is launching Project Kuiper, a global network of satellites, to compete with SpaceX CEO-billionaire Elon Musk and Starlink satellites. It begins with the first-ever launch of the Amazon Project Kuiper production satellites, courtesy of the ULA Atlas V rocket. Online, the mission has been called the “Amazon rocket launch” or “the Amazon rocket launch from Florida.”

Equipped with five side-mounted rocket boosters, the reason why it could be visible from Florida to New York, the Atlas V will lift the $10 billion internet constellation’s first set of 27 satellites into low-Earth orbit.

ULA’s Atlas V rocket should be visible outside of Florida pending weather and clouds. Below is information on ULA’s powerful rocket, the Atlas V, how to watch the launch, and a list of which cities and states that could potentially see the ULA Atlas V rocket launch from Cape Canaveral, Florida.

What time is the Amazon rocket launch from Cape Canaveral, Florida? When does United Launch Alliance Atlas V liftoff?

A two-hour Amazon rocket launch window is scheduled for 7 p.m. EDT Monday, April 28, 2025, from Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Cape Canaveral, Florida. An initial attempt April 9, 2025, was scrubbed due to weather. USA TODAY Network’s Space Team will provide live coverage of the Amazon rocket launch from Cape Canaveral two hours before liftoff at floridatoday.com/space.

Which cities can see ULA Atlas V rocket launch from Cape Canaveral, Florida? Can I watch Amazon rocket launch from Florida?

ULA provided a helpful graphic (see above) that shows the Atlas V launch of Kuiper 1 for Amazon and its intended flight path and launch visibility. Note: Cities in the Space Coast of Florida, which is in Brevard County and measures 72 miles of coast, include Titusville, Mims, Port St. John, Merritt Island, Cocoa, Cocoa Beach, Melbourne, West Melbourne, Palm Bay, Satellite Beach, Indian Harbour Beach, Indialantic, Melbourne Beach, Grant-Valkaria and Sebastian.

Launch, Space Coast, east Orlando, near University of Central Florida, Bithlo, the northern part of the Treasure Coast, Indian River County, Sebastian, Vero Beach, parts of Daytona Beach, New Smyrna Beach and Oak Hill

1: Launch + 30 seconds, Space Coast, Orlando, the Treasure Coast, Indian River County, Sebastian, Vero Beach, Daytona Beach, New Smyrna Beach and Oak Hill, Volusia County, St. Augustine, Ocala, Lakeland area

2: Launch + 90 seconds, which includes PLF Jettison or separation and jettison of the payload fairing: Space Coast, Daytona Beach, New Smyrna Beach, Oak Hill, Port Orange, Volusia County, Treasure Coast, Indian River County, Martin County, St. Lucie County, Orlando, Sanford, Kissimmee, Central Florida, Ocala, Lakeland, St. Augustine, Ponte Vedra Beach

3: Launch + 150 seconds, which includes solid rocket booster jettison, visibility extends to Sebring, Winter Haven, Palatka, Gainesville, Jacksonville, Sarasota, Manatee County, Sarasota County, Tampa, St. Petersburg, Cape Coral, Fort Myers, Naples, Collier County, Lee County, Clearwater, West Palm Beach, Lake Worth Beach, Wellington, Jupiter, Mar-a-Lago, Palm Beach, southern Georgia, Savannah, Georgia, parts of the Caribbean, the Bahamas

4: Launch + 210 seconds, which includes booster separation, Tallahassee, Panama City, Panhandle, Big Bend area of Florida; visibility extends beyond Florida to Georgia, South Carolina, parts of North Carolina

5: Launch + 270 seconds, ULA Atlas V rocket launch visibility extends beyond Florida to these other states and cities:

Georgia; Savannah, Georgia; Atlanta, Georgia; Columbus, Georgia
Alabama; Dothan, Alabama; just outside Birmingham, Alabama
Tennessee; Knoxville, Tennessee; just outside Huntsville, Tennessee; just outside Nashville, Tennessee
Kentucky
South Carolina; Spartanburg, South Carolina
North Carolina; High Point, North Carolina; Winston-Salem, North Carolina; Charlotte, North Carolina; Wilmington, North Carolina
Virginia; Virginia Beach, Virginia; Richmond, Virginia
West Virginia; Charleston, West Virginia
Maryland; Washington, Maryland
Delaware; Annapolis, Delaware; Dover, Delaware

6: Launch + 330 seconds, ULA Atlas V rocket launch visibility extends beyond Florida to these other states and cities:

New Jersey: Trenton, New Jersey; New York, New Jersey
Pennsylvania: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Erie, Pennsylvania
Ohio: Cleveland, Ohio; Columbus, Ohio; Cincinnati, Ohio; Toledo, Ohio
Indiana: just outside Indianapolis, Indiana; Fort Wayne, Indiana
Michigan: Detroit, Michigan
Kentucky: just outside Louisville, Kentucky
Rhode Island: Providence, Rhode Island
Connecticut: Hartford, Connecticut
Massachusetts: Boston, Massachusetts
New York: Binghamton, New York; Albany, New York

7: Launch + 390 seconds, visibility of Atlas V rocket may be possible in these states:

Alabama
Tennessee
Kentucky
Georgia
South Carolina
North Carolina
Virginia
West Virginia
Ohio
Indiana
Michigan
Delaware
Maryland
New Jersey
Pennsylvania
New York
Rhode Island
Connecticut
Massachusetts
New Hampshire
Vermont
Maine
Toronto, Canada

The above guidelines are estimates based on the graphic provided by ULA.

Sangalang is a lead digital producer for USA TODAY Network. Follow her on Twitter or Instagram at @byjensangalang. Support local journalism. Consider subscribing to a Florida newspaper.

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Dolphins Get Florida Cornerback

Published

2 days ago

April 26, 2025

Press Room

This probably isn’t going to fill the need the Miami Dolphins have at cornerback, but they at least have brought in some competition for the room in the 2025 draft.

The Dolphins used their second of three fifth-round pick, the 155th overall, on Jason Marshall Jr. from the University of Florida. That pick came from the Denver Broncos and was part of the trade that brought Bradley Chubb to Miami in November 2022.

Marshall will join a group that’s become a major question mark in the aftermath of GM Chris Grier confirming the team and seven-time Pro Bowl selection Jalen Ramsey have agreed to explore trade possibilities.

Not counting Ramsey, the Dolphins cornerback room is filled with mostly young players, such as Storm Duck, Ethan Bonner, 2023 second-round pick Cam Smith, nickel corner Kader Kohou, newcomers Artie Burns and Ryan Cooper Jr., and 2024 practice squad players Isaiah Johnson and Jason Maitre.

The Dolphins also could — and likely will — supplement this group by signing a veteran free agent still looking for a team, a group that includes Rasul Douglas, Stephon Gilmore and Asante Samuel Jr.

A 6-0, 194-pound Miami native, Marshall started at least seven games in each of his four seasons at Florida.

His final season was cut short after seven games because of a shoulder injury.

He had two interceptions during his collegiate career.

NFL.com projected him as a sixth-round pick and described him as an “average backup or special-teamer.”

Wrote NFL.com draft analyst Lance Zierlein: “Outside cornerback with good size, athleticism and experience but too much inconsistency on tape. Marshall can disrupt the release from press and ride route turns to stay in position to defend the throw. He falls asleep against play-action and misdirection. Also, he has poor hands when it’s time to flip the field. For his size, he’s a disappointing tackler, especially in run support. The lack of urgency and determination Marshall shows on tape could hurt his stock.”