The Florida Gators managed to make another deep NCCA Tournament run last season after winning their conference and finishing the year with a 14-4 SEC record. The Gators were able to make a third straight Elite Eight appearance before ultimately being eliminated by the Michigan Wolverines. Florida has been a major basketball presence over the last few years and is looking to finally break through and make its first Final Four or even Championship Game appearance since the team won back-to-back national titles nearly seven years ago.

The oddsmakers at Sportsbook.ag expect Florida to have another excellent year and be on the short list of contenders for this season’s national title. Let’s take a closer look at the Florida Gators, go over the team’s title chances, and figure out just how good they will be this season.

National title odds

Kentucky: +400
Kansas: +700
Florida: +1200
Arizona: +1200

Gators’ head coach Billy Donovan has had the team playing great basketball over the last three seasons, and there is no reason to expect that trend to not continue this year. Three straight Elite Eight appearances is a huge accomplishment for any school, including one that recently won multiple titles. Florida will be returning many of its players from last season and added only two freshmen to the roster. Coach Donovan is looking to have an experienced team on the court, which could be a very effective counter-move against a talented but inexperienced team like Kentucky.

The Gators are receiving the sixth-best title odds this season and trail only the NCAA darlings in Kentucky, Kansas, Michigan, Duke and Louisville. Billy Donovan’s squad is getting excellent value at +1200 and has the tools and experience to make another deep tournament run. Wagering on the team now is a very solid play or even waiting until the season begins and watching for the odds to move could be another solid idea. Florida has been good, but they have not been on the forefront of everyone’s radar. The team is a bit underrated. The storylines this season will be all about Andrew Wiggins at Kansas and Kentucky’s loaded team.

The roster

The Gators are a team with some size and speed. Florida has five players that are 6-foot-8 or taller as well as seven speedy guards all over 6-feet tall. The team will feature a roster of seven guards, two centers and five forwards. Here is a quick look at the full roster of players.

Guards: Eli Carter, Billy Donovan Jr, Michael Frazier II, Dillon Graham, Kasey Hill, Jacob Kurtz, Scottie Wilbekin

Forwards: Dorian Finney-Smith, Casey Prather, Chris Walker, Devon Walker, Will Yeguete

Center: Patric Young, Damontre Harris

Gators’ center Patric Young will play a big part in anchoring the team’s defense and post-game offense. Last season Young averaged 10.1 points and 6.3 rebounds per game and will probably see improvement in those categories this year. Eli Carter will be another player to have a huge impact on the Florida offense. Last season Carter averaged 14.9 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game and will probably be the team’s leading scorer and primary ball-handler. The Gators will not be the most talented team in the nation, but what they lack in that department they will make up for by being well-coached and experienced. Expected Florida to be a contender and make another deep tournament run.

Read more articles by George Monroy