The 2025 NCAA Tournament wraps up on Monday with the final face-off between the Florida Gators and Houston Cougars. Both teams, entering this national championship game with impressive 35-4 records, were No. 1 seeds at the start of the tournament. Houston aims for its first-ever title, while Florida seeks their third championship, their first since the 2006-07 season.

Tip-off is at 8:50 PM ET in the Alamodome in San Antonio, where the Gators have been set as 1-point favorites. Current odds from SportsLine show over/under at 141 points. Prior to making any selections on this matchup, check out Thomas Casale’s expert predictions over at SportsLine.

Casale’s Betting Insight: He is riding a wave of success; he holds a record of 61-38 (+1812) over his last 99 official college basketball picks. His recommendations recently provided solid returns for followers.

Why Florida Might Prevail: The Gators began their tournament journey with a commanding victory against Norfolk State, followed by a notable win over the reigning champions, UConn, and then defeating both Maryland and Texas Tech to secure their Final Four position. They stunned No. 1 seed Auburn just recently, demonstrating their tenacity.

Walter Clayton Jr. has emerged as a standout player, averaging 24.6 points throughout the tournament and scoring 34 points in the semifinal against Auburn. With a resilient streak of covering the spread, Florida is showing potent promise in their gameplay.

Houston’s Defensive Edge: The Cougars have marched through tough matches against strong contenders like Duke and Tennessee and are leading the league in points allowed per game this season. They also feature the best defensive statistics, which could be crucial in high-stakes play against Florida.

Final Thoughts: Masterful analyses from Casale postulate key X-factors that could determine the spread advantage—find out more insights by visiting SportsLine to unlock further expert predictions.