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Florida vs. Wisconsin prediction and game preview, as the No. 4 Gators and No. 8 Badgers face off in the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA Tournament.

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Mike White’s Gators (25-8) held a 14-point halftime lead over Virginia after holding the Cavaliers to 29.6 percent shooting from the field. And it became worse for UVA. The Cavaliers scored just 39 points, as Florida won by 26 to advance in the East Region. UF’s largest NCAA Tournament win over a major conference team before this game was by 26 in 2012…also against Virginia. UF’s defense was otherworldly against the Cavaliers, and it doesn’t seem like the loss of John Egbunu is going to thwart this squad.

Meanwhile, the Badgers (27-9) are proving that they were one of the selection committee’s most underseeded teams, and Villanova was one of their victims on Saturday. Greg Gard’s squad claimed a 65-62 win over the defending national champion Wildcats in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. The eighth-seeded Badgers have earned another Sweet Sixteen berth, as they move on in the East Region. The win comes on the same day 17 years ago when an eighth-seeded Badgers squad beat No. 1 Arizona in the second round. Wisconsin has now made each of the last four Sweet Sixteens, making it the only team that can claim the feat.

Florida vs. Wisconsin Game Preview

Date: Friday, March 24
Venue: Madison Square Garden, New York, NY
Region: East

Florida Wins If …

The Gators defend as well as they did against Virginia. College basketball fans know that Tony Bennett’s Cavaliers will never be known for their offense, but UF’s versatility and length defensively overwhelmed Bennett’s squad all game long, even when the Hoos went with their five-guard lineup.

Six-foot-8 junior forward Devin Robinson finished with 14 points and 11 rebounds against UVA, one game after his 24-point performance in the first round. His inside play will be key against the Wisconsin big men, especially with Egbunu sidelined.

Wisconsin Wins If …

Nigel Hayes continues to be one of the best players in the country. In five postseason games in 2017 (the Big Ten and NCAA Tournaments), he is averaging 15.4 points, 9.6 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game—including three double-doubles. Hayes scored 19 points against the Wildcats, including a layup in traffic with 11.4 seconds left to break a tie.

Bronson Koenig also needs to play well. One game after he made a school-record eight 3-pointers and scored 28 points against Virginia Tech, he had 17 against ‘Nova. Wisconsin shot 53.1 percent from the floor, so that efficiency combined with its tempo will always make the school in Madison a tough out.

Florida vs. Wisconsin Prediction

This is a Badgers team that seemingly lives for March. Hayes is playing with a fire that a coach loves to see this time of year from his veteran players. Koenig stays hot, and the Badgers put behind a rough first half to squeak by the Gators and advance to the Elite Eight behind sharp shooting and the team’s interior play in the final 20 minutes.

Florida vs. Wisconsin Score Prediction: Wisconsin 67, Florida 64

MORE: Complete NCAA Tournament Bracket, Previews, Predictions