Florida vs Houston prediction, picks, odds for 2025 men's NCAA championship game

• Game Day: Monday, April 7, 2025

• Game Time: 8:50 p.m. ET

• Location: Alamodome in San Antonio

• Moneyline: Florida (-1.5)

• Spread: Florida (-120); Houston (+100)

• Over/under: 141.5

It’s That Time we all waited for, the stage is officially set! After a wild ride through the NCAA Tournament, we're down to the final two teams battling it out for the men's national championship.

Last night in San Antonio was absolutely electric, with Florida roaring back to beat Auburn and Houston pulling off a comeback for the ages against Duke.

Now, it all comes down to Monday night: will it be the Gators or the Cougars who end up cutting down those nets and celebrating their "one shining moment”!

How the Florida Gators

Got Here!

Okay, so the Florida Gators have had one heck of a ride to get to the championship game! Last year was a bit of a bummer with that first-round exit in a high-scoring loss to Colorado. But this year? Totally different story. They brought back some key players like Walter Clayton Jr. and Will Richard, plus snagged Alijah Martin, and that guard trio looked seriously promising, starting them off ranked high. They then went on an absolute tear, racking up win after win and climbing into the top 10. Even after a little bump in conference play, they finished strong, dominated the SEC tournament, and snagged that coveted No. 1 seed in the Big Dance.

Their journey through the NCAA Tournament has been pretty dominant too. They cruised through the early rounds, then had a nail-biter against UConn before handling Maryland and Texas Tech to make it to the Final Four. Their matchup against Auburn was a tough one, but they pulled it out to punch their ticket to the championship. With Walter Clayton Jr. going absolutely off in March Madness, leading a supercharged offense and backed by a tough defense that survived the SEC grind, the Gators are now just one win away from their third national title – something they haven't done since their back-to-back wins way back in '06 and '07.

How the Houston Cougars Got Here!

Alright, let's break down Houston's road to the championship! These guys have been knocking on the door for a while, being a No. 1 seed three years straight but getting stuck in the Elite Eight the last two. This year, though, they finally broke through! They brought back some key players like LJ Cryer, Emanuel Sharp, and J'Wan Roberts, and added Milos Uzan to run the point. They started the season ranked high but had a bit of a rocky start with a few early losses. However, once December hit, they went on an absolute tear, dominating everyone and sweeping the Big 12 tournament to lock in that top seed.

Their tournament run has been a mix of blowouts and nail-biters, but their incredible defense – the best in the country – has been their constant. They just know how to lock things down when it counts. It was pretty cool to see those returning guys, Cryer, Sharp, and Roberts, really step up in that big win against Duke. Now, Houston is on the cusp of making history. They've never won a national championship before, and this is only their third time in the title game, with their last appearances being back in the early '80s. They're hungry for that trophy!

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The Gators Vs Cougars Championship Game Prediction!

The Pick: The Gators ML -105

Alright, so it's pretty awesome that we've got Florida and Houston in the final – they straight-up dominated their conferences and have been on fire lately. Houston's defense is legit; they held strong against Duke's killer offense, so they definitely won't be scared of Florida's scoring power.

But here's the thing: Walter Clayton Jr. is playing out of his mind right now, like nobody can stop him in this tournament. And honestly, all season long, teams have struggled to handle those Florida guards.

My gut's telling me that Clayton's hot streak continues, and that Florida's overall offensive firepower will be just a little too much for even Houston's tough D to handle in the end. I'm leaning towards the Gators cutting down the nets on Monday night!