Auburn Tigers vs Florida Gators Picks and Predictions April 5th 2025

Mentor Meets Pupil for a Spot in Championship Game

Auburn head coach Bruce Pearl and Florida’s Todd Golden have been close friends ever since Golden served under Pearl at Auburn nearly a decade ago. But on Saturday night in San Antonio, their bond will take a backseat as the two friends battle head-to-head in the Final Four with a spot in the NCAA championship game on the line.

Pearl, the veteran leader, revived Auburn’s program into a national powerhouse, while Golden has rapidly ascended through the coaching ranks, now guiding the Gators to college basketball’s biggest stage. Both programs are seeking their first-ever NCAA championship appearance, turning this matchup into a high-stakes showdown of familiarity and intensity.

“It is (awkward) because the relationship is that close,” Pearl admitted this week. “But if we have to play each other, let’s do it for a championship. I’m so proud of Todd and so happy for him.”

Golden echoed the sentiment: “We don’t necessarily enjoy playing each other. It’s not something that excites us. But at the same time, when you’re doing it in the Final Four, it’s a little different.”

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Florida’s Road to the Final Four

The Florida Gators (34-4), who won the West Region, are led by first-team All-American guard Walter Clayton Jr., who has become one of the nation’s best scorers, averaging 18.1 points per game. Clayton put on a heroic performance in Florida’s 84-79 Elite Eight win over Texas Tech, scoring 13 points in the final 5:24 to erase a double-digit deficit.

Belmont transfer Will Richard has provided consistent scoring (13.3 ppg), playing a crucial role as Florida returned to the Final Four for the first time since 2014. The Gators’ victory at Auburn in their regular-season meeting was a key moment, and they enter Saturday’s matchup confident they can repeat their success.

“Both teams have probably changed quite a bit since Feb. 8,” Golden said, referring to Florida’s 90-81 win at then-No. 1 Auburn. “But our first game gives us confidence. We understand they’ll have some tricks up their sleeve, and we’ll have to adjust.”

Auburn Looks for Revenge

Despite the earlier defeat to Florida, Auburn (32-5) earned the No. 1 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament and arrives at the Final Four poised for a championship run. The Tigers’ path has been powered by star center Johni Broome, who chose Auburn over Florida in a heated recruiting battle and has emerged as a first-team All-American, averaging 18.7 points, 10.9 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks per game.

Though Broome is nursing an elbow injury sustained in Auburn’s Elite Eight win over Michigan State, he’s expected to play a crucial role against a talented Gators frontcourt. Auburn will also lean on key contributors Denver Jones (14.2 ppg) and Tre Donaldson, whose playmaking will be critical in this rematch.

Pearl has made no secret of his respect for Florida, having labeled them “the best team in the country” since midseason. But now he must find a way to defeat the squad that once spoiled Auburn’s lengthy stay atop the rankings.

Battle of Familiar Foes

Golden’s connection to Auburn runs deep. Hired by Pearl as director of basketball operations in 2014 and later promoted to assistant coach, Golden learned firsthand how to build a successful program. His quick climb to prominence has earned widespread admiration, including from Pearl, who sees Golden as one of the best young coaches in the nation.

Their history adds an intriguing storyline to the game, but once the ball tips off, their mutual respect will temporarily vanish as both coaches seek their first-ever championship game berth.

As Golden said with a smile, “We were just giggling about how far we’ve come. But once the game starts, friendship doesn’t matter. We want to win.”

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The Auburn-Florida matchup presents intriguing betting angles for college basketball fans. Both teams feature All-American talent and have strong postseason resumes. For expert insight, visit our College Basketball Picks page.