Florida basketball vs. Merrimack predictions, picks, betting odds - Gators Wire
Florida basketball hosts the Merrimack Warriors on Friday night inside the O'Connell Center for its fourth game of the young 2026-26 campaign. The Gators are heavily favored in this matchup and you can find BetMGM's betting odds just below.
Todd Golden's gang enters the matchup ranked first in the USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll and AP Top 25, as well as the Basketball Power Index and Pomeroy College Basketball Ratings. Merrimack is nowhere to be found in all of the polls and power rankings, while ranked No. 254 in the BPI and No. 263 in KenPom.
Florida and Merrimack have faced off just twice before on the collegiate parquet — both times in Gainesville. The first meeting came in 2023, when the Gators prevailed, 77-57; the second was in 2025, when the Orange and Blue throttled the Warriors, 80-45.
Odds courtesy of BetMGM as of Friday, Nov. 13
The Gators looked good in their first three games, with two of them coming against formidable opponents. While Todd Golden's gang cannot look past Merrimack, the Warriors should not present too much of a challenge for Florida on its own home court.
Things probably will not go perfectly for the Orange and Blue, but things should click well enough that the team should win by a comfortable margin. The bench should get plenty of court time, which might prevent the Gators from cracking the triple-digit mark, but it should still be a blowout win.
Follow us @GatorsWire on X, formerly known as Twitter, as well as Bluesky, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.
Our editors independently choose our recommendations. Some content is produced with paid support from a third party, however our editorial decisions remain independent. If you buy through our links, the USA TODAY Network may earn a commission. Prices and availability may change.
Advertiser disclosure: USA TODAY may earn a commission when you sign up through links on this page. Commissions never influence our editorial coverage or rankings. Offers and odds were accurate at publication and are subject to change; terms apply — see the operator’s site. This is general information, not betting, legal or financial advice. To the fullest extent permitted by law, USA TODAY is not liable for losses arising from your use of it.
Must be 21+ (18+ where permitted). Sports betting and casino gaming are not legal everywhere; complying with the laws where you are located is your responsibility. Gamble only with funds you can afford to lose. Gambling problem? Help is available 24/7 — call or text 1-800-GAMBLER, or call the National Problem Gambling Helpline at 1-800-MY-RESET. State helplines and responsible gaming resources.
Comments reflect the views of their authors, not USA TODAY, its publications or its journalists. We do not fact check, verify, or endorse comments and are not responsible for their accuracy or any reliance on them. We may remove comments or suspend commenting privileges at our discretion. Comments are public; do not post personal information. By commenting, you agree to our Terms of Service, Community Rules, and Privacy Policy.
