Kentucky Wildcats vs Florida Gators Picks and Prediction For February 14, 2026

By: Jake Allman Published 02/14/2026, 01:25 AM ET

Kentucky heads to Gainesville for a top-25 SEC showdown against No. 14 Florida on Saturday at 3:00 PM ET on ABC. The Wildcats sit at 17-7 overall and 8-3 in conference play, while the Gators are 18-6 and 9-2 in the SEC. Florida is a heavy 11.5-point home favorite at DraftKings, with the total set at 152.5. ESPN’s matchup predictor gives Florida nearly an 80 percent win probability, which tells you how tough this spot is for Kentucky on the road. Slam dunk your bets with our College Basketball picks.

Kentucky Preview

Kentucky is coming off four wins in its last five games, including a tight 74-71 victory over Tennessee and a 94-78 win against Oklahoma. Mark Pope’s group averages 81.6 points per game on 47 percent shooting and knocks down 34.5 percent from three. Otega Oweh leads the Wildcats with 17.1 points per game on 48.3 percent shooting, and he also contributes 1.8 steals per contest. Malachi Moreno anchors the interior with 6.3 rebounds and 1.7 blocks per game, while Kentucky averages 37.9 boards and 16.3 assists as a team.

Florida Preview

Florida has been rolling, winning four straight games by double digits before this matchup. The Gators are scoring 86.3 points per game while allowing 71.0, and they match Kentucky’s 47 percent field goal rate but dominate the glass at 46.0 rebounds per game. Thomas Haugh leads the way with 17.5 points and 6.3 rebounds, and Rueben Chinyelu is a force inside with 11.8 rebounds per game on 60.9 percent shooting. Todd Golden’s squad also gets strong guard play from Boogie Fland, who averages 11.4 points, 3.8 assists, and 2.0 steals.

Kentucky vs Florida Prediction

The key matchup comes on the boards and in transition. Florida’s plus-eight rebounding margin compared to Kentucky’s more modest numbers stands out, especially with Chinyelu and Alex Condon combining for size and shot blocking. Kentucky’s offense is efficient and can stretch the floor with multiple shooters, but Florida’s recent wins over Georgia, Texas A&M, Alabama, and South Carolina show a team peaking at the right time.

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Laying 11.5 points in an SEC game is never comfortable, but Florida’s scoring balance and rebounding edge at home are tough to ignore. Kentucky has enough shot makers to stay competitive early, yet the Gators’ depth and interior presence should take over late.

Prediction: Florida 84, Kentucky 72

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