The Florida Gators have a chance to seal their NCAA Tourney fate tonight against the Louisiana State Tigers in Baton Rouge. If the Gators can pull out a win over the No. 18 ranked Tigers, I think it will be enough to lock them into a spot in the big dance. The Gators are currentl 21-6 overall, and 8-4 in the SEC. Some experts think the Gators need 10 wins in the SEC… but I think a win tonight would do it.

The Gators are not a good team on the road this season, and the Tigers are 11-1 in the SEC. UF is looking for its first road win at a ranked opponent since winning at 20th-ranked Kentucky on Feb. 10, 2007 and their first win in Baton Rouge since 2003. The Tigers are an athletic team led by 3 senior starters, compared to the Gators only senior Walter Hodge.

It’s going to be a tough matchup, but by no means is it impossible for the Gators to win. The Gators have scored 80+ points in six of their last eight games. Where the gators have struggled (and unfortunately where the Tigers have flourished) is rebounding. LSU leads the league in rebounding margin at +6.9 per game.

The key for a Gator win is their three-point shooting. They’ve hit 31 three-pointers in their last three games and must keep the hot streak alive.