Gampel Pavilion – Storrs, CT
Tip-off: Monday, 7:00 p.m. ET
Line: Connecticut -5

No. 13 Connecticut has had three victories of two points of less in its first seven games, but is still undefeated as it welcomes No. 15 Florida to Storrs, CT on Monday night.

Florida’s one loss this season came in its second game of the year, falling 59-53 at Wisconsin as a six-point underdog for a push. But the Gators have won five in a row since that defeat, and are 2-1-1 ATS in their four lined games. The Huskies are 3-3 ATS, but all three ATS wins came at home, although none were against particularly good teams (Yale, Detroit and Boston University). The big issue for Connecticut has been its board work, as it has outrebounded just two opponents all season and is allowing a whopping 14.7 offensive RPG to its opponents. The Gators, meanwhile, have outrebounded each of their past five opponents with the help of 14.0 offensive RPG during this stretch. They also boast four players who average at least five boards per game. And it doesn’t say much about the Huskies' frontcourt when 6-foot-1 PG Shabazz Napier leads the team in rebounding at 7.7 RPG, while no other player has more than 4.6 RPG. But both schools are known for their outstanding defense, as Florida is allowing only 60.3 PPG on 40.1% FG, while UConn is even better at 36.0% FG despite surrendering 64.0 PPG.

Can UConn stay unbeaten against a great Florida squad? For the latest college basketball picks, check out The Platinum Sheet for all the StatFox Experts selections every week throughout the entire 2013-14 season. The StatFox Experts have been rolling since Nov. 24, with a 68% ATS (17-8) mark on college basketball Best Bets. StatFox Brian is 5-2 ATS during this timeframe, and is 58% ATS (11-8-1) for the season. StatFox Dave and StatFox Zach are both 4-1 ATS during this timeframe, and are both 56% ATS (10-8-1) for the season.

Six-foot-6 senior SF Casey Prather (19.1 PPG, 5.7 RPG) has led the Gators in scoring to start the season, hitting an incredible 64.0% FG. In his past two games, he’s averaging 23.0 PPG, hitting 17-of-23 FG attempts. Joining him down low and leading the team in boards is 6-foot-8 sophomore transfer PF Dorian Finney-Smith (11.8 PPG, 8.6 RPG), who has made an instant impact after sitting out last year coming from Virginia Tech. He has double-digit boards in each of the past two games. And that doesn’t even account for senior C Patric Young (9.3 PPG, 5.0 RPG), whose numbers are down slightly from last season. But even when he’s not scoring, he’s a stalwart defender with 1.3 BPG. Fellow senior SF Will Yeguete (5.4 PPG, 5.1 RPG) also isn’t the best scorer, but helps leads the Gators defense that has yielded a pithy 58.8 PPG on 39.3% FG in its past five games. In the backcourt, SG Michael Frazier II (14.4 PPG) has been red-hot from deep, making five 3-pointers in two consecutive games and hitting treys at a 54% clip this year. Freshman SG Kasey Hill (10.3 PPG, 4.3 APG) has also proven to be an effective scorer and distributor in his freshman campaign, while starting PG Scottie Wilbekin (9.5 PPG, 7.5 APG)—who has only played in the team’s last two games after being suspended to start the season—is a top notch passer and defender, totaling eight steals already.

Despite their lack of size, the Huskies actually block a ton of shots, swatting 7.3 per game. Seven-foot freshman C Amida Brimah (3.3 PPG, 1.6 RPG, 3.4 BPG) leads that effort, notching those totals in a pithy 13.4 MPG. This team is built off its backcourt though, with PG Shabazz Napier (15.0 PPG, 7.7 RPG, 6.1 APG) leading the way. He’s hitting 59% of his three-pointers (10-of-17) to start the season, while also adding 1.7 SPG defensively. Junior SG Ryan Boatright is small—barely six feet—like Napier, and almost as dangerous, averaging 11.7 PPG, 4.6 RPG and 4.1 APG. The guy who’s going to have to step up will be junior PF DeAndre Daniels (13.4 PPG, 4.3 RPG) who hasn’t rebounded well despite his height, barely weighing 200 pounds, at 6-foot-9. He can stretch defenses with his length, however, scoring down low while also stepping out to hit at least one three-pointer in five straight games. After a slow start to the season (6.3 PPG in first three games), he's averaging 18.8 PPG over the past four contests. And don’t sleep on SF Niels Giffey (9.7 PPG, 3.6 RPG) and F/G Omar Calhoun (9.4 PPG), both of whom can be counted on for bursts of points.