It is fitting that the Southeastern Conference is guaranteed to have a team in the NCAA Tournament championship game. It’s also fitting that the contender will be Auburn or Florida.

Auburn (32-5 SU, 20-16-1 ATS) won the SEC regular season title. Florida (34-4 SU, 27-11 ATS) won the conference tournament title. Now the Tigers and Gators will square off in the Final Four on Saturday in San Antonio, Texas, for the right to play in the national championship game against Duke or Houston.

Florida won the only regular-season meeting between these foes — scoring a 90-81 road upset as 11-point underdogs on Feb. 8.

The Gators are 2.5-point favorites over Auburn in the first national semifinal, according to the latest March Madness odds. The over/under is 160.5 points on the best March Madness betting sites. Here is our first look at Auburn vs. Florida predictions, picks and best bets for the Final Four.

Auburn vs. Florida predictions and best bets

• Auburn +2.5: -105 at DraftKings Sportsbook
• Over 160.5 points: -110 at bet365 Sportsbook

Note: Odds are based on the best value our experts find while writing; check lines closer to game time to ensure you get the best odds.

Analyzing this game requires answering two questions:

• Which Auburn team will show up?
• Which Florida team will show up?

Both squads have shown different versions of themselves in March. Auburn was awesome for the bulk of the regular season but lost three of its last four games before the NCAA Tournament. The Tigers also could have looked better in their first-round game against No. 16 seed Alabama State.

Since then, however, Auburn has looked like its old self. The Tigers won and covered against Creighton, Michigan and Michigan State to reach the Final Four. The elite performance level they established for four months returned in those three games.

To be fair, the difference between Florida’s best version and its lesser version is more subtle. The Gators have won 10 in a row and deserve to be here. Looking at two of their last three games, though, it’s fair to wonder if they currently have the same potential as Auburn.

Florida trailed for most of the second half in their second-round win over Connecticut, biding its time before pushing ahead for good on a 3-pointer by Walter Clayton Jr. with 2 minutes, 54 seconds remaining.

The Gators trailed Texas Tech by nine points with 3:40 remaining in the Elite 8 before erupting for a 20-6 run and winning by five points. Clayton had 10 points and two assists during the run, highlighting how valuable he has become in the clutch.

Here’s another question: Can Florida afford to bide its time or fall far behind against Auburn?

And the answer: No, the Gators cannot.

Auburn and Florida are nearly identical statistically. No matter which metric you look to for a small advantage, there is another metric that shows a disadvantage. You’re nitpicking when it comes to all that.

Instead, look for the team that has looked more sure of itself recently and trust that it will get the job done on Saturday night in San Antonio.

That team is Auburn.

Offense has been key to the Tigers’ success in the NCAA Tournament. They have scored 1.14, 1.21, 1.03 and 1.05 points per possession in their four games. Florida has averaged more than 1.03 points per possession in 37 of 38 games this season.

The Gators have hit the Over in 11 consecutive games, and the Tigers are 21-16 to the Over this season. Expect the points to come in bunches again on Saturday and wager on the Over.

Auburn vs. Florida moneyline odds analysis

Why Florida could win as the favorite

Best odds: -145 at Caesars Sportsbook

Florida has beaten Auburn before and will not be intimidated by this stage. The Gators already beat the Tigers in The Jungle. Why would they think less of themselves on a neutral court? A big reason for that is Walter Clayton Jr.

When your team has a closer like Clayton it is one of the best feelings. He has done it so many times before that if winning time comes around and Clayton has the ball in his hands, the opponent will panic at least a little bit. Clayton is the player you want on your side in a game that should come down to the final minute.

Why Auburn could win as the underdog

Best odds: +125 at BetMGM Sportsbook

There is something to be said about the strength of a team that was lost but is now found. In Auburn’s case, it’s like a second wind.

The Tigers sputtered near the end of the regular season, but they bounced back and have shown they are whole again. That renewed confidence can put a team over the top.