The first NCAA Tournament Final Four ticket will be punched Saturday night when No. 1 seed Florida and No. 3 Texas Tech square off in the West Regional championship game at the Chase Center in San Francisco.

Florida (33-4 SU, 27-10 ATS) is coming off a dominant Sweet 16 win over No. 4 Maryland, while Texas Tech (28-8 SU, 18-18 ATS) needed overtime for a thrilling win over No. 10 Arkansas.

The Gators had a case for being the March Madness overall No. 1 seed thanks to 13 wins in their last 14 regular-season and SEC Tournament games but were shipped West.

Texas Tech has had a strong season with some big wins, but the Red Raiders have missed starter Chance McMillian for the last four games. Will he return on Saturday night?

Florida is a 6.5-point favorite against the Red Raiders. The over/under is 155.5 to 157 points, according to the latest March Madness odds. Here are our Texas Tech vs. Florida predictions, picks and best bets for the Elite Eight.

Texas Tech vs. Florida predictions and best bets

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.

Except for a couple of instances in the first two rounds, basketball fans were starved of the typical drama in this NCAA Tournament.

Texas Tech added some madness to March in their Sweet 16 win over Arkansas, rallying from a 16-point deficit to win by two points in overtime. Do the Red Raiders have anything left for this matchup against Florida?

McMillian’s return would help. The senior guard averages 14.3 points per game (third on the team) and is one of the top 3-point shooters (43.4%) nationally. He hasn’t played since suffering an upper-body injury on March 13, though he was said to be a game-time decision for Thursday’s game against Arkansas.

McMillian’s presence would give Texas Tech fresh legs, but will one pair be enough against Florida — one of the deepest teams in the nation?

The Gators coasted in Thursday’s second half against Maryland, so coach Todd Golden spaced out the minutes. That should be an advantage in the second half against Texas Tech.

Even if the Red Raiders play strong in the first 20 minutes, will they run out of energy late? I can see Florida pulling away late to cover -6.5 points

If you like Texas Tech, look at the first-half point spread of +3.5 (-105 odds at Caesars Sportsbook).

No matter the half, there should be plenty of points scored. Texas Tech is a strong Over team with a 21-14 record this season. That includes five consecutive Overs and seven of the last eight. Florida is on a roll, too, having played 10 consecutive Overs.

One player who will help the Gators pile up the points is sophomore center Rueben Chinyelu. He averages 6.2 points per game and scored at least six in seven of his past eight games. Fellow center Alex Condon injured his ankle Thursday and may not be full-strength Saturday.

Even if Condon plays his usual minutes, Chinyelu will have an advantage against Texas Tech’s post players, who lack size after center J.T. Toppin.

Texas Tech vs. Florida moneyline odds analysis

Why Florida could win as the favorite

Best odds: -260 at FanDuel Sportsbook

Talent and depth go a long way in March Madness, and one can argue Florida ranks at or near the top in both categories. The Gators can send waves of players at opponents and wear them down, and then their supreme talent can take over in the final 10 minutes.

Florida has been one of the best teams in the country all season, and it is playing near its peak in March. This team can win the national championship and should fare well against a team that is more likely to wear down late.

Why Texas Tech could win as the underdog

Best odds: +240 at bet365 Sportsbook

Texas Tech may not have Florida’s depth, but its starting five can go toe-to-toe with the Gators’ starting five. If McMillian returns, it will add a dimension Florida may not be prepared for.

The Red Raiders are among the nation’s grittiest teams, with one win in two games against No. 1 seed Houston as proof. Texas Tech played those games without key players and almost won the game it lost.

As evidenced by Thursday’s comeback win over Arkansas, if an opponent gives Texas Tech an opening, it can shoot through it and win. Don’t count out the Red Raiders.