And what do you know, college football is back! It all begins this coming Saturday in Orlando, where the Miami Hurricanes and the Florida Gators will engage in an ACC-SEC showdown. A win by the Hurricanes will be like catching a big fish for Miami, which could break in to the Top 25 of the AP Poll rankings if they beat No. 7 Florida. The Hurricanes and the Gators are +12500 and +5000 to win the National Championship, respectively.
Betting on the Miami Hurricanes (0-0 Overall / 0-0 Conference)
The Hurricanes’ defense was the team’s identity last season, and that could be the case again this year. However, there’s renewed excitement for the Canes’ attack, as they have a new starting quarterback in redshirt freshman Jarren Williams, who will enter the Gators game with just three pass attempts in his college career. Wide receiver KJ Osborn, a graduate transfer from Buffalo, will also add dynamism to the Hurricanes’ offense that averaged 24.8 points and 160.0 passing yards per game in 2018. Osborn had 892 receiving yards and seven touchdowns on 53 receptions for the Bulls in 2018. Osborn forms a potent downfield triumvirate threat with Jeff Thomas and Brevin Jordan. Going back to Miami’s defense, the Canes should benefit from the Shaquille Quarterman and Michael Pinckney. They will anchor Miami’s linebacking corps. Miami was second in the ACC in 2018 in tackles for loss.
The under is 8-2 in Miami’s last 10 games overall.
Betting on the Florida Gators (0-0 Overall / 0-0 Conference)
There are heightened expectations for the Gators this season after head coach Dan Mullens steered the program to a 10-5 SU finish that included a 41-15 demolition job of a victory over the Michigan Wolverines at the Chick-Fil-A Peach Bowl back in December. Leading the Gators’ attack is junior quarterback Feleipe Franks, who had 2,457 passing yards and 24 touchdowns against six interceptions. With more experience in his bag and a perceived better receiving corps, Franks could be more effective and lethal in directing the air traffic of Florida’s air attack that averaged 194.2 yards per contest in 2018. Of course, the Gators ran the ball like there’s no tomorrow last year, when they ranked 22nd in the nation with 215.1 rushing yards per game. With the passing game expected to improve, there should be more space for the backfield to run and gain big yards.
The Gators are 3-0 against the spread (ATS) in their last three games overall.
