Florida vs. Miami Total Prediction
Will defenses reign supreme when the College Football Season gets started on Saturday night as No. 8 Florida faces Miami from Camping World Stadium at 7PM ET?
Game Snapshot & Odds
291 Florida vs. 292 Miami
Saturday, August 24, 2019
7PM ET – Camping World Stadium
TV: ESPN
Public Betting Trends
According to the latest oddsmakers, Florida is the favorite in this game, as the Gators are getting odds of -7.5 points against Miami. The over/under total is currently listed at 47 points. The public betting currently has 56 percent going on Florida as the favorite.
Gators a top-10 team
The Florida Gators enter the 2019 season as a preseason top-10 squad after going 10-3 last year. Florida put up a record of 9-4 against the spread while going 8-4-1 with the over in the 2018 season.
Florida has been strong on defense over the years and last year was no different. The Gators gave up just 20 points and 338.7 yards per game. Their pass defense ranked 12th nationally by allowing just 178.9 yards per contest. That defense has eight starters back for this season. Florida’s offense saw a boost in production in the first year of coach Dan Mullen a year ago. The Gators put up 35 points and 428.7 yards per game. Feleipe Franks took a step forward as a QB, throwing for 2,457 yards with 24 touchdowns and six interceptions, while also rushing for 350 yards and seven scores. Florida also has leading rusher Lamical Perine back this year. He rushed for 826 yards last season and seven touchdowns.
Miami starts new era
The Miami Hurricanes are coming off a 7-6 record in the 2018 season where they went just 4-4 in the ACC. Miami comes into this year with a new coach in Manny Diaz, who is making his head-coaching debut. Last year, the Canes were 5-8 against the spread while going 7-5-1 with the under.
Like Florida, Miami was actually quite solid on defense. The Canes gave up just 19.5 points and 278.6 yards per game. They led the nation in pass defense by giving up just 135.6 yards per game through the air. That defense has six starters back, but loses a lot of starters in the secondary. Offensively, Miami was pretty bad in 2018. The Canes averages just 28.8 points and 358.8 yards per game. Their pass attack averaged only 167 yards per game. Miami is handing the offense over to Jarren Williams, who has thrown just three passes in his college career. The redshirt freshman won a competitive QB battle in the spring and preseason. The Canes may need to rely on running back DeeJay Dallas early on. He rushed for 617 yards and six touchdowns as a sophomore.
College Football Betting Trends
Florida
Florida is 3-0-1 with the over in its last four games at a neutral site and 5-1 with the over in its last six non-conference games.
Miami
Miami is 6-0-1 with the under in its last seven and 7-1 with the under in its last eight at a neutral site.
Prediction:
These two in-state foes haven’t met since 2013 but they have hit the under in three straight encounters. I would expect a defensive battle on Saturday as both teams have veteran defensive units that were among the best in the country last season. Florida had a solid offense last year, but the Gators will struggle with Miami’s speed on defense. The Hurricanes will be playing their first game with an entirely new coaching staff and new QB. I would expect them to look really out of sync in this opener, especially against a physical Florida defense.
College Football Week 1 Prediction: Florida/Miami Under 47