Ladies and gentlemen ... FBS action is back! And schedule makers, bless their hearts, have given us a tremendous matchup to kick off the 2019-20 season as the Miami Hurricanes and Florida Gators renew their Sunshine State rivalry on Saturday night at Camping World Stadium in Orlando.
The Hurricanes are looking to bounce back following a mediocre season that ended with a one-sided loss to Wisconsin in the Pinstripe Bowl, while the eighth-ranked Gators rolled to a 10-win campaign and throttled the Michigan Wolverines 41-15 to claim the Peach Bowl title.**video
MIAMI HURRICANES VS FLORIDA GATORS (-7, 46.5)
QUICK-HITTER
Team personnel changes dramatically from year to year in the college ranks, so we don't have nearly as much to go on in the early stages of the season. But oddsmakers clearly expect both the Hurricanes and Gators to carry some of their defensive brilliance from last season into 2019 – and that puts us in solid position for a few longer plays Saturday night.
The first is on the method of the opening score; Miami and Florida combined to allow just 58 total touchdowns in 2018, while forcing opponents into 36 field goals (both ranked in the top-12 nationally in that category). We like this one kicking off (see what we did there?) with a three-point play.
PREDICTION: First score method: Field goal (+190)
FIRST HALF BET
You have to love the Gators' chances of being an even better offensive team in 2019, despite finishing 22nd last season at an impressive 35.0 points per game. Quarterback Feleipe Franks showed real promise at the end of last season – completing nearly 65 percent of his passes with eight touchdowns and zero interceptions over his final four games, including the bowl victory – and was simply sensational in the first half of last season's games, boasting a 13-3 TD-INT ratio prior to the break.
With Miami's quarterback situation not nearly as settled, we like the Gators to go into the half with a comfortable lead.
PREDICTION: First Half Spread - Florida -4 (-110)
TEAM/PLAYER BET
Miami managed a top-65 scoring offense in 2018 despite getting just 2,175 yards, a 51.1 percent completion rate and a 19-14 TD-INT rate from its quarterbacks. The combination of new head coach Manny Diaz and offensive coordinator Dan Enos should help lift the passing game out of the doldrums, but we might not see instant progress.
The Gators ranked 13th in the nation in passing yards allowed last season (180.8) and will face a redshirt freshman quarterback in Jarren Williams who has zero collegiate playing experience. Look for the Hurricanes to come in below their team total in this one.
PREDICTION: Miami Under 19.5 points (-120)
FULL GAME TOTAL
We might not have total confidence in who will cover Saturday's season-opener between two bitter geographical rivals, but we're a lot more confident in the over/under play. Both teams boasted top-12 pass defenses a year ago, and Miami allowed the fourth-fewest total yards in the nation (which makes you wonder how they only managed to go 7-6.).
While the rosters have certainly changed over the years, these teams know low-scoring games, having combined for fewer than 40 points in each of their previous three head-to-head encounters. This game should finish comfortably below the total.
PREDICTION: Under 46 (-110)
FULL GAME SIDE
A seven-point spread on a neutral field is quite a show of faith in the Gators on behalf of oddsmakers – and given how well both teams defended in 2018 (and are expected to again this season), it's hard to envision this one being a blowout...unless Miami's offense completely collapses.
That said, Franks clearly took a major step forward at the end of last season and the Florida offense should see plenty of opportunities to work with the football. We're not sold on Miami's passing game, even with the coaching changes – and Franks is good enough to help Florida cover this number.
PREDICTION: Florida -7 (-110)
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