Miami-FL Hurricanes (0-0) vs. Florida Gators (0-0)
August 31, 2024 3:30 pm EDT
The Line: Florida Gators +2.5; Over/Under: 53.5
(Get latest betting odds)
The Florida Gators and Miami Hurricanes meet in week 1 college football action from Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on Saturday. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best bets for this game. Here’s a Miami vs Florida Prediction.
Is This Finally the Year for Miami?
There is a quiet confidence coming from inside the Miami program, and if they win this game, it’s only going to get louder. One of the big reasons that this Miami team is so confident is because of their quarterback. Cam Ward was probably the best transfer quarterback in the portal, and he decided he wanted to play his college football in Miami. He has a strong arm and is also dynamic with his legs. Wide receiver Xavier Restrepo is also back and should be the top weapon for Ward. Ward is also going to have an elite offensive line that will guard him, and the offensive line is often overlooked when thinking about the Hurricanes.
On defense, this Miami team should also be good to be elite. There were some games they looked good last year, but in other games they let up too many big plays and that hurt them. Tyler Baron came in after some solid seasons at Tennessee, and he’s going to be leaned on heavily to have success. Miami will play against Florida A&M, Ball State, USF, and Virginia Tech following this game.
Why Miami Will Beat Florida
- Florida has lost 12 of its last 15 games against AP-ranked teams.
- Miami (FL) has won four of its last five games against non-conference opponents.
- Florida has failed to cover the spread in 13 of its last 16 games against non-conference opponents.
- Miami (FL) has covered the spread in each of its last three season openers as a favorite.
The Pressure is on For Florida
The pressure is on for the Florida Gators, and if Billy Napier doesn’t lead this team to a ton of success this season, he could be packing his bags. The offensive line hasn’t been good enough in the last couple of years, and they are going to need to do a better job of opening up the running lanes. Montrell Johnson is back to lead the running back room, and he’s going to need to have a big year. Under center for the Gators will be Graham Mertz, who didn’t live up to the expectations at Wisconsin, but there is confidence around the program that he is the guy.
Remember when the Florida defense used to be such a strength? That wasn’t the case last season, and they are going to need to be much improved here. Princely Umanmielen was the best defensive player last season, but he’s gone to Ole Miss. In this game especially, the defense has to make the stops early. If they fall behind early, this could be a very long game.
Florida vs Miami Prediction
What has Florida proven to make us bet on them, even at home against this Miami team? Nothing and that’s why we won’t. Cam Ward has raised the expectations for this Miami team, and I think they are going to live up to them this season. This Florida defense still isn’t good, and Cam Ward is going to have a field day with it. Mertz is going to get his season off to a slow start for Florida, and Miami is going to get the job done. Back the Hurricanes to win this game and cover the spread.
