Florida Gators vs Miami Florida Hurricanes Point Spread Picks

Florida faces a tough test against an attacking, multi-dimensional Miami offense. It was a test they failed a year ago, losing 41-17 as Miami rolled up 529 yards. Miami has a new quarterback in Carson Beck (7 TDs, 2 INTs), who has been solid, while the ground game is explosive behind Mark Fletcher Jr. (272 yards, 6.5 ypc). Florida State has beaten No. 6 Notre Dame (27-24) and No. 18 South Florida (49-12), rolling up 576 yards last week on the Bulls. The Hurricanes are on a 17-6-2 run OVER the total, including last year's win over the Gators. Take Florida/Miami-Florida OVER the total. 

These teams are meeting for the first time since 2013. Florida coach Dan Mullen is in his second year as head coach while Manny Diaz takes over after Mark Richt resigned at Miami. The Hurricanes will be breaking in a new offense with only six starters returning, including just two on the offensive line. Miami was 6-0-1 UNDER its last seven games in 2018 and were walloped 35-3 by Wisconsin in the Pinstripe Bowl. The Gators return only five on offense, including just one on the line, but they had a great recruiting year defensively. They already were strong at the linebacker position led by David Reese and the secondary returns intact. Miami's starting quarterback will be Jarren Williams and he was mostly a practice player last season as he made only one appearance and that was against Savannah State when he went 1-for-3 for 17 yards and ran for a touchdown. Feleipe Franks again will start at QB for the Gators and he showed flashes of brilliance last season along with some inconsistencies. This game is in Orlando, and Miami is 7-1 UNDER in its last eight neutral-site games. Also, the Hurricanes have gone in UNDER five of their last seven versus SEC teams and the UNDER is 20-7 in the Gators' last 27 versus the ACC. Play the UNDER.

This is a huge rivalry between a pair of programs that have put some great teams on the field over the years. This year neither is on the level of those great ones, but they are still both top level teams. As usual, this one should be a brawl. We have already gotten a preview of the Florida offense struggling once again. They managed just 24 points at home vs. Toledo last week. But, in that game we also saw the team's strength. Florida was one of the best defending teams in the country a year ago, and they won't stray far from that level again this season. Miami managed 34 points vs. Florida Atlantic, which is a bit suspect since the Owls surrendered 31 or more last season, including an average of 48 points per game vs. Georgia and Alabama. Miami is not strong on defense, but the Gators simply don't have the offense to exploit it. Florida is good enough to stop or slow down most teams with their defense. Florida has played 9-2 to the UNDER in their last 11 vs. the ACC, and Miami is 37-14 to the UNDER in their last 51 outside the conference. The U is also 54-30 UNDER in their last 84 home games and under Al Golden, they are 13-2 UNDER as a home dog. Take the UNDER.