Florida vs Utah Betting Preview
In the next game of our Countdown to Kickoff series, Sportsmemo handicapper JM Sports takes a look at Florida vs Utah on September 3. After going up 35-21 in the Rose Bowl, Utah lost 48-45 to Ohio State last season. Florida finished 6-7 last season which ended in a Gasparilla Bowl loss to Central Florida 29-17.
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Saturday, September 3 | College Football Betting Notes |
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Point Spread: | Florida Gators +3 vs Utah Utes |
Total: | 51 (Over -110 / Under -110) |
Kickoff: | 7:00pm ET / 4:00pm PT |
Venue: | Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, FL |
TV: | ESPN |
Florida vs Utah Analysis
Kyle Whittingham enters his 18th season at the helm for the Utah Utes, and this season they are ranked 7th to start the year, but open the season against SEC opponent, Florida.
This is just the 2nd meeting between this two teams, and the 1st since 1977, where Florida got the win 38-29.
Utah Under High Expectations
Utah is just 3-9 against current SEC teams, but they have won the last 2 meetings, picking up wins against Bama and Texas A&M.
Although they have put up an impressive 26-5 record against non-conference opponents since 2013, even though they were just 1-3 last season (losses vs. BYU, San Diego State & Ohio State). Utah is 7-2 SU (7-1-1 ATS) in road openers and they look to continue that trend.
Utah had one of the most impressive offenses in their recent history, and they have eight returning starters on that side of that ball as we head into the season opener.
Their 1st TM Pac-12 QB is back, as well as three of their top four rushers from last season and five of their top six receivers. Their defense losses four of their top five tacklers from last year, but they add a couple big transfers to aide the defense.
Utah has now lost three straight bowls, and in the previous two opportunities they split the game to open the following season, both straight up and against the spread. They took the opener in 2019 against BYU winning 30-12, but dropped the 2020 opener against USC 17-33.
Gators Tough in Gainesville
Florida welcomes in Billy Napier for his 1st season as the HC of the Florida Gators. Last season the Gators ended just 6-7, although they ended 4-1 against non-conference opponents (0-4-1 ATS).
Dating back to his time at Louisiana, Napier is just 1-4 against top-25 teams, and is facing a top-10 team in his Florida debut.
This Florida Gators team lost a lot of pieces in the offseason, on both sides of the ball. Their offense lost their QB, top three leading rushers and five of their top seven receivers. On the defensive side of the ball, the Gators do return three of their top five tacklers, but there are questions to be had.
There are question marks in the lineup, in regards to replacing lost talent, but there is plenty of potential on this squad, it is just a question of who will step up and when.
If there is a place you want to play a home game, Gainesville is on that list, and the advantage has shown in recent years. Florida is 15-2 at home in the last three seasons, and they have won 32 straight home openers! This will be a tough one for them to get the win and continue the streak, but they are 7-4-1 SU against Pac-12 opponents.
Florida vs Utah Prediction
I do think this game will be close, as I do have high hopes for the Gators this season. Although, with a new HC, adjusting to the loss of some of their essential pieces on offense, I don’t see the Gators continuing their home opener winning streak.
Prediction : Utah Utes -3
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Sportsmemo Today | NFL Season Preview
JM Sports joins Dan Neubert and Dr Chuck on Sportsmemo Today to discuss the NFL futures market, and the Week 1 betting lines.
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Meet the Author
Jeff’s hunger for handicapping began at a young age being surrounded by parents that made sports betting a daily routine. Hoping to follow in the footsteps of other Cleveland handicappers like Marc Lawrence, Phil Steele, Ralph Michaels, Ed Meyer and Bryan Leonard, Jeff started his sports betting career working for both Northcoast Sports and Phil Steele Publications learning the intricacies of sports betting and becoming a profitable handicapper. Through out his college years, Jeff’s mathematical and analytical prowess helped him develop a betting strategy that turned sports betting into a profitable venture, where he focuses on the NFL, college football, NBA, college basketball and MLB while showing strong results in the WNBA.
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