August 24th
5:00 P.M. Florida @ Miami (FL)+7 50.5
FLORIDA -7 Over 50.5
Florida 37 Miami 20
Week 0, the two best words of the Summer. We are starting a week early with what used to be a premiere matchup. Now its the “Camping World Kickoff” hosted in Orlando, Florida. Miami is coming off a disappointing 7-6 record while Florida was 10-3 in an overachieving 2018 where they chomped Michigan in their bowl game.
Miami’s Offense
The headline surrounding the game will be “Tate Martell”. Will he start, how well will he play and how will this effect the Hurricanes offense. Last years QB, N’Kosi Perry will be back after winning the job from Malik Rozier in late 2018, but was little better to the same as Rozier. Manny Diaz still hasn’t made his choice on which player he is leaning towards after Martell was magically granted eligibility even though Martell seems to be the right choice to give some juice to this anemic Canes offense.
Deejay Dallas, Hurricanes starting RB, is back with the team and averaged 5.7 yards/carry due to being the homerun hitter of the team. Dallas was able to break out big runs from time to time, but could never establish himself as a consistent runner making the 5.7 yards/carry seem higher than he would actually play.
Manny Diaz needs as much offensive efficiency as possible to go around with that patented “Old-School U” explosive plays the team is always able to generate.
Miami’s Defense
Miami’s Defense is one of the best in the country. Manny Diaz plus “The U” is one of the best defensive combinations you could ask for in the country. The 2018 Canes are coming off of a year where their defense owned the best sack rate, best at limiting big plays, and TFLs. Their run defense was very solid while their passing defense was amongst the best in the country. They will easily be in the Top 3 in ACC in defense and could be as high as Top 10 in the country.
The only concern with Miami is their LB depth and their reliance on the turnover. The turnover chain has led to 2.4 turnovers/game in 2017 in the chain’s debut and 1.9 in the 2018 season. Miami’s defense will still be extremely solid, but might be on the field a lot if their anemic offense won’t wake up in the 2019 season.
Gators Offense
Dan Mullen has made the Gators nationally relevant again. Going from calling plays in the 2006 and 2008 National Titles, Mullen led the Gators to a six win improvement from 2017 to 2018. The Gators are coming off a 10-3 season where they smoked Michigan in the Outback Bowl.
The Gators are returning most of their skill positions and Quarterback Feleipe Franks who threw for 24 TDs and 6 INTs. Franks has matured and progressed as a better decision maker from 2017 to 2018. Franks has an absolute cannon as an arm with Kadarius Toney (6’5 210 WR) and Lamical Perine in the backfield to expand on his thousand yard season as a backup.
This Gators offense is looking as good as they have been since Tim Tebow was in town; positioning themselves at a run against Georgia for the SEC East.
Gators Defense
The Gators are returning 7 of their 11 starters on defense where they finished strong in 2018. They held FSU and Michigan to just 7-30 on third downs, accumulated ten sacks, and forced five turnovers over their last two games.
The secondary will look to continue their successful campaign as they sport one of the best corner tandems, C.J. Henderson & Marco Wilson, in all of CFB to go along with their strong edge rushers and four-year-starter linebacker David Reese II.
The Gators is usually always solid on defense and this year is looking to be more of the same.
Picks of the game
FLORIDA -7 Over 50.5
Florida 37 Miami 20
Florida’s offense versus Miami’s defense is the matchup to watch. Florida’s offense was rolling at the end of the 2018 season and has only gotten better with a full offseason with Dan Mullen.
Miami’s offense has too many question marks against this solid Florida defense with either Tate Martell not being able to get control of his offense or the lack of N’Kosi Perry’s ability to make the Canes efficient moving the ball.
I’m expecting the Florida blowout in Orlando as Miami struggles on offense with a quaterback change at halftime.
Across the Board 