Miami Hurricanes (7-6) vs. Florida Gators (5-7)
Miami Hurricanes vs. Florida Gators August 31 2024 – The new college football season is about to begin in a few days, and the Miami Hurricanes, who will come in with a 7-6 record from the previous season, will meet—the Florida Gators, who finished their season with a 5-7 record. The results of this particular clash are crucial when considering the prospects for the upcoming 2024 season. Everyone is looking at how these teams progressed in the off-season and such, thus college football previews today are in demand. The game will be played this Saturday at the Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, surrounded by great fun and historical rivalry in this venue.
Miami Hurricanes vs. Florida Gators August 31 2024 Game Info
| When: | Saturday, August 31, 2024, at 3:30 PM ET |
| Where: | Florida Field at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium |
| TV: | ABC |
| Stream: | Sofascore |
Miami Hurricanes vs. Florida Gators Betting Odds
| Team | Moneyline | Spread | Total |
| Miami | -180 | -2 (-110) | 53.5 over (-110) |
| Florida | +150 | +2 (-110) | 53.5 under (-112) |
This season opener sees the Miami Hurricanes favored slightly over the Florida Gators. The narrow 2-point spread suggests a close contest, reflecting the unpredictable nature of early-season games. Bettors should consider the Hurricanes’ moderate favoritism against the Gators’ potential home-field advantage.
Emory Williams QB vs. Graham Mertz QB
Emory Williams marks the start of this season after completing 44 passes out of 71 attempts for 470 yards last season. He completed 62 percent of his passes for a 128.7 passer rating and although William’s talent is visible in the numbers, he has to work on being more consistent when taking hits, having been sacked 4 times for 25 yards. WIlliams’ contribution in this match will be significant, bearing in mind that it will be against a very aggressive Florida defensive team playing at home.
On the contrary, Graham Mertz, by his performance figures, rather stands out. As for last season, Mertz managed to throw the ball 261 times out of 358 attempts for 2903 yards with a phenomenal completion percentage of 72.9% and a passer rating of 157.8. He was sacked 31 times but still managed to keep his cool inside the pocket. Mertz’s experience and the better figures may give an advantage to Florida in the battle of quarterbacks.
Given the showdown of these quarterbacks, the outcome of the game might depend upon these players. Williams needs to put his quickness and stress tolerance into action in order to beat Florida’s defensive line, as for Mertz, he has shown the strength in making long throws that could exploit the Hurricanes’ secondary.
Ground and Air Attack: Hurricanes’ Strategy
Mark Fletcher Jr. and Xavier Restrepo are pivotal for Miami’s offense. Fletcher, with 514 rushing yards and 5 touchdowns last season, brings a dynamic rush game, averaging 4.9 yards per carry. Restrepo adds depth to the aerial attack, hauling in 85 receptions for 1092 yards. Their ability to break out for big plays will be crucial for Miami to exploit the Gators’ defensive vulnerabilities.
Gators’ Offensive Playmakers
Montrell Johnson Jr. and Eugene Wilson III form the backbone of Florida’s offensive strategy. Johnson, with 817 rushing yards and an average of 5.4 yards per carry, alongside Wilson, who caught 61 passes for 538 yards last season, will need to find gaps in Miami’s defense to control the pace and keep their offense on the field.
Miami Hurricanes Betting Trends
Miami-FL are 3-6 ATS in their last 9 games.
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Miami-FL’s last 8 games.
Miami-FL are 1-4 SU in their last 5 games.
Hurricanes are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 games against Florida.
Miami-FL are 5-2 SU in their last 7 games against Florida.
Florida Gators Betting Trends
Florida are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games.
The total has gone OVER in 7 of Florida’s last 8 games.
Florida are 0-5 SU in their last 5 games.
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Florida’s last 5 games against Miami-FL.
Florida are 13-4 SU in their last 17 games at home.
Miami Hurricanes vs. Florida Gators Betting Previews
With game day drawing near, it seems from the analyses that the Hurricanes boast a certain superiority in quarterback performance and offensive weapons, thus making good for a pick even if the game is played on a hostile ground, in Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Also, for those inclined bet only on safe betting sites, taking the Miami moneyline may be a good option, even if the small spread suggests caution. The total points over under line is 53.5, and with both teams having high scoring games in the recent games, the OVER bet may be an appealing option.
In the end, this game has a favorable picture since every team has defenses and offense that can be exploit and mitigate, respectively. The quarrel for the title will turn out to be especially hot in the game, which is expected to be full of dynamic actions and emotions right on the eve of the new season of college football.
Score Prediction: Miami 30, Florida 27.
