Top offshore sportsbooks favor the Florida Gators over the Virginia Cavaliers by 14.5 points, as the spread goes for the 2019 Orange Bowl on December 30, with kickoff scheduled for 8:00 p.m. EST, at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida.
Virginia Cavaliers vs. Florida Gators 2019 Orange Bowl Odds
| Team | SP/RL | TOTAL | ML | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia | +14½ (-110) | 54½ (-110) | +450 |  |
| Florida | -14½ (-110) | 54½ (-110) | -600 | |
|
||||
Betting Virginia Cavaliers
The Cavs enter the Orange bowl with an overall 9-4 record (6-2 in conference), after losing the ACC Championship Game to Clemson. UVA is also 6-6-1 ATS, per the best online sportsbooks. The Cavaliers were unranked in the AP Poll at the time they received their bowl invitation. Thus, they are set to become the first AP-unranked participant in the Orange Bowl since Florida in the 1967 game.
According to top offshore sportsbooks, Virginia is 11-4 ATS playing a team with a winning record. 5-2 ATS in their last seven games after allowing more than 200 yards rushing in their previous game. And 5-2 ATS in their last seven after an ATS loss.
“Dear, Hoos,” former Virginia defensive end Chris Long addressed the team in a video. “I’m here to give perspective. I may not be in the foxhole with y’all but we share the same DNA because Virginia Football is in my blood. The Orange Bowl is going to be the biggest 60 minutes of football that Virginia has played in 30 years and it will be over in a camera flash. So, don’t try to slow it down. It’s pointless. The memory is going to be made either way. Stop and smell the oranges, for sure, but instead, invest in a memory, a reality that you can be proud of.
One last piece of advice, do not expect a fairytale ending. Football can be beautiful and it can be indiscriminately ugly. Teams and people who feel like they’re owed something for showing up, they end up bitter and empty-handed.”
Betting Florida Gators
The Gators enters the Orange Bowl with an overall 10-2 record (6-2 in conference play). Furthermore, Florida finished the regular season 7-3-2 ATS, as recorded by top offshore sportsbooks. The Gators placed second in the East Division of the Southeastern Conference (SEC), behind Georgia.
Florida is 4-0 ATS in their last four Monday games. 6-1 ATS in their last seven games overall. And 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games on grass.
Linebacker Jeremiah Moon is listed as being out indefinitely, which means he will not play against Virginia on Monday. Wide receiver Freddie Swain is nursing a knee injury reported back on December 1. He is listed as questionable for Monday’s game against Virginia. Defensive back Amari Burney has been on the injured list for several weeks. It is possible that he will suit up and play in the Orange Bowl. However, for now, he is listed as questionable for Monday.
Virginia Cavaliers vs. Florida Gators 2019 Orange Bowl Pick
Both offenses tend to rely on passing as a result of a deficient running game. Florida, however, is much better at it. The Gators rank 17th in the country in passing yards per game (300.4). Virginia, on the other hand, averages 263.5 passing yards per game, which ranks them 36th. Having said that, the Orange Bowl will most likely come down to defense, at which Florida is also better. The Gators allow just under 300 total yards per game (9th), compared to UVA’s 358.2 (39th). The Gators rank fifth in the country and first in the SEC with 46 sacks. Cavaliers starting QB Bryce Perkins is not easy to bring down, but Virginia did give up 38 sacks in 13 games to rank near the bottom of the ACC (11th). All things considered, take Florida and the points.
