Tennessee football: Vols, SEC and Top 25 predictions for Week 2 of 2018
Kentucky Wildcats at No. 25 Florida Gators
Saturday, Sept. 8 at 7:30 p.m.; Ben Hill Griffin Stadium; Gainesville, Fla.
TV: SEC Network; Line: Florida -14; Over/Under: 49
Garrett Sanders
Kentucky must get the running game going on fast and early if they want a shot. The problem with that is Florida’s Defense is fantastic. Not to also mention that Dan Mullen has found his quarterback. Feleipe Franks threw five touchdown passes, in the first half! Yes, I get it, it was Charleston Southern. However, most quarterbacks can’t put up those numbers in one half against any team, good or bad.
Kentucky has never beaten Florida in my entire life. I am currently at 22 years of living. Florida has beaten Kentucky 31 straight years. I expect this to continue Saturday night.
Florida 31: Kentucky: 13 (Florida -14; Under)
Billy Williford
Florida is a 14-point favorite against the Kentucky Wildcats. Probably because Kentucky hasn’t beat the Gators in my lifetime. Yikes. I am on record not buying into Florida. Well and Kentucky for that matter.
I don’t think either teams will be that good. So, a 14-point spread seems a bit high to me. The Gators are 8-2 against the spread when playing Kentucky in their last ten meetings. However, they are just 2-5 against the spread in their last seven games.’ Does Feleipe Franks build off a strong week one showing? Historically he hasn’t been that great of a quarterback.
Florida: 27 Kentucky: 17 (Kentucky +14; Under)
Caleb Calhoun
Tennessee football should have beaten both of these teams last year, and the two of them played down to the wire as well. Neither are that great, and I have no reason to buy into either one of them early on this year. That makes for what is likely to be an ugly SEC game. Like the Vols did until 2011, Florida has the longest active winning streak in college football, and it’s at Kentucky’s expense. They’ve taken 31 straight.
I still believe in the Gators long-term with Dan Mullen. But this is a transition year, and adjusting to both the spread and the 3-4 is a rough transition. As a result, Florida will win, but it will be ugly. That would lead me to think they won’t cover. However, I just have such little faith in Kentucky. These guys should’ve gone 5-7 last year but got lucky, and they’re worse this year. That will show Saturday, so Florida will cover. But don’t take the points.
Florida: 31 Kentucky: 14 (Florida -14; Under)