Tennessee football: SEC and top 25 picks and gambling bets for Week 1 of 2021
Florida Atlantic Owls at No. 13 Florida Gators (SECN)
Saturday, Sept. 4 at 7:30 p.m. ET; Ben Hill Griffin Stadium; Gainesville, Fla.
Line: Florida -23.5; Over/Under: 52
Moneyline: Florida -2100; Florida Atlantic +1125
Tons of questions surround the Florida Gators this year after they lost Kyle Trask and Kyle Pitts. Can Dan Mullen’s team sustain the success that it’s had in recent years? Will they finally get over the hump and actually win the SEC Championship?
Well, they’ve got an early test with the Alabama Crimson Tide on their schedule. Before that, though, they have to face the Florida Atlantic Owls, another team with a connection to a former Tennessee football head coach.
Willie Taggart replaced Lane Kiffin as head coach of FAU last year and went 5-4 his first year. He’s looking to take another giant step forward this year. Florida is a great first test for his program. Putting up a fight would give this team momentum, and they appear to be facing a Florida team that still has some kinks to work out.
Prediction
A 23.5 line makes sense for this game, but Florida will cover. The Gators’ program is about Mullen’s offense, not the quarterback, and that will show in this game. However, this game will also hit the under, as UF’s defense will dominate. Take Florida to clean FAU’s clock all day. This game won’t be close at all.
Florida: 38 Florida Atlantic: 3 (Florida -23.5; Under 52)