Saturday, Sept. 20
7:30 p.m. Eastern, 4:30 p.m. Pacific
ABC
The Miami Hurricanes look like a College Football Playoff team. They have answered every challenge so far this season. They handled Notre Dame. They faced a South Florida team which defeated Boise State and Florida, and promptly smothered the Bulls. Those are two solid wins, better than most teams in the country. Mario Cristobal has recruited and portaled at a high level, assembling a formidable roster with balance on both sides of the ball. Miami looks formidable, and it’s up to Florida to attempt to change that equation.
Florida coach Billy Napier is squarely on the hot seat entering this game. If he loses a close game, he will earn some respect. If he gets blown out, Florida could realistically pull the trigger and usher in a new era under a new coach. This game is not short of storylines. It is yet another game between two Florida-based teams this season.
Miami Hurricanes face Florida with a lot of momentum
Carson Beck has earned the benefit of the doubt, while DJ Lagway has earned nothing but skepticism
The quarterbacks in this game are heading in opposite directions. Carson Beck, the transfer from Georgia, looks ready to handle any challenge or obstacle with Miami. He guided the Canes to a late win over Notre Dame. He controlled the win over South Florida. He doesn’t have to be the hero, but he does have to make important plays when his team needs them. So far, Beck has been able to answer the call for a team which expects to win the ACC championship, especially in light of Clemson’s September struggles.
Florida quarterback DJ Lagway does not appear to be 100 percent, but if an athlete is sent onto the field, he is expected to perform and produce. That’s just the way it is in a bottom-line business. Lagway has not been able to offer anything of value to Florida’s offense. The Gators have been held under 20 points in consecutive games, both losses. Lagway has not been able to avoid turnovers. He isn’t getting help from his teammates, but he is also not doing anything to help those teammates in return. Billy Napier hitched his wagon to Lagway; if Florida and Napier were going to succeed in 2025, Lagway was going to be a central reason. With Lagway struggling, Florida unsurprisingly looks lost. The quarterback has to come up with something special to change the way he is perceived, and to alter the trajectory of the Gators’ season.
Florida Gators-Miami Hurricanes Odds
Hear TJ Rives and Jason Powers break down this game on the 3Dog Thursday Podcast by clicking Play below:
Spread: Florida +8.5 (-110), Miami -8.5 (-110)
Total: 50.5 (Over -115, Under -105)
Underdog moneyline: Florida +260
The Miami Hurricanes are thriving on both sides of the ball. They are doing everything they are supposed to do. It’s a lot more than just Carson Beck.
Miami Hurricanes football under Mario Cristobal is rooted in strong line play. UM has delivered that to its coach in the first few games of the season. Given that Miami has the far better quarterback in this matchup, Florida’s lines need to outplay Miami’s lines in order to swing the game in the other direction.
Because Miami’s lines have been so strong, it’s hard to see how Florida can possibly win, let alone cover the 8.5-point spread, which has moved toward Miami this week. It was 7.5 earlier in the week.