Florida vs. Utah: Week 1 College Football Predictions
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The Florida Gators and the Utah Utes are set to face off in a highly anticipated matchup that kicks off the 2023 college football season. The game will take place on Thursday, September 1 at 8 p.m. ET.
Latest information from various sources indicate that the Utes are favored to win by 5.5 points, with an over/under for total points set at 44.5. These are objective evaluations of the matchup according to SportsLine consensus.
The Florida Gators caused an upset by defeating the Utah Utes 29-26 at home during Week 1 of the college football season last year, thanks to a last-second interception on the goal-line by Cam Rising. While Utah aims for revenge, some analysts question whether the team has the capability to defeat Florida. Based on this reasoning, one expert suggests betting on Florida now, since the line is decreasing with each passing moment. Sadly, veteran Utah quarterback Cam Rising is unlikely to participate in this Week 1 match.
The prediction model, which has earned almost $2,500 on college football spread picks ranked highest, forecasts a win for the Utes while covering the spread.
The Gators have a poor 2-12 record in their last 14 away games against ranked rivals, which may impact the outcome. Expect Florida's offense to struggle against the Utes' defense, boasting nine starting players returning and the Pac-12's top front seven, spearheaded by Junior Tafuna at the interior tackle position. On the other hand, if the Florida Gators successfully defend against Utah's rush attack from the start, it could potentially put a lot of pressure on Utah's quarterback, Charlie Barnes. Additionally, it is worth noting that Utah's top receiver, tight end Dalton Kincaid, is no longer available as a potential safety option for Barnes.
Overall, the game is predicted to be closely contested, with Utah having a slight advantage over Florida. However, anything is possible in college football and the Gators may yet cause another upset against the Utes.