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Miami FL vs. Florida Preview | 8-31-24 | By ASA

The Miami Hurricanes will face off against the Florida Gators on Saturday, August 31, at 3:30 PM ET.

Miami enters the game as a 2.5-point favorite, with the over/under set at 54 points. In the 2023 season, Miami posted a 7-6 record straight up (SU) and 6-7 against the spread (ATS). As head coach Mario Cristobal begins his third year with the Hurricanes, he faces considerable pressure following a less-than-stellar 14-11 overall record in his first two seasons.

The team will debut new starting quarterback Cam Ward, a transfer from Washington State, where he threw for 3,700 yards and 25 touchdowns last year. Miami’s offensive line is largely intact, and last season the offense averaged 31.5 points per game (38th nationally) and 6.4 yards per play (24th nationally). However, only 43% of their total offensive yardage returns, ranking them 78th in the nation.

On defense, Miami allowed 335 yards per game, placing them 26th nationally, and 5.1 yards per play, ranking 36th. They were particularly strong against the run, giving up just 3.5 yards per carry, which was 20th in the nation. However, the team lost 8 of its top 11 tacklers and returns only 41% of last season’s total tackles, ranking 116th nationally. Historically, Miami has fared well against in-state rival Florida, with a 7-1-1 spread record in their last nine meetings since 1986.

The Florida Gators, on the other hand, finished the 2023 season with a 5-7 record SU and 4-8 ATS. Head coach Billy Napier is also under pressure as he begins his third year in Gainesville, with an 11-14 record over his first two seasons and no bowl appearance last year.

Florida returns 8 starters on offense, including quarterback Graham Mertz, who ranked third in the nation with a 73% completion rate. The Gators also bring back their top running back and 3 of their top 4 wide receivers.

Defensively, Florida returns several starters on the defensive line and in the secondary, but they struggled last season, allowing 6.4 yards per play, which ranked 124th nationally. The Gators face a tough challenge this season, as they play the most difficult strength of schedule in college football, with 8 of their opponents entering the season ranked in the top 25. Despite this, Florida has performed well as a home underdog, covering the spread in 5 of the 7 games since 2018.

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