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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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Clemson vs Georgia Preview | 8-31-24 | By ASA

College Football Preview Clemson Tigers vs. Georgia Bulldogs – By ASA

On Saturday, August 31st, at 12 PM ET, Clemson will face off against Georgia in a highly anticipated matchup. The Bulldogs are favored by 13.5 points, with the over/under set at 48.5.

Clemson, coming off a 9-4 season (6-7 ATS), remains under the steady leadership of head coach Dabo Swinney, who chose to stay loyal to his recruits by avoiding the transfer portal this offseason. The Tigers return 9 starters on offense, including quarterback Cade Klubnik, who threw for 2,844 yards with 19 touchdowns and 9 interceptions last season. Running back Phil Mafah, who rushed for 965 yards with an impressive 5.4 yards per carry, also returns. Additionally, Clemson’s top two receivers from last season, both of whom had over 500 receiving yards, are back. The Tigers are solid in the trenches, boasting the 12th-rated offensive line in the nation.

Although the defense returns only 5 starters, Clemson will rely on several underclassmen from last season’s roster to step up. Last year, Clemson dominated time of possession, ranking 8th, while running the 3rd most plays per game at 78.2. Defensively, Clemson allowed just 305.8 yards per game, the 11th fewest in 2023, and led the nation by forcing 2.3 turnovers per game.

Georgia, coming off a stellar 13-1 record in 2023 (5-8-1 ATS), enters the season as the betting favorite to win the National Championship under head coach Kirby Smart. The Bulldogs return 7 starters on offense, including quarterback Carson Beck, who nearly reached 4,000 passing yards last season with 24 touchdowns. Georgia boasts the top-rated offensive line in the country, with 4 returning starters, having allowed the fewest sacks last season while supporting a rushing attack that averaged 5.3 yards per carry.

Defensively, Georgia also returns 7 starters from a unit that allowed just 16.6 points per game. The Bulldogs have ranked in the top 10 in scoring defense for three consecutive seasons and are once again stacked on that side of the ball. Last season, Georgia was 4th in yards per play at 7.1 and led the nation in 3rd down conversions at 55.6%. Defensively, they ranked 3rd in 3rd down conversions allowed at 26.7% and allowed the 9th fewest yards per point at 17.9.

Both teams underperformed last season compared to their high standards, so it will be interesting to see if they rebound and play with a chip on their shoulders in 2024.

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Notre Dame vs Texas A&M Preview | 8-31-24 | By ASA

College Football Preview Notre Dame takes on Texas A&M – By ASA

On Saturday, August 31st, at 7:30 PM ET, Texas A&M will face Notre Dame in a highly anticipated matchup. The Aggies are favored by 3 points, with an over/under set at 46.5.

Texas A&M finished the 2023 season with a 7-6 record (6-6-1 ATS) and enters this season under new head coach Mike Elko, who was 16-9 in his last two seasons at Duke. The Aggies also have a new offensive coordinator, Collin Klein, and will be led by quarterback Conner Weigman. The running game will feature Rueben Owens, Le’Veon Moss, and EJ Smith, but the offensive line is a concern with three new starters.

On the defensive side, Texas A&M boasts one of the best defensive lines in college football, but the secondary was a weakness a year ago giving up to many big plays. Last season, the Aggies impressed offensively, averaging 32.9 PPG (21st) and ranking 11th in yards per point at 12.3. Defensively, they excelled on third downs, allowing a 32.7% conversion rate (20th) and were strong against the run, giving up just 110.3 rushing yards per game (13th).

Notre Dame, coming off a 10-3 season (9-3-1 ATS), has high expectations under third-year head coach Marcus Freeman. The Irish have a new starting quarterback, Riley Lincoln, a transfer from Duke, and a new offensive coordinator, Mike Denbrock, who comes from LSU. The offensive line is a potential concern, with several freshman and sophomore starters, but running backs Jadarian Price and Jeremiyah Love are expected to play significant roles. Notre Dame also added key wide receivers through the transfer portal.

Defensively, the Irish have one of the top defensive lines in college football. While there are some questions at linebacker, the secondary is as strong as the D-line. Last season, Notre Dame’s offense was potent, ranking 8th in scoring with 37.8 PPG and 10th in yards per play at 6.7. Defensively, they were formidable, allowing just 17 PPG (9th) and 288 total yards per game (7th).

This matchup promises to be a clash of two strong programs with new leadership and high expectations.

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