The 20th-ranked Kentucky Wildcats (1-0) travel to Gainesville to face the No. 19 Florida Gators (1-0) in both teams’ first SEC action of the season. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET (ESPN). Below, we analyze Tipico Sportsbook‘s lines around the Kentucky vs. Florida odds, and make our expert college football picks and predictions.
(Rankings courtesy of the AFCA Coaches Poll powered by USA TODAY Sports)
Kentucky easily handled Miami-Ohio last week in a 37-13 victory. QB Will Levis posted 303 yards and 3 touchdowns through the air, while WR Tayvion Robinson caught 6 passes for 136 yards. The ‘Cats found success on special teams too, with WR/KR Barion Brown returning one to the house. The Wildcats will need to be better on 3rd down this week though, going a measly 2-for-8 last week on 3rd-down conversions.
As for the Gators, they’re coming off an impressive 29-26 home win against then-No. 8 ranked Utah, securing the victory with a last-play interception in the end zone by LB Amari Burney. First-round draft hopeful and a dark horse for the Heisman, QB Anthony Richardson threw for 168 yards and rushed for 106 yards with 3 touchdowns. His versatility is the key to Gators’ success this week and throughout the season. RB Montrell Johnson tacked on 75 rushing yards with a TD.
Stream select live college football games and full replays: Get ESPN+
Kentucky at Florida odds
Provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 8:52 a.m. ET.
- Money line (ML): Kentucky +190 (bet $100 to win $190) | Florida -230 (bet $230 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): Kentucky +5.5 (-110) | Florida -5.5 (-110)
- Over/Under (O/U): 51.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
Claim your risk-free bet up to $350. Catch the excitement and start betting with Tipico Sportsbook! New customer offer in CO and NJ. 21+, see Tipico.com for Terms and Conditions. Bet now!
Kentucky at Florida picks and predictions
Prediction
Florida 31, Kentucky 28
Money line
Last week, Kentucky struggled to stop the run, yielding 11 yards on the ground to Miami-Ohio, a MAC school. Saturday, the Wildcats will need to bounce back and learn on the fly how to stop the dual-threat Robinson. Their defense should be improved with edge rusher Jordan Wright returning after sitting last week due to eligibility issues.
The Gators are coming off a momentous win as underdogs against Utah and will look to use that, paired with the energy of the home crowd, to beat the visiting Wildcats.
Last season, Kentucky went 2-3 straight up (SU) as an underdog, while Florida was 6-5 SU as a favorite.
Florida (-230) will likely prevail, but I can’t suggest backing a favorite at this price. PASS.
Against the spread
Lean KENTUCKY +5.5 (-110).
Kentucky was 8-4-1 ATS last season, whereas Florida was 2-8 ATS as a 4.5-point favorite or more a year ago. In typical SEC fashion, this will be a hard-fought game on both sides and should come down to the wire.
Kentucky should keep it close enough for us to cash a winning +5.5 (-110) ticket.
Over/Under
BET OVER 51.5 (-110).
Seven of 13 Kentucky games and 4 of 13 Florida games hit the Over last season. This will be a QB showdown between Robinson and Levis and should be a fun game to watch. Keep an eye on Robinson’s ability to use his arm if the Wildcat linebackers step up and stop the rush. Both QBs should show up under pressure for an offensive shootout.
Play our free daily Pick’em Challenge and win! Play now!
Want action on this game or any other NCAA football matchup? Bet legally online with a trusted partner: Tipico Sportsbook, SportsbookWire’s official sportsbook partner in CO and NJ. Bet now!
If you’re looking for more sports betting picks and tips, access all of our content at SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW, or try out our USA TODAY Parlay Calculator. Please gamble responsibly.
Follow @seth_orlemann on Twitter. Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter and like us on Facebook.
College sports coverage from USA TODAY Sports Media Group:
Alabama / Arkansas / Auburn / Clemson / Colorado / Florida / Georgia / Iowa / LSU / Michigan / Michigan State / Nebraska / North Carolina / Notre Dame / Ohio State / Oklahoma / Oregon / Penn State / Rutgers / Tennessee / Texas / Texas A&M / USC / Wisconsin / College Football News
[lawrence-newsletter]
[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1622]