UCF at Florida odds, picks and predictions

Analyzing Saturday’s UCF at Florida odds and lines, with college football expert picks, predictions and best bets.

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The UCF Knights 3-1 and Florida Gators 2-2 meet at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium Saturday. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:45 p.m. ET (SEC Network). Below, we analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s college football odds around the UCF vs. Florida odds, and make our expert college football picks and predictions.

In a tough game against Colorado, the UCF Knights fell 48-21, allowing double-digit points in each of the first 3 quarters. Quarterback KJ Jefferson shined for the Buffaloes. He threw for 284 yards and 2 touchdowns while adding a rushing score, despite 2 interceptions. UCF struggled to contain Colorado’s offense, leading to the disappointing defeat.

Before their week off, the Gators had a 45-28 victory over Mississippi State. They built a strong 28-14 halftime lead, with quarterback Graham Mertz throwing for 201 yards and 3 touchdowns. RB Montrell Johnson contributed 68 rushing yards on 15 carries.

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UCF vs. Florida odds

Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list of college football odds. Lines last updated at 11 a.m. ET.

  • Moneyline (ML): UCF -120 (bet $120 to win $100) | Florida +100 (bet $100 to win $100)
  • Against the spread (ATS): UCF -1.5 (-105) | Florida +1.5 (-115)
  • Over/Under (O/U): 61.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)

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UCF vs. Florida picks and predictions

Prediction

UCF 35, Florida 31

Moneyline

PASS.

I’ve got UCF (-120) going on the road in the SEC and claiming victory, but I’m not interested in paying that juice. I’ll take my bet to the spread.

Against the spread

BET UCF -1.5 (-105).

Betting on UCF -1.5 against Florida presents an enticing opportunity, as the Knights appear to have a distinct advantage in the trenches. UCF’s dynamic rushing attack could prove too much for the Gators’ struggling run defense, which has faced significant challenges this season. With a powerful offensive line and talented running backs, the Knights have the ability to dominate the ground game and control the clock.

While Florida may find avenues for success through the air, especially with their skilled receivers, UCF’s ability to dictate the pace of the game on the ground is likely to be the deciding factor. Additionally, UCF’s recent performances suggest they are hitting their stride, making them a tough opponent for the Gators. As UCF aims to secure their 2nd consecutive win over Florida, expect them to not only take the victory but also comfortably cover the 1.5-point spread in this matchup.

Over/Under

BET OVER 61.5 (-110).

Betting the Over 61.5 points between UCF and Florida presents an enticing opportunity. The Gators have consistently shown their offensive prowess, hitting the Over 8 of their last 10 games dating back to last season. Meanwhile, UCF has found success as well, surpassing the total points line in 4 straight.

The Knights are particularly effective on the road, with 9 of their last 13 away games going Over. Florida’s track record is just as impressive, with 10 of their last 12 games finishing above the total. Given both teams’ explosive offenses, this matchup promises to deliver plenty of scoring chances, making the Over 61.5 a compelling wager.

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Alex’s best bet: UCF at Florida prediction

SportsbookWire.com’s Alex White likes a side in Saturday’s NCAA football game between UCF and Florida.

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We’re superstitious here at SportsbookWire, so we’re not going to mention exactly how our Alex White has been faring with her college football picks this season.

For those of you paying attention, you know what we’re talking about … we’ll leave it at that. It’s no fluke that Alex won a major college football contest in Las Vegas 2 seasons ago.

For those of you who are not paying attention, you can find her past picks on her Twitter/X page (@alexwhitee).

This Saturday, it’s “big brother vs. little brother,” as she is focused on an in-state battle in Gainesville, Fla.

The UCF Knights (3-1) visit the Florida Gators (2-2) for a 7:45 p.m. ET kickoff. The game will be on the SEC Network.

UCF is favored by 1.5 points, per BetMGM Sportsbook as of Friday, 7:28 p.m. ET — the Knights were favored by 2.5 points earlier in the week.

Listen below to why this is Alex’s best bet.

Make sure to catch Alex on Sports By the Book Saturday 11 a.m.-noon ET, and Sunday through Wednesday noon-1 p.m. ET, and on Punch Lines every Monday and Wednesday 3 p.m.-4 p.m. ET — live from the South Point Sportsbook in Las Vegas. Follow @alexwhitee on Twitter/X.

For more sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW. Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter/X and like us on Facebook.

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Gasparilla Bowl: UCF vs. Florida odds, picks and prediction

Analyzing Thursday’s UCF Knights vs. Florida Gators odds and lines, with college football expert picks, predictions and best bets.

The UCF Knights (8-4) and Florida Gators (6-6) clash in Thursday night’s Gasparilla Bowl at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Fla. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET. Below, we look at the UCF vs. Florida odds and lines, and make our expert college football picks, predictions and bets.

UCF is 5-1 over its last six games. A Knights defense that struggled against the run in the first half of the season has improved in that area. Central Florida has allowed more than 140 yards rushing just once over its last six games. But Gus Malzahn‘s squad has also had an easy schedule over the back half of the season, so Thursday’s game against a high-powered UF offense figures to be a step up in class.

Florida running backs coach and special teams coordinator Greg Knox will coach the Gators, a program in transition and headed into the Billy Napier administration after Napier was named head coach earlier this month. Florida went 2-4 straight up and 0-6 against the spread over its last six regular-season games. The Gators do sport an offense that has averaged 470.2 total yards per contest; that ranks 11th in FBS.

Rankings courtesy of the AFCA Coaches Poll powered by USA TODAY Sports.

UCF vs. Florida odds, spread and lines

Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 10:30 a.m. ET.

  • Money line: UCF +210 (bet $100 to win $210) | Florida -270 (bet $270 to win $100)
  • Against the spread (ATS): UCF +6.5 (-102) | Florida -6.5 (-122)
  • Over/Under (O/U): 55.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)

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UCF vs. Florida odds, lines, picks and predictions

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Prediction

Florida 31, UCF 24

Money line

Take advantage of the narrative that Florida has quit on the season. The Gators had two tough midseason games — losses at LSU and versus No. 1 Georgia — that seemed to sour everything moving forward. But UF was undone by penalties, turnovers, and iffy third-down numbers in setbacks against Missouri and South Carolina.

Florida’s performance in its last game — Nov. 27 vs. Florida State — showed some backbone. The Gator roster is loaded with talented players auditioning for roles in the rollover to the Billy Napier-led 2022 season.

TAKE FLORIDA (-270).

Against the spread

Look for the UF ground game to crank out some big plays, and for a perhaps-better-than-advertised Gator pass defense to help nurse a 6-to-10-point win. A 6-point win comes up as an ATS loss here, but the FLORIDA -6.5 (-110) play is worth an investment.

Over/Under

In UCF’s last 10 games vs. SEC foes, the Under has gone 8-1-1.

Look for the run games to be in charge of this one. BACK THE UNDER 55.5 (-110).

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