Florida Gators College Football Betting
It was unfair, but Florida head coach Billy Napier began his second season on a warm seat. In week one, Napier’s butt was getting warm after losing to the Utah Utes. But in Week 3, in front of a Saturday night national TV audience, the Gators cooled down the temperature considerably. Florida routed the Tennessee Volunteers in a classic ambush. Faith was restored with fans and gamblers. Last week, the Gators earned more trust with a businesslike win over Charlotte. This week brings a difficult game at the Kentucky Wildcats.
College Football Betting Lines
Florida Gators +3
Kentucky Wildcats -3
Total 46.5
Florida Gators Weekly Matchup
On Saturday, September 30, 2023, the Florida Gators of the SEC will face the Kentucky Wildcats of the SEC at Kroger Field, Lexington, KY. Kickoff time is 12 p.m. ET, with television coverage on ESPN or SEC.
Last game, the Kentucky Wildcats won 45-28 against the Vanderbilt 13-point road favorites. The game went over the total of 50. Kentucky has a record of 4-0 straight up, 3-1 against the spread, and 2-2 over/under the total. Kentucky ranks 62nd for total offense, 44th for passing, 92nd for rushing, and 25th for scoring. Defensively, they rank 23rd overall, 67th against the pass, 11th against the rush, and 21st for points allowed. Also, Kentucky ranks 54th for fewest turnovers lost and 55th for takeaways.
Cornerback Maxwell Hairston had a pair of pick-6s, Ray Davis rushed for 78 yards and two touchdowns, and Kentucky beat Vanderbilt in an SEC opener for both teams. After starting the season with three home victories over nonconference opponents, Kentucky began its Southeastern Conference schedule with its first road win. The Wildcats started strong, scoring three first-quarter touchdowns, two on offense, and a 29-yard pick-six by Hairston.
Davis’ two touchdowns were into familiar end zones. He transferred to Kentucky from Vanderbilt after last season, when he ran for over 1,000 yards and played a key role in the Commodores ending their 26-game SEC losing streak in a road game at Kentucky. In that game, he rushed for 129 yards.
Florida Gators Weekly Recap
Last game, the Florida Gators won 22-7 against the Charlotte 49ers as 28-point home favorites. The game went under the total of 48.5. Florida has a record of 3-1 straight up, 1-3 against the spread, and 0-3 over/under the total. Florida ranks 52nd for total offense, 54th for passing, 58th for rushing and 77th for scoring. Defensively, they rank 7th overall, 17th against the pass, 17th against the rush, and 18th for points allowed. Also, Florida ranks 94th for fewest turnovers lost and 113th for takeaways.
Trey Smack made five field goals to help the Gators overcome their red zone woes. Florida went 1 for 9 on third down and settled for three field goals from inside the 10-yard line. The Gators won their third consecutive game since losing at then-No. 14 Utah but looked far from ready to go on the road and end a two-game skid to Kentucky next week.
Graham Mertz completed 20 of 23 passes for 259 yards, with a touchdown and a fumble for the Gators. Pearsall's leaping snag down the seam led to a field goal and a 10-0 lead in the first quarter. Florida's defense helped save the day, allowing just 210 yards. Napier suggested the tighter-than-expected outcome could help his team find an edge before facing the Wildcats.
A week after a 20-point second quarter against Tennessee, the Gators managed 18 yards - including minus-1 rushing - in the second against one of the worst defenses in major college football.
2023 Florida Gators Football Schedule
DATE |
OPPONENT |
SCORE |
RECORD |
Aug 31 |
at Utah |
L 11-24 |
0-1 |
Sep 9 |
vs. McNeese State |
W 49-7 |
1-1 |
Sep 16 |
vs. Tennessee |
W 29-16 |
2-1 |
Sep 23 |
vs. Charlotte |
W 22-7 |
3-1 |
Sep 30 |
at Kentucky |
- |
- |
Oct 7 |
vs. Vanderbilt |
- |
- |
Oct 14 |
at South Carolina |
- |
- |
Oct 28 |
vs. Georgia |
- |
- |
Nov 4 |
vs. Arkansas |
- |
- |
Nov 11 |
at LSU |
- |
- |
Nov 18 |
vs. Missouri |
- |
- |
Nov 25 |
vs. Florida State |
- |
- |
The Florida Gators are not a traditional power but a recent one. Florida has three national championships (1996, 2006, 2008) and eight conference titles, all of which came in 1991 or after. Steve Spurrier is the greatest Gator who ever lived. Spurrier won the 1966 Heisman Trophy as quarterback and placekicker. Subsequently, he returned to lead Florida to the 1996 national championship and six SEC titles.
Another legendary head coach at Florida was Urban Meyer. Meyer led the Gators to two national titles with Heisman Trophy winning QB Tim Tebow. Other famed Gator players include Emmitt Smith, Danny Wuerffel, Jack Youngblood, and Wilber Marshall.
2023 College Football Schedule
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