Florida vs Utah Odds: Rising’s Status Up in the Air
Utes List Senior Quarterback at Starter Against Florida
The Florida vs Utah odds see the Utes favored by 6.5 points (-115) with a total of 45.5. But the big question coming out of Utah is who will play quarterback in the season opener. Senior quarterback Cameron Rising was listed as the starter on the team’s depth chart. But the Gators aren’t necessarily buying that. Rising was injured in the Rose Bowl and hasn’t participated in a full practice. But he says he wants to play.
Florida Gators at Utah Utes 
Line: Utah -6.5 (-115) Total: 45.5
Streaming: ESPN
Gators Move On Without Richardson
The Florida Gators will face life without Anthony Richardson, as Wisconsin transfer Graham Mertz takes over under center for Florida. He threw for 2,136 yards and 19 touchdowns for the Badgers last season. He’ll have plenty of talented receivers to throw to and a great stable of running backs to give the ball to. What’s unknown is how much time he’ll have to get the ball to his skill players.
The Gators are basically rebuilding their offensive line. While it will be fine down the road, how will it hold up against a pretty solid front seven for Utah? This unit will need to come together in a hurry and that might not be an easy task.
Defensively, Florida will be good. The Gators are big up front. Really big, as in 6-5, 439-pound Desmond Watson big. There’s some skill up front, as well. But not many teams line up a pair of guys weighing 350 or more pounds on the defensive line.
The linebackers will be solid and the secondary might take a little bit of time, but the Gators have some solid defenders in the back.
Utes Look to Repeat as Pac-12 Champions
The Utes come into this one No. 14 in the NCAA football rankings. But the quarterback situation is overshadowing everything about Utah. Utah’s backup quarterback Brandon Rose was also hurt during practice and his status is unknown. Third-string QB Bryson Barnes has played quite a bit the last few seasons.
Utah has a solid offensive line and some capable running backs in Ja’Quinden Jackson and Micah Bernard, so regardless who plays quarterback, the Utes should move the ball on the ground. It will be a little easier if teams have to respect the pass, however.
Utah typically has a solid defense and this year is no exception. The Utes are solid at all position groupings, with linebacker possibly the strong point of the team. Utah is thinking NCAAF playoffs this season and it’s not out of the question.
Florida 29, Utah 26
This is the second straight year these teams have met to open the season. Last year it was the Gators coming away with a 29-26 victory in The Swamp. Richardson rushed for three touchdowns for the Gators, something Utah doesn’t have to worry about this season.
There were four lead changes in the fourth quarter a year ago, with Florida scoring the winning touchdown with 1:25 remaining on a 1-yard run by Richardson. Rising drove the Utes to Florida’s 6-yard line but was intercepted and Florida took the victory. The Gators were 2.5-point home underdogs to No. 7 Utah and it was one of their NCAA football against spreads victories also.
What to Expect
This is no doubt a big revenge game for Utah. The Florida vs Utah odds of Utes -6.5 makes sense due to the status of Rising. The Gators are a bit of an unknown quantity this season due to a number of transfers. The Utes are a little more of a known commodity, or at least they will be once Rising is behind center full time.
This is also a game the Utes want to win due to the Gators being an SEC team. The Pac-12 Conference has heard plenty over the year how they’re an inferior conference. Although there may be some truth to that as this is likely the last season of the Pac-12 as its known.
But that’s also the problem for Utah. The Gators are an SEC team and that means getting quality recruits and players who can play the game. The Gators may struggle a bit coming out of the gate, but it’s unlikely they’ll be pushovers.
The Florida vs Utah odds on the total are a little tough to predict. Both teams have some solid skill players. But both teams also have defenses that can be tough. With Utah’s quarterback situation undecided, the under may offer the most value. But this isn’t an easy game to forecast due to the uncertainty.
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