Miami-OH at Florida Gators: College Football Lines and Week 1 Predictions

The Florida Gators begin their new Tim Tebow-less era with an opening match-up Saturday against the Miami-OH Redhawks on ESPN with kick-off set for 12:00pm EST. Online sportsbooks have opened with Florida as a 37-point favorite in college football lines for week 1 with an over/under of 55.5. Miami-OH could be a more formidable opponent than expected in college football predictions as they have 19 starters back led by sophomore QB Zac Dysert.

Dysert had on the job training as a freshman signal caller last year and threw for 2,611 yards and 12 TD’s for coach Mike Haywood, who will enter his second season as head coach after a 1-11 mark in college football betting odds last year. The Redhawks return their top 2 rushers and receivers and should improve on defense after allowing 34 points per game last year. Miami-OH was 2-4 against the spread as a road underdog last year and 2-2 ATS in college football lines for non conference games. Junior John Bradley is the new QB at Florida and is a much more conventional passer than Tebow was. The Gators have just 11 starters back but coach Urban Meyer’s recruiting has been among the elite in the nation so there are plenty of highly talented replacements ready to step in.

Florida is in the habit of winning big with a mark of 13-1 in each of the past 2 seasons. The defense has held opponents to under 14 PPG in 3 out of the last 4 seasons including the last 2. The offense has averaged 36 PPG or better the past 3 seasons. What this means is that Meyer is used to keeping the program on a high level despite roster turnover. Florida has gone 16-7 ATS as a home favorite since 2006 and an absolutely lethal 20-4 ATS in college football predictions for non conference games since 2004.