Florida vs Miami prediction, picks, spread, football game odds, where to watch, TV channel, live stream

Both Florida and No. 19 Miami are feeling the pressure entering this season as the Sunshine State rivals will open the 2024 college football campaign for the first time since 2019 in a high-stakes showdown Saturday in Gainesville, Florida. Third-year coaches Billy Napier (Florida) and Mario Cristobal (Miami) are both below .500 so far in their tenures after entering as coveted hires following the 2021 season, and each could use an early-season win to build momentum.

Progress is expected, but nothing will be easy for either team. The Gators face one of the toughest schedules in the country and should feel a sense of urgency to defend their home field in non-conference play. The Hurricanes’ slate isn’t as tough, but Miami will have to deal with sky-high expectations. Despite going just 7-6 last season, the ‘Canes are expected to compete for a College Football Playoff bid and an ACC title.

Both teams signed top-10 transfer classes in the 247Sports team rankings to accelerate their rebuilds. But there’s no time to add new players. Week 1 has arrived, and only one team is going to enter Week 2 feeling good about the direction of its season. The time for moral victories is over for two proud programs that need to progress in Year 3 under their coaches.

Florida vs. Miami: Things to know

ready to rock: Is the buzz around potential Miami transfers heating up? Cristobal thinks so. On Monday, he described the group this way: “Some very talented, high-caliber, high-care guys who can be impactful and who have essentially made seamless transitions.” The headliner is quarterback Cam Ward, who threw for 3,736 yards and 25 touchdowns last season along with eight other rushing scores on the ground. Others like running back Damian Martinez (Oregon State) and edge rusher Tyler Barron (Tennessee) also need to emerge immediately for the ‘Canes.

Home run threat? Florida quarterback Graham Mertz enjoyed a rebound in his first season with the Gators last year after an up-and-down four seasons at Wisconsin. But he ranked 92nd nationally in pass attempts that covered 20 or more yards through the air. With top downfield target Ricky Piersall gone to the NFL, can the Gators quickly identify someone else to provide big plays in the passing game? One candidate is second-year receiver Eugene Wilson III, who caught 61 passes as a true freshman but averaged just 8.8 yards per reception. Productive veteran transfers Chimere Dike (Wisconsin) and Elijah Badger (Arizona State) have also joined the mix

last meeting: The last time these teams met was in the 2019 season opener, when the script was flipped. Florida was a team that came in with huge expectations, while the Hurricanes came in without much fanfare. The Gators were coming off a 10-3 season and a Peach Bowl win and came in with a No. 8 preseason ranking. The Hurricanes were in their first season under coach Manny Diaz and were without a ranking. But it was a battle to the end as the Gators pulled out a 24-20 win and started an 11-2 season with an Orange Bowl win. The ‘Canes finished 6-7 with a loss in the Independence Bowl.

How to watch Florida vs Miami match live

date: Saturday, August 31 | Time: 3:30 p.m. ET
PlaceBen Hill Griffin Stadium – Gainesville, Florida
TV: ABC | Live Stream: fubo (try it free)

Florida vs. Miami prediction, picks

If there’s a spot for Miami to take advantage, it’s likely to be in the secondary, as the Hurricanes lost three NFL draft picks from their defensive backfield. However, downfield passing was not Florida’s strength last season, and there’s no reason to believe that will change in Week 1. The ‘Canes are very strong up front on both sides of the ball and should be able to emerge as the more physical team in a relatively even contest. Pick: Miami -2.5

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