Florida vs. Utah Prediction, Pick Against the Spread, and Latest Odds

Florida vs. Utah Prediction, Pick Against the Spread, and Latest Odds

This is probably the game of the evening as we get a rematch of these two teams who were in an absolute thriller last season. That one ended up going towards Anthony Richardson and the Gators as they came out on top. Fast forward to this season and Anthony Richardson is gone to the NFL, Florida has a new starting QB In Wisconsin transfer Graham Mertz, and Utah will be without their star/All-American quarterback in Cameron Rising who is still recovering from an ACL injury.

Florida vs. Utah Start Time, Where to Watch, and Odds

• Date: August 31, 2023
• Game Time: 8:00 pm ET
• Where to Watch: ESPN

Click here to get the latest Florida vs. Utah odds

Florida vs. Utah Prediction

The strength of this Utah team is not with a high-powered passing attack, but rather an elite front 7 on defense and a very solid offensive line with a dynamic rushing attack. The Utah defense is the strength of their team and they were stifling last year, especially at home.

Utah returns 7 of their top 8 defensive linemen from last season and also added a number of defensive starters from other programs through the transfer portal. Florida, meanwhile, is going through somewhat of a transition period on offense.

Last season, Richardson was really their only offensive threat on the ground or through the air and his running abilities and ability to escape the pocket were crucial in creating more scoring opportunities for an otherwise anemic Florida offense. Florida ended last season with a pathetic effort against Oregon State as they were only able to put up three total points, and that came on a neutral field against a defense nowhere near as good as Utah’s.

Mertz was inconsistent during his time with Wisconsin and is turnover-prone. He also does not possess the speed or athleticism that Anthony Richardson does, so his ability to escape pressure from the Utah front 7 or create plays with his legs will be limited. It is a bit concerning to me that Utah will be relying on their backup QB but he is fairly capable and should be able to be a suitable game manager to move the sticks for the Utes.

Utah is a very tough environment to play in and while I do see this game being fairly low-scoring, which can give some advantages to the underdog, I simply do not see Florida scoring enough points to stay in this game or to keep it close.

With that being said, I am rolling with UTAH FULL GAME -4.5 at -106 for 1.5u as one of my most confident College Football Plays of the Day for tonight’s action.

Florida vs. Utah Pick

• PICK: Utah -4.5 (-106) Click here to see which sportsbook has the best odds