The pick — Florida Gators +3 vs. Miami Hurricanes (-115, BetRivers)
Having a chance to fade Mario Cristobal and the Miami Hurricanes has me looking like the sicko meme.
I don’t trust Cristobal, nor do I trust Hurricanes transfer quarterback Cam Ward in his transition from the Pac-12 to the ACC. I know the hype surrounding Miami has grown louder this offseason, with predictions of winning the ACC due to the amount of returning talent, but I don’t buy it. This is still the same team coached by a man who literally lost it a game by not kneeling the ball.
With questions on the defensive side of the ball and a strong history of not living up to the hype, the Hurricanes simply cannot be a bet for me on Saturday, especially when playing in The Swamp.
For the Gators, I just … feel bad. Billy Napier has to steer a team to bowl eligibility through THE hardest schedule in the entire country. It’s ridiculously tough. If you haven’t seen it, take a look. Yet, there’s some sunlight through the dark clouds.
Napier has the good fortune of returning quarterback Graham Mertz, who’s coming off his best collegiate season. Mertz also has a talented offensive line (with returning three starters) as well as a proven running back and wide receiver group.
Florida playing at home helps a lot. And knowing the challenge of making it to six wins this year, Napier and company surely had this game circled on the calendar as a winnable opportunity to start an impossible season off right.
If a veteran Gators offense can take advantage of a young, unknown Miami defense, we might not only see a cover by Florida but also a straight-up win.
Season record: 0-0-1, 0.00 units