No. 15 Florida Gators at Kentucky Wildcats
Saturday, 9/24/11, 7:00 PM EST, TV: ESPN
Opening Point Spread: Florida -16.5
Current Betting Line: Florida -20
Opening Total: 44
Current Total: 44
Odds Courtesy of Bookmaker
Florida hits the road for the first time this season after outscoring its first three opponents by a 113-26 margin in three games inside The Swamp. The Gators opened up SEC play last week with a 33-23 win over the Tennessee Volunteers as 10-point home favorites. Offensively, the team is led by the running back duo of Chris Rainey and Jeff Demps, who have combined for 824 all-purpose yards and seven touchdowns. The defensive unit has also been formidable in leading the country against the run, while currently landing in the No. 7 spot in terms of total defense. Florida is 7-1 ATS as a favorite of 10.5 to 21 points.
The Gators hold a 44-17 advantage over the Wildcats in the series, including wins in 24 consecutive meetings. Florida has also covered the number in four straight games in the series, including a 48-14 win last year as 14-point home favorites. It’s been complete domination, especially over the last three meetings, as the team has accumulated a 608-yard advantage over that span. Florida held Tennessee to minus-nine yards rushing, which is the seventh-best versus an SEC opponent and fewest since 2006. Head coach Will Muschamp has things going this year and wants to continue being aggressive. “I want to be aggressive with our football team,” Muschamp commented. “They understand that.”
Kentucky opened the season with two wins, but failed to make it three straight in dropping the Governor’s Cup for the first time since 2006. The Wildcats will play their third straight home game Saturday before hitting the road against LSU and South Carolina in the following two weeks. Quarterback Morgan Newton continues to gain experience this season, completing 55.8 percent of his passes for 466 yards and four touchdowns. His main target is junior wide receiver La’Rod King, who has 14 catches for 226 yards and three touchdowns. Kentucky is 5-10 ATS as an underdog.
The Wildcats are in their second season under head coach Joker Phillips and need to win the turnover battle, posting a 5-0 record when they do so under his direction. Kentucky is playing its 39th season inside Commonwealth Stadium and has tallied a 131-109-4 mark over that span. Over the years, the program has played 222 games against ranked opponents and own a 39-178-5 record against such opponents. This contest is the first of possibly three such opponents in a row for the team. Kentucky is 3-28 against Florida when the Gators are ranked.
Bettors will likely back the Gators due to their 5-0-1 ATS mark in September, while the Wildcats are 0-4 ATS as an underdog.
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