The Florida Gators are just 1-7 straight up and 2-6 against the spread in their last eight games as a betting underdog. The Gators will need to buck that trend if they hope to start 2017 off with a win against the Michigan Wolverines this Saturday.
Michigan vs. Florida odds have shifted by 2 points amid suspension news
The Gators clash with the Wolverines at AT&T Stadium in Arlington on Saturday afternoon, with underdog Florida short-staffed due to suspensions.
Logan Bowles-USA TODAY Sports
Florida is a 5-point underdog in Arlington at sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark.com. The line opened with the Gators going off at +3, but steady action on Michigan and some key suspensions to Florida players have moved the line two full points against the Wolverines.
Florida Gators
The line could continue to move against Florida right up until game time as the team will now be without 10 players due to suspension. These suspensions include last year’s leading rusher Jordan Scarlett and leading wideout Antonio Callaway.
News that redshirt freshman Feleipe Franks had won the starting quarterback job over incumbent Luke Del Rio and Notre Dame transfer Malik Zaire has been overshadowed by this slew of suspensions.
The Gators have historically fared well against Big Ten opponents with a 5-2 SU and ATS record in their last seven games against Big Ten foes, per the OddsShark College Football Database. The last time these two teams met, however, Michigan won 41-7 in the 2016 Citrus Bowl.
Betting Line / Total: Michigan -5 / 43 Points
The total has gone UNDER in six of Florida’s last seven games.
Michigan is 6-2 SU and ATS in its last eight games in Week 1.
Michigan Wolverines
Michigan will be tasked with replacing 10 starters from last season’s defensive unit that ranked second in the nation in yards per game against (253) and points per game against (12.5). The Wolverines will still have plenty of talent to work with thanks to Jim Harbaugh’s excellent work on the recruiting trail, and Florida’s suspension-weakened offense should be a manageable test for this group.
Since going 14-0 SU and 8-6 ATS in their previous 14 games as a favorite, the Wolverines are just 1-2 SU and 0-3 ATS in their last three games as one.
Saturday’s total is set at 43 points on the Vegas lines. The OVER is 15-4 in Michigan’s last 19 games as a favorite.
Florida ranked sixth in the nation in yards per game against (299) and 10th in points per game against (17.9) last year. The defense will be replacing eight starters, but it should once again be a strong and physical unit. It will have to be this Saturday if the Gators hope to keep this one close.
Michigan Wolverines vs. Florida Gators
When: Saturday, September 2, 3:30 p.m. ET
Where: AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas
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