Will the Miami football team get their promising 2024 college football season off on the right foot? Or will the rival Florida Gators trip the Hurricanes up in their highly anticipated opening game ?
As usual, Miami coach Mario Cristobal has built a strong core of players. Quarterback Cam Ward comes with great promise from Washington State, while former Oregon State running back Damien Martinez enters the season on the Doak Walker Award watch list. The No. 19 Hurricanes have had talent before, though, only to finish 7-6 and 5-7 in Cristobal's first two years in Coral Gables.
The Gators are also looking for a spark in Year 3 under coach Billy Napier . UF won the last meeting with Miami, a 24-20 victory in 2019 in Orlando. Florida also hasn't lost a home opener since 1989 and are 30-2 to kick off the season since then. Could quarterback Graham Mertz be smelling a Week 1 upset in The Swamp?
Here's what college football experts are prediction for Miami vs. Florida, plus odds for the game:
Kevin Brockway writes: "It won't be easy, but the crowd and Florida's defense will rattle Ward and the Miami offense into enough mistakes to squeak out a win and extend UF's home-opening win streak to 36 straight games. Florida will need to force at least two turnovers to win the game. Expect the Gators to come up with three takeaways on Saturday."
Bill Bender writes: "The Gators are in a pivotal season with Billy Napier, and quarterback Graham Mertz played well the back half of last season. This could be the best game of the day. Remember when Florida beat Utah in the 2022 opener at The Swamp? Same situation here."
Pete Fiutak writes: "Miami has the pieces in place to finally get going under Mario Cristobal, but it’s about to face the 2023 Week 3 version of Florida. That version rose up and rocked defensively in an energy-charged win over Tennessee, and it’s about to happen again right out of the gate. The Florida defense will hold on in the fourth quarter, and Mertz will be just a bit better than Ward."
Bruce Feldman writes: "This is the most talented team the Canes have had in two decades, but opening in the Swamp will be a real test. I think quarterback Cam Ward and running back Damien Martinez can handle it, but expect some rocky moments in the first half. Florida’s Graham Mertz is a good enough passer to attack Miami’s biggest question mark: its secondary."
SI.com : Take the over in Miami vs Florida
Reed Wallach writes: "If the spread hit a field goal, I’d side with the Gators, but I believe that we can see each team get into the mid-20s with talent on offense taking advantage of suspect play on each defense."
PicksWise : Florida pulls off an upset win
Caleb Wilfinger writes: "Overall, this is a game that I fully expect to come down to the wire and while I don’t doubt that Miami is likely the better team over a course of the season, I’d much rather have the underdog in this spot."
Miami vs Florida game odds, spread and lines
The Miami Hurricanes are favored to defeat the Florida Gators, according to the BetMGM college football odds . Looking to wager? Check out the best mobile sports betting apps offering betting promos in 2024 .
All odds as of Thursday, August 29.
- Spread: Miami -2½
- Over/under: 54
- Money line: Miami -145, Florida +120
How to watch Miami vs Florida football: Time, TV channel, streaming
- When: 3:30 p.m. Saturday, August 31
- Where: Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, Florida
- TV: ABC
- Streaming: ESPN+ ($10.99 per month), WatchESPN and the ESPN app (TV provider required), Fubo (7-day free trial ), YouTube TV (2-week free trial), Hulu + Live TV (7-day free trial)
Streaming options include Fubo , which offers a free trial to potential subscribers.
Miami football schedule 2024
- August 31: at Florida, 3:30 p.m.
- September 7: vs. Florida A&M, 6 p.m.
- September 14: vs. Ball State, 3:30 p.m.
- September 21: at USF
- September 27: vs. Virginia Tech, 7:30 p.m.
- October 5: at California
- October 12: Open
- October 19: at Louisville
- October 26: vs. Florida State
- November 2: vs. Duke
- November 9: at Georgia Tech
- November 16: Open
- November 23: vs. Wake Forest
- November 30: at Syracuse
Florida football schedule 2024
- August 31: vs. Miami, 3:30 p.m.
- September 7: vs. Samford, 7 p.m.
- September 14: vs. Texas A&M, 3:30 p.m.
- September 21: at Mississippi State, noon
- September 28: Open
- October 5: vs. UCF
- October 12: at Tennessee
- October 19: vs. Kentucky
- October 26: Open
- November 2: vs. Georgia, 3:30 p.m. in Jacksonville
- November 9: at Texas, noon
- November 16: vs. LSU
- November 23: vs. Ole Miss, noon
- November 30: at Florida State
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This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Miami vs Florida football predictions, odds: Do experts pick Hurricanes or Gators to win?
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