The Florida Gators have fallen apart after a 3-1 start, losing four straight games heading into their road matchup in Week 11 against SEC foe the South Carolina Gamecocks. The Gators were expected to be one of the better teams in the country in 2017 and instead are in danger of missing a bowl game entirely.
It’s been a quick fall and it remains to be seen if Florida can turn it around or will just mail it in the rest of the way. The Gamecocks have won three of their past four games but are getting outgained by about 50 yards per game this year so this isn’t a slam dunk that they win this game.
This contest in Week 9 of the regular season will go down Saturday, November 11, 2017, at 12 p.m. ET at Williams-Brice Stadium.
College Football Odds at BookMaker.eu
Florida +7
South Carolina -7
Over/Under 45.5
Odds Analysis
The Gamecocks are solid home favorites and a whopping 89 percent of the action is flowing in on them to cover the spread. South Carolina has to play well to do so, but many are thinking Florida doesn’t have a lot of fight left in it.
The scoring total is quite low for a college football game as neither team has a great offense, and the “under” is the more popular choice thus far.
Florida is listed at +215 on the moneyline, while South Carolina is -260 to pick up the victory. The Gamecocks are getting more than 85 percent of the action on the moneyline, so bettors are all in on South Carolina in this affair.
Coaching Angle
South Carolina coach Will Muschamp coached Florida from 2011 to 2014. Some of his former recruits are still on the team and many of his assistant coaches were with Muschamp in Gainesville.
New Gators coach Randy Shannon said this week that he understands the emotional attachment some of the players have to Muschamp. He is fine with them speaking with their former mentor before the game but is confident the players will be ready to win the game when the ball kicks off.
Muschamp didn’t find much success at Florida but South Carolina has looked solid this season and hopes to keep it rolling by delivering his former team another defeat. Shannon is the coach currently because Florida fired Jim McElwain midseason because of the team’s struggles and remarks about his team and coaches receiving death threats that reportedly weren’t verified.
Player To Watch
Malik Zaire -- The Florida graduate transfer has been named this week’s starting quarterback by Shannon. Feleipe Franks has been the signal-caller under center for most of the year but Zaire has taken over as the Gators are in desperate search for a spark.
Zaire was formerly at Notre Dame and has experience but has not put up good numbers this season in limited action. He has completed 25-of-42 passes for 300 yards with no touchdowns and an interception.
Zaire was pulled late last week in favor of Franks, who threw a touchdown pass, but has been announced as this week’s starter.
Free ATS Pick
Florida has looked disjointed in the past few games, and while the Gamecocks have a decent team, this spread is too high. This game has all the hallmarks of a wire-to-wire competitive contest. Take South Carolina in a close one on the moneyline, but Florida is the choice to cover the spread.
The “over” is the right choice as the defense’s could make some big plays to set up the offenses for some easy scores. While Florida’s losing ways are going to continue, it will at least be able to put up a fight in this one despite the disappointing season overall.
College Football Odds: South Carolina 27, Florida 24
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