The Florida Gators suffered a shocking defeat to Arkansas in the unpredictable SEC last week, but still has the fewest losses in the East division of the conference. They will aim to stay ahead of the pack with a win over the South Carolina Gamecocks in Week 11 of the college football regular season.
Despite the upset loss last time out, Florida is a substantial favorite in this game. South Carolina has won three straight games including a victory over nationally ranked Tennessee and will aim to pull off another upset in this one.
Watch this regular season Week 11 matchup live on Saturday, November 12, 2016, at 12 p.m. ET at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.
College Football Odds at BookMaker.eu
South Carolina +11.5
Florida -11.5
Over/Under 37.5
Odds Analysis
The Gamecocks have been in a ton of close games this season and the bettors like that to happen again as they are getting more than 62 percent of the action to cover.
The scoring total is extremely low with two elite defenses and subpar offenses, but the gamblers believe it is a bit too low as the “over” is the more popular play. South Carolina is a +355 underdog on the moneyline while Florida is the -450 favorite.
Florida is 6-2 straight up and 4-2 in the SEC East, which is a half-game ahead of Kentucky. The Gators are 3-5 against the spread this season, including covering twice in four attempts at home this season.
South Carolina is 5-4 straight up and 3-6 against the spread this season. The Gamecocks have not covered in three road games this season.
Matchup to Watch
Luke Del Rio against South Carolina secondary - If the Gamecocks can win this game, they must do a nice job against the Florida passing game. Del Rio, the Gators quarterback, has not been too good this season, throwing for 1,358 yards with eight touchdowns and eight interceptions on the season.
Del Rio had a poor game in the loss to Arkansas, throwing for 229 yards with no touchdowns and a pair of interceptions and contributed to the defeat.
South Carolina has done a nice job against the pass this season, allowing only 194.2 yards through the air this season. The Gamecocks haven’t done too well against the run but if they can force Florida into being one-dimensional it could keep this game close.
Player to Watch
Jake Bentley - The South Carolina quarterback took over three games ago and has yet to lose. He has helped lead the team to victories over UMass, Tennessee and Missouri. Bentley has completed 54-of-74 passes for 622 yards with six touchdowns and no interceptions.
He has been a huge shot in the arm for the team, doing a nice job of throwing for scores and taking care of the ball. Bentley has a tough matchup against a stingy Florida defense but has done very well thus far.
Florida will aim to get after him with a strong pass rush. Gators defensive lineman Jabari Zuniga has been one of the team’s best pass-rushers on the season. He has a team-leading five sacks on the season and has added seven tackles for loss. Zuniga is a redshirt freshman but has come on strong and should keep getting better as he gains experience.
Free ATS Pick
The Gamecocks have looked really good of late while Florida is reeling from a tough loss. However, in matchups like this, it’s important to take a wider view. The Gators have more talent and have been the better team this season.
While Bentley has found his share of success thus far, expect the Florida defense to harass him and force him into mistakes. The Gators should be able to bounce back at home and pick up a hard-earned win. The “over” is the right call on the scoring total.
College Football Odds: Florida 27, South Carolina 13
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