Gators vs Aggies NCAAF Betting + Handicapping Picks
Florida won their season opener and as the game was an audition for the starting QB position Jeff Driskel will get the start under center.
Venue/ Stadium: Kyle Field, COLLEGE STATION, TX
Time/Date: 3:30 PM EST Saturday, September 8, 2012
MLB Odds From: Bovada
Point Spread: Texas A&M -1.5
Moneyline: OFF
Over/Under: 51
No. 23 Florida Gators vs. Texas A&M Aggies Preview
This season Texas A&M will making their debut in the SEC after leaving the Big 12 and they will have a freshman QB in Johnny Manziel, who has big shoes to fill since Ryan Tannehill is now the starting QB for the Miami Dolphins. NCAAF lines have the Aggies as the slight 1.5-home favorites with a total of 51.
Florida won their opening game beating Bowling Green 24-17 while this is Texas A&M’s first game after their Louisiana Tech game was postponed due to weather.
Florida won their season opener, but they failed to cover the spread.
In the win over Bowling Green Driskel was 10/16 for 114 yards, including a 50-yard fourth-quarter TD pass. Mike Gillislee may be the main guy the Aggies’ defense has to worry about, as the senior RB had 148 rushing yards in the Bowling Green win.
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LB Sean Porter and DL Damontre Moore combined for 18 sacks last season and the Florida offensive line has to protect their new QB.
Manziel is the first freshman to start for the Aggies in 68 years and while he is inexperienced he has a solid offensive line in front of him and a couple of solid senior WR’s in Ryan Swope and Uzoma Nwachukwu. The Aggies return 4 of 5 starters to an offensive line that ranked 4th in the nation last season only giving up 9 sacks.
Texas A&M RB Christine Michael has had 2 injury-shortened seasons in a row and when healthy he is a legit RB. The Gators gave up over 100 rushing yards in their season opener giving up an average of 4.1 yards per carry. Last season even though Michael missed his last 3 games of the season he still rushed for 899 yards with 8 TD’s averaging a solid 6 yards per carry.
These teams have met 3 times, but have not faced each other since way back in 1977.
In some betting trends for this SEC match up Florida is 1-4 ATS in their last 5 road games, 1-9 ATS in their last 10 games overall, and they have an Under record of 4-0 in their last 4 road games.
Texas A&M is 3-9 ATS in their last 12 games, 1-7 ATS vs. a team with a winning record, and they have an Under record of 4-1 in their last 5 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
Jason’s Pick: I think Florida will struggle to defend the run and Michael will have a big game leading the Aggies to a win in their very first SEC game.
