Free NCAA Football Prediction: Utes vs. Gators Odds
Looking for Utah Utes vs. Florida Gators free picks? College football betting sees the Utes taking on the Gators on Saturday, September 3rd at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, Florida. Cappers Picks provides complimentary handicapping picks all NCAA football season long so stay tuned for more FREE college football game Week 1 predictions like this Utes-Gators free pick.
College Football Handicapping Analysis: Week 1
(0-0) Utah Utes vs. Florida Gators (0-0)
Date: Saturday, September 3rd, 2022
Time: 7:00 pm EST
Venue: Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, Gainesville, Florida
NCAA Football ATS Spread Odds: UTA -2.5 | UF +2.5 (Bet Now!)
NCAA Football Moneyline Odds: Utes +200 | Gators -250
NCAA Betting Total Odds: O/U 51
The Utah Utes will travel to Gainesville and take on the Florida Gators from Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on ESPN. Utah is favored to win by 1 on the road here, with the total opening at __ __.
Florida and Utah have only met once previously, with the Gators defeating the Utes at the Swamp way back in 1977, 38-29. Despite their limited matchup history, both programs were in peak forms under head coach Urban Meyer.
Utah Utes
Utah will have quite the test to open their 2022 season, but they may just be fit for the challenge. Despite dropping two of their first three games last season, the Utes rallied to post a 10-3 record, winning the PAC-12 and earning their Rose Bowl berth in school history.
Kyle Whittingham is the second-longest tenured head coach in the nation, and he’s posted a record of 144-70 over 17 seasons in Salt Lake City.
Cam Rising nearly led the Utes to a comeback victory over San Diego State after replacing Charlie Brewer and never looked back. The junior quarterback led the Utes to one of the best seasons during Whittingham’s term, and he’s been their best signal caller since Alex Smith.
Rising threw for 2,934 passing yards with 20 touchdowns to five interceptions in 2021, while adding 499 yards on the ground and six scores.
The ground game is a big part of Kyle Whittingham’s offense, and they’ll return two thirds of last season’s three-head monster. Tavion Thomas and Micah Bernard should get all of the work this season, with the former quietly looking like one of the best backs in school history.
Thomas had an outstanding season, going for 1,108 rushing yards and a school-record 21 touchdowns. Bernard will likely serve as the team’s third-down back again, and he gained 523 rushing yards, while catching 26 passes and scoring four total touchdowns.
Utah said goodbye to two-time leading receiver Brittain Covey, but they will return most of last season’s receiving core. Devaughn Vele and Solomon Enis each caught more than 20 passes last season, with the former racking up 398 receiving yards.
No team on the west coast priorities and uses their tight ends as well as Utah. A tight end can be a QB’s best friend, and Rising will have both Dalton Kincaid and Brant Kuithe back for there senior season. Kuithe caught 50 passes for a team-lead 611 receiving yards. Kincaid caught 36 balls for 510 yards, and led the Utes in touchdown catches with eight after have one in five of the final six games.
Florida Gators
Florida underwhelmed in Dan Mullen’s final season at the helm, posting a 6-7 record, while going just 2-6 in SEC play. Mullen was axed, and now the Billy Napier era will begin in Gainesville.
Emori Jones’ transfer to Arizona State means Anthony Richardson will step into a full-time role. The 6’4 dual-threat QB is gracing the infamous #15 Gator uniform, and there’s a chance he at least restores some of that glory this season. Richardson threw for 526 yards with six touchdowns to five picks in seven games last year. He’s guaranteed to be a factor in the run game this season, after totaling 401 rushing yards in a backup role.
Florida also lost Damien Pierce, who’s slated to have a big role with the Houston Texans this year, and second-leading rusher Malik Davis, who scored seven touchdowns in 2021. Nay’Quan Wright will play a bigger role this season after totaling over 500 yards from scrimmage last season.
Leading receiver Jacob Copeland transferred to Maryland, meaning Justin Shorter will be Richardson’s top target this season. The junior wide receiver had a career performance in the road loss to LSU, catching six passes for 113 yards and two scores.
Shorter tallied 41 catches for 550 receiving yards and three touchdowns last season. Highly touted wideout Xzavier Henderson will join him on the outside.
NCAA Football Handicapping Trends
- Utah are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games overall.
- Florida are 2-4 ATS in their last 6 games overall.
- Utes are 5-3 ATS in their last 8 road games.
- Gators are 3-5 ATS in their last 8 home games.
Free Week 7 NCAA Football Pick
The host comes into this one with a lot of questions, while the visitor’s will arrive with a big chip on their shoulder and a huge experience advantage.
4* Free Week 7 NCAA Betting Pick: Utah -2.5
Things can only go up for Florida as they enter a new era and regime. This will make for a stiff season opener for both teams, but Utah is quietly on watch to a big season, and a win in the Swamp is just what the voters will be looking for. If there’s any coach prepared to take their team to war, it’s Kyle Whittingham. He will have the Utes ready thrive in this hostile environmernt.
Take Utah’s spread for their season opener at the Swamp
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