Michigan Opens Season at AT&T Stadium Against Florida
On Saturday college football has a showdown between ranked teams when the No. 16 ranked Florida Gators play the No. 9 ranked Michigan Wolverines at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. The current line on top sportsbooks has Michigan favored by 5 points with the over/under point total on 43.
The teams have played head to head just three times and all three were bowl games this century. The most recent was the 2016 Citrus Bowl in when the Wolverines won big 41-7.
Florida was 9-4 one year ago and won the SEC East. The Gators lost to Alabama in SEC Championship game, but defeated Iowa 30-3 in the Outback Bowl.
No announcement has been made as of yet who will start at quarterback for the Gators. Jack Del Rio, who started most of last season when not injured, is battling with Feleipe Franks a redshirt freshman and Malik Zaire a transfer from Notre Dame.
Several Florida players were lost to the NFL draft and graduation. On Saturday, the Gators will not have nine players who were suspended for the opening game for a credit card scandal during the offseason. The most important player suspended is Antonio Calloway a wide receiver.
Michigan was 10-3 last season and lost to Ohio State a hated rival, and to Florida State. However, the team appears to be moving upward but they too do not have a set quarterback.
Wilton Speight threw for over 2,535 yards and 18 touchdowns last season, but head coach Jim Harbaugh has not announced who is starting quarterback will be as Speight is battling John O’Korn a redshirt senior.
The defense for Michigan last season allowed fewer points than any team in the Big 10 at 14.1 per game and second fewest in the country.
The Wolverines averaged 40.3 points on offense which was No. 11 in the nation and were second in rushing yards each game in the Big Ten with 213 per game.
Florida is 1-7 in its last 8 games against non-conference opponents.
Michigan is 4-1 in its last 5 games played during September.
Prediction: There is just too much turmoil in Florida to think they could win or cover this. Lean here heavily toward Michigan.
