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University football is officially back in our lives – at least for the next few months – and it will be the kickoff of its 150th season with a game of rivalry that we will see more in the future. Florida and Miami (FL), No. 8, will travel to Orlando on Saturday night to meet in a neutral match that will open "Week 0". The two schools have not met since 2013, when hurricanes vexed the No. 12 Gators at Miami Gardens. The good news for fans of both teams is that they have actually accepted the first consecutive home and home series in two decades, scheduled for 2024-25.
The Gators have a strong season in Dan Mullen's first season as a coach, which included a 10-3 record and a complete dismantling of Michigan in the Peach Bowl. Felepe Franks will resume his starting quarterback position after Florida's most prolific quarterback season since the last season of Tim Tebow in 2009. Miami enters its freshman year with new coach Manny Diaz, who has been the defensive coordinator for the past three seasons. Jared Williams, a freshman at Redshirt, will do the snapshots and have a talented group of players to help him transition to the starting role.
What will happen Saturday night? Let's decompose with some analysis, scenarios and a prediction on the result of the first game of the 2019 season.
Display of information
Date: Saturday, August 24 | Time: 19h ET
Location: Camping World Stadium – Orlando, Florida
TV: ESPN | Direct: WatchESPN.com
storylines
Florida: The Gators will enter the season with the best skill players that they have had for nearly ten years, including running back Lamical Perine and wide receivers Van Jefferson, Freddie Swain, Trevon Grimes and Joshua Hammond. The biggest question, though, is who will block Franks? Last year, four offensive linemen disappeared, putting tremendous pressure on first-year starters, including junior Stone Forsythe on the left tackle and team-mate Jean Delance on the right tackle. The defense includes many veterans of all levels, including defensive star Jabari Zuniga, veteran center linebacker David Reese and side-defenders CJ Henderson and Marco Wilson. Depth could be a problem for the Gators, especially in the defensive field.
Miami: Williams was a four-star high-school hopeful and has a considerable advantage in an attack that includes veteran running back DeeJay Dallas, wide receiver Jeff Thomas and Buffalo transfer K.J. Osborn. As in Florida, the Hurricanes lack experience, so it is essential to protect Williams. The seventh of Miami could be one of the best in the country before the end of the season. Star defenseman Jonathan Garvin and senior linebackers Shaquille Quarterman and Michael Pinckney lead a veteran crew that finished 11th in the sacking season last season (40).
Prediction of the game, choice
If you are waiting for an impeccable match and played well Saturday night, it will not live up to your expectations. Why? Miami's defensive front will take advantage of Florida's uncertainty on the offensive line, and Florida's defensive front will make Williams extremely uncomfortable in his first significant action as a major university quarterback. Because of that, I'll be lining up with the signalman who has seen several ups and downs in his career but who finished last season on a high note. This quarterback is Franks, of course. Give me the Gators to win, but cover will be more difficult Choose: Miami (+7.5)
What college football choices can you confidently make in the first week and what a hard favorite? Head over to SportsLine to see which teams win more than 50% of the simulations, all from a proven computer model that has generated more than $ 4,500 in profit over the last four seasons.
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