Florida vs. Idaho: Prediction, pick, line, spread, odds, watch live stream online

By Adam Silverstein
November 17, 2018
Florida vs. Idaho: Prediction, pick, line, spread, odds, watch live stream online
Football

Image Credit: Graphic by Michael Nash

The No. 13 Florida Gators get a bit of a reprieve before playing a major rivalry game when they host the Idaho Vandals coming off a tough come-from-behind win at home over South Carolina. There is no longer a College Football Playoff berth on the line for Florida, but suddenly, the New Year’s Six is back in play.

The stadium will likely be half-full for an early kickoff, so how will the Gators respond? Will this be a team that plays its way into a big bowl game or one that lets their visitors hang around for way too long? Let’s take a look at what you need to know and how you can watch Florida-Idaho.


Viewing information

Date: Saturday, Nov. 17 | Time: 12 p.m. ET
Location: Ben Hill Griffin Stadium — Gainesville, Florida [Capacity: 88,548]

TV: ESPNU (Kevin Brown, Andre Ware)
Live stream: WatchESPN.com | SiriusXM: 135/207 | Radio: WRUF, TuneIn

Live updates: @OnlyGators on Twitter

Tale of the tape

No. 13 Florida Gators Idaho Vandals
Head coach Dan Mullen Paul Petrino
Record 7-3 4-6
Conference SEC Big Sky

Prediction and analysis

Spread: Florida -40 | O/U: 59

This is a huge spread for Florida despite the fact that the Gators beat their first two nonconference opponents this season by 47 and 38, respectively. That was early in the season when Florida was looking to work out kinks and build confidence. This week is all about preserving health, which means the entire second string should be expected to be on the field after halftime. The question is whether redshirt sophomore quarterback Feleipe Franks will play all 60 minutes or freshman Emory Jones gets involved in the second half. I have a feeling UF will just run the ball down the stretch, taking time off the clock and both failing to cover and falling under the number.

2018 records: ATS picks 4-5 | O/U picks 5-4

Senior Day

Twenty seniors will play their final home game in The Swamp, including … DL Cece Jefferson, OL Martez Ivey, OL Fred Johnson, OL Tyler Jordan, WR Dre Massey*, TE C’yontai Lewis*, TE Moral Stephens*, K Jorge Powell*, LS Ryan Farr, ATH R.J. Raymond*, OL Kavaris Harkless*, DL Khairi Clark*, DL Adam Shuler*, Jon Gould, Nick Villano, Anthony Giglia, Harry Gornto, Jahim Lawrence, Braandon Reddick, Glenn Jarriel, Danny Weldon

There are a number of players who may not return to The Swamp as they will be eligible for the NFL as juniors. Among those names … RB Jordan Scarlett*, DL Jachai Polite, DL Jabari Zuniga*, DB Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, WR Tyrie Cleveland

* Redshirt

Injuries and absences

Probable (2): WR Freddie Swain (ankle), WR Jacob Copeland (knee)
Questionable (2): OL Brett Heggie (foot), DB Brad Stewart Jr. (quad)
Out (1): RB Malik Davis (foot) | Out for season (3): CB Marco Wilson (torn ACL), DB Quincy Lenton (torn Achilles), QB Kyle Trask (foot)

Game notes

» Florida and Idaho are playing for the first time; the teams had their scheduled 2014 game cancelled due to lightning. UF has won 18 straight games against first-time opponents.
» The Gators are 5-2 against unranked opponents this season with both losses coming to SEC East teams in The Swamp.
» Florida and Syracuse are the only teams in the College Football Playoff Rankings that won fewer than six games last season.
» The Gators are 3-0 when scoring first and 5-0 when leading after the third quarter. Florida is also 4-0 when allowing 20 points or fewer and 6-0 when outrushing their opponent.
» Florida’s turnover margin has tanked this season after coughing up the ball three times in consecutive games and failing to record many turnovers recently. It is now tied for 16th nationally (+6) after being in the top 10 nearly all season.
» The Gators have scored in 382 consecutive games, an NCAA record.
» UF is one of two FBS teams nationally since 2008 (Alabama) to have not lost a single game to a team that ended a season with a losing record.

Odds and ends

» Florida will wear traditional orange helmets with blue jerseys and white pants for the third straight week — all home games.

» The Gators have painted the end zones of Florida Field in orange for the first time since the late 1980s. The end zones will remain painted that color for the final two home games of the season.

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