Florida vs. UT-Martin game: Prediction, pick, odds, spread, line, time, TV, watch live stream

By Adam Silverstein
September 7, 2019
Florida vs. UT-Martin game: Prediction, pick, odds, spread, line, time, TV, watch live stream
Football

Image Credit: Michael Nash

After starting the 2019 season one week early with a 24-20 win over rival Miami, the No. 11 Florida Gators actually fell in the AP Top 25 rankings. No matter. Florida has its home opener on Saturday night and is presented with an opportunity to dominate the FCS Tennessee-Martin Skyhawks in what can be a get-right game for the program. It is also a chance for the Gators to prove that their additional off week did them a lot of good in terms of preparation for the remainder of the season.

Florida is looking to open a season 2-0 for the first time since 2016 as UT-Martin hopes for a massive upset at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, Florida. The Gators will spend a large portion of the game honoring the memory of George Edmondson, the man better known as Florida’s most famous cheerleader, Mr. Two Bits. His family will be in attendance to perform his iconic cheer, and the team will wear a helmet sticker honoring him for the game.

What will go down as the Gators and Skyhawks clash in The Swamp? Let’s find out with plenty of information, notes, analysis and a game prediction.

Viewing information

Date: Saturday, Sept. 7 | Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
Location: Ben Hill Griffin Stadium — Gainesville, Florida [Capacity: 88,548]

TV: ESPNU (Mike Corey, Rene Ingoglia)
Live stream: WatchESPN.com | SiriusXM: 81 | Radio: WRUF, TuneIn
Live updates: @OnlyGators on Twitter

Tale of the tape

No. 11 Florida GatorsUT-Martin Skyhawks
Head coachDan MullenJason Simpson
Record1-01-0
ConferenceSECOVC

Injuries and absences

Suspended: DL Luke Ancrum, DB Brad Stewart
Out (1): ATH Amari Burney (undisclosed), DB Jeawon Taylor (undisclosed), DT Elijah Conliffe (undisclosed)
Out for season (2): CB C.J. McWilliams (Achilles), LB David Reese (Achilles)

Game notes

» Florida and UT-Martin have never faced one another. The Gators are 25-1 this century against first-time opponents with 19 straight wins.
» This is the second time in as many seasons that UF will play a pair of opponents for the first time. It also faces Towson in the first month of the season.
» The Gators are 73-9 at home against nonconference opponents since 1990.
» Florida is looking to begin a season 2-0 for the first time since 2016.
» The Gators have won five straight games by a combined score of 169-59.
» Florida is 8-2 against unranked opponents under Mullen with both losses coming to SEC East teams in The Swamp. However, the Gators are also 4-1 against ranked opponents under Mullen, beating three ranked teams in a single season in 2018 for the first time since 2012. UF is looking for its first back-to-back 10-win seasons in a decade (2008-09).
» Under Mullen, the Gators are 6-0 when scoring first, 9-0 when leading after the third quarter, 8-0 when allowing 20 points or fewer, 4-0 in games decided by fewer than 10 points and 9-0 when outrushing their opponent.
» UF has scored in 386 consecutive games, an NCAA record.
» Florida is one of only two FBS teams (Alabama) that have not lost to an opponent that finished the season with a losing record dating back to the 2008 season.

Prediction and analysis

Spread: Florida -45 | O/U: None

There was no telling how sloppy Florida would be in its opener against Miami, which led to a lack of cover of a relatively meager touchdown spread in that game. Well, two weeks later, the Gators are more than six-touchdown favorites against the Skyhawks with a spread that is almost impossible to pick. Why is that? We do not know how much Mullen will want to run up the score, at which point Florida will field its third-string defense and even how long the starters will play in the first place.

In fact, this spread is not even available at most sportsbooks. While I would normally never take a team -45, I think the Gators want to make a point after being routinely criticized for their turnovers and lacking production in Week 0. Look for something like 49-0 or 52-3 and Florida to cover. But I seriously suggest not touching this.

2019 records: ATS picks 0-1 | O/U picks 1-0

Odds and ends

» Florida will wear traditional orange helmets with blue jerseys and white pants. The Gators have not strayed from their traditional uniform combinations since the middle part of the 2018 season.
» UF will honor Mr. Two Bits throughout its 2019 home opener.

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