Florida vs. Vanderbilt: Pick, prediction, spread, odds, line, time, watch live stream, TV channel

By Adam Silverstein
November 20, 2020
Florida vs. Vanderbilt: Pick, prediction, spread, odds, line, time, watch live stream, TV channel
Football

Image Credit: Michael Nash

Coming off a dominant offensive showcase that put the No. 6 Florida Gators back in the national conversation, the team must avoid a letdown spot in a road game against the Vanderbilt Commodores. Though the 0-6 ‘Dores are unlikely to provide much of a impediment for the Gators, this will be the first road trip that Florida’s taken since that ill-fated excursion to Texas A&M.

It was following that game that UF saw a COVID-19 outbreak ravage the program and force it to miss consecutive contests. With no more weeks left on the schedule to account for missed games and a loss already on its resume, Florida is taking extra precautions on this trip.

It is being more vigilante when it comes to precautions during travel, such as not allowing food and drinks on the plane, changing how players are seated on flights and busses and even adjusting hotel room assignments. The Gators’ entire pregame routine has been changed in order to limit time in a small locker room without much ventilation or space for distancing.

With four games left on the regular-season schedule against teams that it should beat with relative ease, Florida’s primary concerns for Saturday should be impressing early, staying safe, remaining healthy and getting home in one piece.

Aspirations of contending for the SEC title and the program’s first opportunity in the College Football Playoff remain heavy on UF’s shoulders. The Gators are in complete control of their fate. What will go down Saturday afternoon in the Florida-Vanderbilt game? Let’s find out.

Tale of the tape

No. 6 Florida GatorsVanderbilt Commodores
Head coachDan MullenDerek Mason
Record5-10-6
ConferenceSECSEC

Injuries and absences

Questionable (1): LB James Houston (undisclosed)
Out (2): TE Kyle Pitts (nose, concussion), WR Trent Whittemore (ribs, lung)
Out for season (1): DB Ethan Pouncey (hip)
Inactives (?): TBA

Viewing information

Date: Saturday, Nov. 21 | Time: 12 p.m. ET
Location: Vanderbilt Stadium — Nashville, Tennessee

TV: ABC (Bob Wischusen, Dan Orlovsky, Paul Carcaterra)
Live stream: WatchESPN | SiriusXM: 81| Radio: WRUF, TuneIn
Live updates: @OnlyGators on Twitter

Game notes

» Florida is 41-10-2 all-time against Vanderbilt with six straight victories and wins in 28 of the last 29 meetings dating back to 1989. UF is 19-7-1 all-time against VU in Nashville with 14 straight road victories.
» Under Mullen, Florida is 19-1 when scoring first, 22-1 when leading after the third quarter, 16-0 when allowing 20 points or fewer, 6-2 in games decided by fewer than 10 points and 20-0 when outrushing their opponent.
» UF lost for the first time when scoring first and leading after the third quarter this season vs. Texas A&M. It is now 6-6 when being outrushed by an opponent.
» Florida is 5-4 against ranked opponents (4-3 against top 10 teams) and 20-2 against unranked teams under Mullen.
» Mullen has begun his career 26-6 through 32 games, tied for the best start in program history with Urban Meyer and Steve Spurrier. Both Meyer and Spurrier went 27-6 before losing their 34th games.

» The Gators have scored 24+ points in 21 of their last 23 games and 36+ points in eight straight games, tied for the longest stretch in program history.
» Florida has scored 275 points through its first six SEC games, its highest-scoring start or stretch in league play since 1996 (296). Those 275 points are the most scored in the first six games of any season since 1996 (315) and the third-most in program history (287 in 1994).
» The Gators have scored 139 offensive touchdowns in 32 games under Mullen. They scored 93 in 38 games from 2015-17. UF has also scored 50+ points five times under Mullen compared to five times over 101 games from 2010-17.
» Florida is one of four FBS teams with 10+ players who have caught touchdowns this season.
» Redshirt senior quarterback Kyle Trask is the first player in program history to throw 4+ touchdowns in six consecutive games. His 28 TD passes set an SEC record for most through the first six games of a season and tied an FBS record for most through six games in the last 20 seasons. Trask is the first Gators signal caller to throw for 6+ touchdowns twice in a single season and the second to do it in his career (Danny Wuerffel).
» UF has scored in 404 consecutive games, an NCAA record.

» Florida is one of only two FBS teams (Alabama) that has not lost to an opponent that finished the season with a losing record dating back to the 2008 season.
» UF in 2019 finished a season undefeated in The Swamp for the first time since 2016, the third time this decade and 14th time in program history.

Prediction and analysis

Spread: Florida -31 | O/U: 68

Man, this is quite a spread — four touchdowns and a field goal in a road game against an SEC opponent. Except here’s the thing: It happened last year (56-0). Florida has beaten Vanderbilt by 30+ points twice this decade and four times since 1998. Taking spreads this large is not something I do, nor something I suggest. But if I had to choose a side, I have to lean with the Gators not getting it despite the Commodores having already lost two games 41-7 this season and UF is setting offensive records seemingly every week. The defense just is not up to snuff.

Florida may well take its foot off the gas or insert second-teamers before the third quarter is out. That could lead to additional scoring opportunities for Vanderbilt. As such, I also lean with the over. But again, this is not a game anyone should be taking.

2020 records: ATS picks 4-2 | O/U picks 2-4 | Overall: 6-6

Odds and ends

» Florida will wear updated white helmets with white jerseys and white pants at Vanderbilt. This is the first time the Gators have worn white helmets this season.
» Wischusen and Orlovsky are calling the Florida game for the second straight week.

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