Florida Football: Gators to start and fade on DraftKings vs McNeese State

Aug 31, 2023; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Florida Gators running back Trevor Etienne (7) runs the ball with help from tight end Dante Zanders (18) in the first half at Rice-Eccles Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Swinger-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 31, 2023; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Florida Gators running back Trevor Etienne (7) runs the ball with help from tight end Dante Zanders (18) in the first half at Rice-Eccles Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Swinger-USA TODAY Sports /
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Finding traditional betting options for Florida football is a little tricky tonight as a number of sites are not offering a line on the game, which isn’t too uncommon for an FBS vs. FCS matchup.

There is still an opportunity to bet on the game via one-day fantasy on DraftKings. The Florida vs McNeese State matchup is offered with a night slate of games that includes:

  • Texas vs. Alabama
  • UCF vs. Boise State
  • Oregon vs. Texas Tech
  • Wisconsin vs. Washington State
  • UCLA vs. San Diego State
  • LSU vs Grambling
  • Maryland vs. UNC Charlotte
  • Minnesota vs. Eastern Michigan

While we are far from betting experts here at Hail Florida Hail, these are our gut feelings on whether certain Florida Gator players are worth their price to play tonight.

Florida Football: Start or fade?

We are using the classic roster that had eight slots to fill with a salary of $50,000.

Graham Mertz (QB)

  • $8,600
  • FPPG – 18.4 points

Coming off a performance against Utah where he threw for 300 yards, it’s not a terrible pick if one wants to choose Mertz for tonight against an FCS opponent. For fantasy purposes though, the question would be whether he can throw for enough TDs to keep up with some others.

Combined with the fact he probably won’t pick up a ton of rushing yards, one can either spend a bit more for LSU QB Jaydon Daniels taking on Grambling or go with the cheaper option and pick up Tualia Tagovailoa as Maryland takes on UNC Charlotte.

Montrell Johnson (RB)

  • $7,000
  • FPPG – 7.7 points

Listed as the most expensive running back for tonight, it is really hard to trust whether or not Johnson will get the touches needed to justify his price, even if McNeese State if awful.

Johnson could either go for 125 yards and three touchdowns tonight or 60 yards and no touchdowns.

Trevor Etienne (RB)

  • $6,200
  • FPPG – 7.7 points

Even though Etienne didn’t get a huge number of touches last week, he was still featured more than Johnson.

Given that he is the cheaper option of Florida’s two running backs, he is the one we are going to play in our lineup.

Ricky Pearsall (WR)

  • $6,800
  • FPPG – 17.2 points

As we wrote earlier this week, McNeese State tends to play a soft coverage that Pearsall should be able to exploit for a big night.

Combined with the fact that McNeese State can’t really tackle, it would not surprise us if Pearsall hits a 70-yard catch and run.

Given he should still be the primary receiver tonight for Florida football, he is one to spend a little extra on to go get.

Caleb Douglas (WR)

  • $6,400
  • FPPG – 14.2 points

He had the big touchdown grab last week against Utah, but he finished his night with four catches for 42 yards.

Given his price, one would be banking on him needing a touchdown again tonight.

And with some other big fantasy scores expected to be put up in some of the other games, Douglas doesn’t quite have the upside we want on a night like tonight.

Eugene Wilson (WR)

  • $3,700
  • FPPG – 7.3 points

This has the potential to be the pickup that wins you the night, as DraftKings still has Wilson priced like an unknown walkon.

Listed as a starter tonight, Florida fans are very aware of the hype surrounding Wilson.

And for his price, he is almost an automatic pickup, even if you view him as a dart throw.

Next. Gators’ commit Kahnen Daniels went off last night. dark