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Betting odds for Florida vs UCF already shifting

Florida was listed as the favorite on Saturday, but now is the underdog

By Benjamin Henderson

Sep 7, 2024; Gainesville, Florida, USA; Florida Gators head coach Billy Napier looks on against the Samford Bulldogs during the second half at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Pendleton-Imagn Images
Sep 7, 2024; Gainesville, Florida, USA; Florida Gators head coach Billy Napier looks on against the Samford Bulldogs during the second half at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Pendleton-Imagn Images / Matt Pendleton-Imagn Images
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Heading into the weekend, most Florida Football fans were prepared to enter into the UCF game this week as underdogs. Florida is 2-2 on the season, while UCF was 3-0 ahead of its contest against Colorado.

Florida had the week off, but what played out in Orlando has shifted the betting odds to favor the Gators ahead of this Saturday.

Florida Football: May The Odds Forever Be In Your Favor

The Gators opened as 2.5-point favorites and a -135 favorite on the money line. That number has already shifted, and Florida dropped to a 1-point favorite and a -115 favorite on the money line. But the line has continued to shift, and Florida is now a 2.5-point underdog and a +120 underdog on the money line.

Even with the shifting line, Gator fans probably raised an eyebrow or two that Vegas has Florida as the favorite but there are a couple reasons why the odds were in Florida's favor.

One is that Colorado thrashed UCF on Saturday. When combined with the comeback the Knights had to stage against TCU, it's hard for the powers that be to put faith in Florida.

More relevant is that one of Florida's most glaring weaknesses actually matches up well against UCF. Florida's offensive line is terrible but it looked good against the lifeless defensive line Mississippi State put forth.

Well, UCF has racked up a grand total of three sacks in the 2024 campaign and is dead last in the country in sacks. Even against Colorado, which has given up the fourth most sacks in the country, the Knights only managed two sacks and gave up over five yards per rushing attempt.

Could Florida still lose this game? Of course, Florida is still deeply flawed and will need to figure out a way to bring down KJ Jefferson, something they couldn't do last season.

And the fact the line has gone from Florida being a 2.5 favorite to UCF being a 2.5 point favorite is usually indicative of money pouring in for the Knights at such a rate that the powers that be are having to shift their lines.

But in the eyes of Vegas, they at least see a pathway for Florida to emerge victorious on Saturday.

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