Game: Florida Gators @ Utah Utes
Time: 8:00 p.m.
Odds: Gators +4.5, Utes -4.5
Total: 44
Florida travels to Salt Lake City with a brand-new, seasoned quarterback to visit No. 14 Utah in tonight’s season opener for both teams. The Utes are looking to exact some sort of revenge for the Gators’ 32-29 upset of the Utes in last year’s season opener.
Only eight starters from the 2022 Florida squad that defeated top-ranked Utah in September are still on the roster, but the Gators have a wealth of experience. Head coach Billy Napier will introduce Graham Mertz, a transfer from Wisconsin, as the starting quarterback alongside a potent Florida ground game.
Utah is familiar with the Gators running game. Florida rushed for a school-record 531 yards against Utah last season. Gators QB Anthony Richardson, now the Indianapolis Colts starter, scored three touchdowns. Mertz has some big shoes to fill, but the Gators are happy to have Montrell Johnson Jr. and Trevor Etienne returning at running back. They provided consistency and proven output last year, scoring a combined 16 touchdowns.
The Gators have confidence in Mertz because of his preparation and consistency in practice. Napier said that Mertz, a three-year starter at Wisconsin, prevailed in the quarterback competition during the offseason because he made everyone around him better. Mertz will have WR Ricky Pearsall as a target. Pearsall finished fourth in the FBS last season with an average of 20 yards per reception.
Utah concentrated on tackling during the months leading up to their primetime debut. Missed tackles, according to head coach Kyle Whittingham, were a major factor in the eventful night in The Swamp last year.
Utah has won back-to-back Pac-12 championships, and when playing at home, the Utes are tough to beat. For the fifth time under Whittingham, Utah went undefeated at Rice-Eccles Stadium last year, and the Utes are 25-1 in their previous 26 home games, winning 14 straight.
Whittingham remained mum through the week regarding the Utes’ quarterback strategy in light of Cam Rising’s recovery from a knee injury. Nate Johnson pulled even with No. 2 Bryson Barnes in fall camp. Whittingham has not declared a starter just yet. In 2022, Rising rushed for 465 yards and six touchdowns in addition to passing for 3,034 yards and 26 scores.
Whittingham also declined to comment on the condition of star tight end Brant Kuithe, who suffered the same knee injury in September against Arizona State. He has 148 career catches, 16 receiving touchdowns, and four rushing touchdowns.
Florida is 30-1 in season openers since 1990. The Gators did lose their last season opener against a ranked opponent on the road. That was back in 1987 when Florida lost to Miami 31-4. The Gators are 1-7 SU in their last eight games on the road. Utah is 13-1 in its last 14 season openers. The Utes are 5-0 ATS in their last five games played in August.
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