Florida Atlantic Owls at Florida Gators
Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, Gainesville, Florida
Saturday, September 3, 2011, 7:00 pm Eastern, TV: ESPNU
Opening Line: Florida -31
Current Line: Florida -35
Opening Total: 46
Current Total: 47
Opening Money Line: Florida -7000 / FAU +3500
Current Money Line: Florida -23000 / FAU +7000
Urban Meyer resigned as coach of the Florida Gators last year to spend more time with his family and because he had some health issues. The Gators were a pre-season top ten team last year but finished a disappointing 8-5. Meyer’s last game was in the Outback Bowl against Penn St. The Gators won 37-24 and it created the strange site of 84 year old Joe Paterno wishing 46 year old Meyer well in his retirement. Florida hired Texas defensive coordinator Will Muschamp as their new head coach. The Muschamp era begins for the Gators as they take on Florida Atlantic under legendary coach Howard Schnellenberger who announced he will retire at the end of the season. The Owls finished last season 4-8 out of the Sun Belt Conference. This is only the second meeting between the two schools with Florida winning 59-20 in Gainesville in 2007.
Florida Atlantic had one of the worst offenses in the country last year averaging 303 yards and 17 points a game. Junior Graham Wilbert and David Kool were locked in a heated battle for the quarterback position but Wilbert was announced as the starter earlier this week. Wilbert threw 5 passes last year and an interception. Senior running back Alfred Morris is the best weapon on offense for the Owls. He had 227 carries, 928 yards, and 7 touchdowns. He also had 8 catches and a touchdown. Morris had more than double the carries of the rest of the team combined. The Owls lose their top 3 receivers from last year. Senior Willie Floyd and sophomore DeAndre Richardson are top returning receivers.
The Owls allowed 401 yards and 29 points a game last year on defense. FAU moves to a 3-4 alignment this year. The key will be defensive end Kevin Cyrille who had 40 tackles and 3 sacks last year. Senior nose tackle Jarvis Givens was second team All Sun Belt in the preseason for 2011. The linebackers and secondary will be better as well this year.
Last season junior quarterback John Brantley was a square peg trying to fit into a round hole. He replaced legendary Tim Tebow and it was a disaster. He couldn’t adjust to the spread offense that was Meyer’s trademark and the Gators only averaged 350 yards and 30 points a game. This year Muschamp brought in Charlie Weis to run the offense. Weis has scrapped the spread and will install the pro style offense he had success with at Notre Dame and in the NFL with the Patriots and Chiefs. The pro style offense also plays to the strength of Brantley. Brantley looks to improve on his 2,061 yards, 9 touchdowns, and 10 interception season he had last year. The Gators return their top 5 rushers from last season and all had at least 58 carries last season. Jeff Demps had 92 catches, 551 yards, and 3 touchdowns along with 18 catches. Chris Rainey had 51 catches, 366 yards, and 2 touchdowns to go along with 25 catches, 216 yards, and 3 touchdowns. The versatile Trey Burton had 75 carries, 349 yards, and 11 touchdowns along with 32 catches, 210 yards, and 1 touchdown. He even threw 6 passes and an interception last season. Tight end Jordan Reed had 77 carries, 328 yards, and 5 touchdowns along with 6 catches and a touchdown. Mike Gillislee had 58 carries, 325 yards, and 7 touchdowns and 6 catches. The top receivers other than the running backs are Deonte Thompson, Omarius Hines, Frankie Hammond, and Andre Dubose.
The defense was ranked in the top ten last year giving up 307 yards and 21 points a game. The defense returns 5 starters from that unit. The line will be anchored by seniors Jaye Howard and Omar Hunter. Junior Jon Bostic and sophomore Jelani Jenkins lead the linebacking corps. Junior Cornerback Jeremy Brown is the only returning starter in the secondary.
Florida Atlantic is 7-17 against the spread in the last 3 seasons. The Owls were 2-9 ATS last season in Saturday games. Florida Atlantic is 1-6 ATS in their last 7 games as an underdog, 0-6 in the last 6 road games, and 0-4 versus SEC teams. Florida is 5-0 ATS in their last 5 vs Sun Belt teams, 6-1 in their last 7 as a home favorite of 10.5 or more, and 4-1 in their last 5 September games.
Florida is obviously the better team, and could destroy FAU by what ever score they wanted to if the Gators were fully motivated. The total seems awfully low on this game at 47. If you take Florida as a 35 point favorite you almost have to take the over.
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