Florida-Vandy
Time: NOON ET
Spread: FLA -12
Total: 40.5
Betting odds c/o 5dimes
Florida
After beginning the season 3-0, No. 14 Florida fell 38-28 to then-No. 14 Tennessee last week. This week the Gators will travel to face Vanderbilt in its third SEC game of the season. Florida is 12-point favorites in the game which has a total of 40.5 points according to college football oddsmakers at 5dimes, and will be aired on ESPN at Noon Eastern Time.
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Last week, the Vols outscored Florida 21-7 in the fourth quarter to run away with the game. Austin Appleby threw 23 of 39 for 239 yards and three TDs, but he did throw an interception. Appleby rushed for 24 more yards of Florida’s 106 rushing yards. Jordan Scarlett led the way with 44 yards on his team-high 10 carries. He also scored the lone Gator rushing TD.
WR Antonio Callaway had 134 yards on four catches with a long of 51 yards and five other Gators had at least 20 yards in the game as Florida scored three receving TDs and averaged 12.9 yards per reception.
Callaway is dealing with a quad injury, but he was on the field for pregame warmups before the Tennessee game and is listed as probable for this contest. He has 17 catches for 335 yards on the season and is known for deeper pass routes with his 19.7 yard per catch average. Last year he was good for 19.4 yards on his 35 catches and 678 yards. The 5’11” sophomore had 129 yards on five catches with a long of 78 yards and a TD against Kentucky in Week 2.
Del Rio has thrown 62 of 101 on the season with a 7.55 yard per attempt average. He has six TDs and two INTs and a good passer rating of 140.4. Appleby has thrown 25 of 44 since taking over the job, following Del Rio’s knee injury. Del Rio is said to be doubtful this week and only available if there is an emergency situation. Appleby is a senior who has thrown for 1,260 and 1,449 yards the past two seasons with a 57.5 and 52.9 percent clip, respectively. He struggled with picks the last two season, with roughly a 1:1 TD/INT ratio.
But he is a solid option and Florida should be able to handle business given a healthy Callaway.
Vanderbilt
Vandy is 2-2 on the season after winning 31-30 over Western Kentucky last week. Vanderbilt’s defense turned away a two-point conversion at the end of the first Overtime and escaped with a 31-30 victory in the second OT. Shaquille Johnson caught an 8-yard pass from Mike White to pull Western within a point before the failed two-point. Nathan Marcus scored Vandy’s OT Touchdown on a 5-yard pass from Kyle Shurmur.
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Shurmur threw 18 of 29 in the game with 279 yards and a TD, while throwing one pick.
Vandy had 110 rushing yards on 42 carries, averaging just 2.6 yards per attempt with Ralph Webb having the most success (95 yards on 27 carries and three TDs). The only other TD was the Marcus OT pass. Caleb Scott caught just one pass for 66 yards, and CJ Duncan had five catches for 66 yards. Kalija Lipscomb had three catches for 56 yards with a long of 45-yards. Shurmur also fumbled in the game and was sacked three times.
Darrius Sims did a good job on kick returns, gaining 69 yards on his three returns. Lipscomb had one punt return for just three yards. Punter Sam Loy struggled with just a 38.0 yard average on his five attempts, though he did have a long of 55-yards. He will need to step it up for the Commodores, because 38-yards per hardly cuts it.
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