Michigan Wolverines vs. Florida Gators Betting Odds - Point Spread Pick

Michigan Wolverines vs. Florida Gators Betting Odds - Point Spread Pick

David Schwab
Date: January 1, 1:00 pm
Location: Florida Citrus Bowl

Betting Odds

Point Spread: Michigan -4
Total: 39

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Jim Harbaugh's first season at the helm as Michigan's head coach could be considered a success with nine straight-up wins against three losses, but the team was a mixed bag for bettors with a 6-6 record against the spread. The Wolverines failed to cover in four of their last six games including a 42-13 loss to Ohio State in the season finale as one-point home underdogs. The total went OVER 46.5 against the Buckeyes and it has gone OVER in their last seven games.
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A shutdown defense was the Wolverines' calling card this season with a points-allowed average of 17.2 that was ranked 11th in the nation. When it came to moving the ball through the air on offense, quarterback Jake Rudock threw for 2,739 yards and 17 touchdowns while completing a respectable 64 percent of his 358 attempts. De'Veon Smith was Michigan's top rusher this season with 644 yards and six scores on 155 attempts. Overall, the Wolverines' offense was ranked just 93rd in the country in rushing yards per game (152.7).
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The Gators had only won 10 or more games once in their last five seasons, but a victory in this game would give head coach Jim McElwain's squad 11 wins on the year against just three losses. One of those SU losses came in the SEC title game against Alabama with Florida going down 29-15. The Gators still managed to cover as heavy 16.5-point underdogs, but they are 3-4 ATS in their last seven games. The total went OVER 38 in the loss to the Tide after staying UNDER in their previous five games.
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Florida is another team that relied heavily on its defense to help win quite a few games this year. This unit is ranked even better that Michigan with a points-allowed average of 16.5 that is eighth-best in the country. The loss of quarterback Will Grier due to suspension did not help an offense that was already struggling to put points on the board. The Gators averaged just 26.5 points a game with the low point coming in a 27-2 loss to rival Florida State on Nov. 28 as 2.5-point home underdogs. In Grier's place, Treon Harris started the final seven games with mixed results. He threw for 1,530 yards and nine touchdowns, but his completion rate was just 51.9 percent on 214 attempts. Kelvin Taylor anchored the running game with 985 rushing yards and 13 scores.
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Michigan Wolverines vs. Florida Gators Game Betting Trends
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The Wolverines are just 3-8 ATS in their last 11 nonconference games and they have gone 1-3-1 ATS in their last five games played at a neutral site. The total has gone OVER in their last four games against the SEC.
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The Gators are 4-1 ATS in their last five games against the Big Ten and they have covered ATS in five of their last six bowl games. The total has gone OVER in seven of their last 10 games played in January.
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These two last met in the 2008 Citrus Bowl with Michigan coming away with a 41-35 upset as a 10-point underdog. The total went OVER 61.5 in that game.
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Michigan Wolverines vs. Florida Gators Prediction

This game should be a defensive struggle from the start and while I am not going to take the bait on the low total line, points will be hard to come by for both teams. As far as a play on a side, I am going with the underdog Gators and the four points as my "best bet" pick.

Free Pick: Take the Florida Gators +4 (DS)
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