Florida vs. Florida State Odds & Pick: A Bet on the Point Spread

Florida State has not been very fortunate against its rival, Florida, in recent years. 

However, the two programs are headed in different directions. Based on recent actions and outcomes, we favor giving fewer than double figures at home with the ’Noles.

So, here’s a look at Florida vs. Florida State odds and a pick in Week 13 of the NCAAF season.

Florida vs. Florida State Betting Lines: Point Spread, Total, Moneyline

Here are live odds from around the betting market for Florida vs. Florida State at Doak Campbell Stadium.

Florida Gators (6-5, 6-5 Against The Spread)

A herky-jerky season for the Gators slipped on the banana peel last weekend in a 31-24 defeat at Vanderbilt, where Florida had won 15 consecutive times since dropping a 24-9 decision to the Commodores in Oct. 1988.

(That, by the way, capped a rough 0-3-1 run for the Gators in Nashville, Tennessee.)

In the current win-now-or-else theme of college football, that placed a big red mark next to new coach Billy Napier, the former Furman quarterback who came from Louisiana.

Friday evening, the Gators’ key weapon might be 6-foot-4 sophomore punter Jeremy Crenshaw, whose 46.9-yard average is third in the country.

Florida State, however, can trump that Florida card with Mycah Pittman, whose 10.1-yard average punt return is top-20 in the land. A 5-11 speedster from Tampa, Pittman played his first three seasons at Oregon before returning to his home state.

The Gators offset a very mediocre passing game with the three-headed ground monster of quarterback Anthony Richardson (613 yards and 9 touchdowns), and tailbacks Montrell Johnson Jr. (742 and 9) and Trevor Etienne (576 and 5).

Jared Verse, a 6-5, 250-pound ’Noles sophomore defensive end who played at Albany last season, has a national top-15 14 tackles for loss and will be Richardson’s main antagonist.

The Seminoles yield 3.8 yards per run, which is in the top third of the game. At home, that improves to 3.3. If Florida State can force Florida to make mistakes through the air by stuffing the run, it will be another long four quarters for the Gators.

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No. 16 Florida State Seminoles (8-3, 8-3 ATS)

The Seminoles have rounded into form over the past month, not only winning four in a row but covering the spread in each of those games.

Better yet, their defense has become nasty, yielding only two touchdowns over the past 12 quarters.

Three games ago, Florida State allowed 188 total yards in a 45-3 trouncing at Miami. Two games ago, it allowed 160 in a 38-3 victory at Syracuse. And last week, Louisiana gained 291 yards in the Seminoles’ 49-17 decision.

Of those three foes, it was Ragin’ Cajuns who found pay dirt, once through the air and once on the ground against Florida State.

On offense during that run, its points-per-play margin of 0.508 is tops in college football. For a Seminoles program that has lost its past three to Florida — and five of the past eight to the Gators in Tallahassee — the timing is perfect.

Moreover, the harmony of the ’Noles seems exceptional. Jordan Travis, the 6-1, 200-pound junior quarterback out of West Palm Beach, ran for two TDs last weekend and passed for another one before halftime in the rout of Louisiana.

Third-year coach Mike Norvell was able to play three of his quarterback reserves, and Travis didn’t blink an eye. On Twitter afterward, he wrote about the “big win” and congratulated his backups on getting snaps.

Travis has thrown for 21 TDs and four passes have been intercepted, and he’s run it in five times. His stacked backfield is highlighted by Trey Benson, with a team-best 854 yards and six TDs.

Lawrance Toafili and Treshaun Ward, who missed a few games with a shoulder injury but has played in the Seminoles’ past two, have combined for 960 yards and 10 touchdowns.

They could exploit a Florida defense that is in the bottom quarter of the country in rush defense, allowing 4.7 yards per carry and that loosens to 5.1 on the road.

When Travis — or any of his backups — goes to the air, he’ll have the luxury of one of the nation’s biggest targets: 6-7, 225-pound sophomore Johnny Wilson. 

The native of Pacoima, Calif., and former Arizona State Sun Devil holds team marks with 33 catches, 649 reception yards, and five TDs.

Florida vs. Florida State Sports Betting Recommendation & Pick

Florida State has a nice little run going of four consecutive victories and covers. It will not take this one lightly, as it serves as a warm-up to a bowl game for which this fan base is starved.

In 2014, the Seminoles got blasted, 59-20, by Oregon in a Rose Bowl that served as a national semifinal. Since then, they have split four bowl games, but have missed postseason action in each of the past two seasons.

To become a national player once again, Florida State must use a decisive effort against its Sunshine State foe as a springboard to an impressive showing in a quality bowl.

Our Pick: Seminoles -9.5 (-110)

Also read: Discover the best sportsbook app for you | How to bet on CFB