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Florida Gators (6-4) will take on Vanderbilt Commodores (4-6) in Nashville on Saturday. Florida have won two straight games, most recently smoking the South Carolina Gamecocks 38-6. Quarterback Anthony Richardson, who may opt out of his redshirt junior season in favor of the NFL draft, dominated in potentially the last start of his career at the Swamp in Gainsville. Richardson finished 11-of-23 passing for 112 yards and two scores while adding 96 yards on the ground with another touchdown. Florida raced ahead to a commanding 24-0 lead and outgained the Gamecocks 515-237 in a blowout win.
Florida vs. Vanderbilt Betting Odds
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After losing five straight, Vanderbilt picked up their first SEC win over then (#24) Kentucky on the road, no less. The Commodores snapped a 26-game SEC losing streak, leaving a packed Kroger Field in Lexington, Kentucky, absolutely stunned. QB Mike Wright and WR Will Sheppard connected for the go-ahead touchdown with 32 seconds left in regulation. Wright, who got the nod as the designated starter, was benched midway through the season after a string of poor performances but got a rare start when fellow gunslinger A.J. Swann was ruled out with a lower-body injury. Wright finished 12-of-23 for 184 yards with a touchdown and a pick but added 126 rushing yards and a score off 11 attempts.
Tale of the Tape
Florida started a new chapter in their storied program history with the signing of former Louisiana Ragin' Cajun head coach Billy Napier this offseason. Napier has already exceeded last season's win total under then-frontman Dan Mullen. Quarterback Anthony Richardson leads the SEC in rushing yards per attempt (6.6), while 6'5 WR Justin Shorter leads the conference in yards per reception (22.4). The Gators deploy one of the best rushing attacks in the country, ranking second in the FBS with six rushing yards per attempt. They are 11th in the country at 225.4 rushing yards per game. The Gators only throw 27.4 times a game but still have one of the best offenses in the league.
The defense has struggled for the most part this year. The Gators have allowed just north of six yards per play while being exploited on the ground this season. They have allowed 2.1 rushing touchdowns per game, the second-worst mark in the SEC. Opposing passers complete 61.7% of their passes while throwing for 249.8 yards per game. In addition, they have been subjected to a conference-high 2.1 turnovers per game.
Vanderbilt are amidst an excellent bounce-back season after a 2-10 campaign in Clark Lea's first season as the frontman for Vandy in 2021. They snapped a 26-game conference losing streak, which automatically lent the coach some credentials. QBs AJ Swann and Mike Wright have split the workload behind center this year, with Saturday's starter still up in the air. Both signal callers have of a greater than 3:1 TD to INT ratio, while Wright offers more upside with his legs. The run game is relatively moderate in SEC terms, averaging 4.5 yards per attempt and 159.7 rushing yards per content.
The defense has been an eyesore this season. Commodores allow a conference-worst 293.5 passing yards per game. In addition, they allow an SEC-worst 457.8 yards per game and 6.7 opposing yards per play.
Florida vs. Vanderbilt Prediction
Vanderbilt have had exceptional quarterback play this season, considering their "Vandy" monicker. They are safe with the ball while moving it more effectively than in the past. The Florida defense has been gashed all season, and the Commodores should be able to take advantage of a favorable matchup. Gators will be solid on the offense but should lean heavily on the rush. The matchups should allow Commodores an opportunity to toy with their SEC counterparts.
Prediction: Vanderbilt +14 (-110)
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