<a href="https://www.on3.com/teams/florida-gators/">Florida</a> and <a href="https://www.on3.com/teams/miami-hurricanes/">Miami</a> are set to square off in a season opener that could very well set the tone for the season for both programs in a make-or-break year for each head coach. And the early point spread has been set.



According to <a href="https://sportsbook.fanduel.com/navigation/ncaaf">lines listed by FanDuel</a>, Miami opens as a -2.5 point favorite over Florida. The over/under for the matchup is set at 54.5 points.



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-to-watch-florida-vs-miami">How to watch Florida vs. Miami</h2>



Time: 3:30 p.m. ET Channel: ABC, <a href="https://www.fubo.tv/welcome/leagues/191261?irad=399332&sharedid=On3_National" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">FuboTV</a> (streaming) Location: Gainesville, Fla. – Ben Hill Griffin Stadium



The stakes for both teams will be incredibly high, though the pressure on Gators coach <a href="https://www.on3.com/db/coach/billy-napier-131395/">Billy Napier</a> is likely a little higher than that on ‘Canes coach <a href="https://www.on3.com/db/coach/mario-cristobal-133857/">Mario Cristobal</a>.



Napier has yet to have a winning season in his first two years in Gainesville and patience from the fanbase will wear thin if that continues. ESPN analyst Paul Finebaum <a href="https://www.on3.com/college/florida-gators/news/paul-finebaum-evaluates-if-billy-napier-will-survive-the-2024-season-at-florida/">outlined the importance of the Miami game</a> (with its narrow early point spread) with that in mind, coupled with the team’s brutal schedule.



“They’re playing a game of calculus. They have no games to lose,” Finebaum said. “If you think they’re going to lose most of those last five games, if they throw away the Miami game, they’re in trouble. And here’s where it really gets interesting. Let’s say they lose to Miami. Then, <a href="https://www.on3.com/college/texas-am-aggies/">A&M</a> becomes almost a make-or-break game. And then, I think a week or two later, they go to <a href="https://www.on3.com/teams/mississippi-state-bulldogs/">Mississippi State</a>.



“If you want to play the negative game — that’s when the season could already be over. So back to your question about Napier — if he can’t win, if he can’t jump out to a fast start and maybe get to <a href="https://www.on3.com/college/tennessee-volunteers/">Tennessee</a> undefeated, then his chances of survival diminish greatly.”



Things are a bit more optimistic coming out of the Miami camp, largely thanks to quarterback transfer <a href="https://www.on3.com/db/cam-ward-18163/">Cam Ward</a>. He’s likely the reason the early point spread favors the ‘Canes. Ward was lights out at <a href="https://www.on3.com/college/washington-state-cougars/">Washington State</a> the last two years and has reportedly meshed extremely well in Miami.



ESPN analyst <a href="https://www.on3.com/db/greg-mcelroy-46902/">Greg McElroy</a> picked him as <a href="https://www.on3.com/news/greg-mcelroy-tabs-miamis-cam-ward-as-the-most-impactful-transfer-qb-in-2024/">the transfer quarterback who will have the greatest impact</a> this fall.



“It’s Cam Ward at Miami,” McElroy said. “You can’t play quarterback by yourself either. You need a great supporting cast, and I look at what he’s going to be taking the field with. Two of the top receivers in the ACC last year, in terms of production, are both back.



“He also brings in an elite running back in <a href="https://www.on3.com/db/damien-martinez-28578/">Damien Martinez</a>. You look, too, at where Miami struggled last year. Miami was a good football team last year. The problem is they just gave up games. They just gift wrapped them and gave them to the other team because they were not efficient in the red zone offensively, and they also turned the ball over way too much — two things that Cam Ward can help with immediately.”



Florida and Miami will meet at 3:30 p.m. ET on Saturday with a broadcast on ABC. As noted, the early point spread is Miami -2.5.

(Photo of Billy Napier/ USA Today - Doug Engle/Gainesville Sun) (photo of Mario Cristobal / USA Today - Brian Fluharty-USA TODAY Sports)

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