Gators open as 7-point underdogs vs. Texas

Oddsmakers don’t believe the struggling Florida Gators will lose big to No. 9 Texas in The Swamp on Saturday. In fact, they’re projecting a fairly competitive, close and low-scoring game.

BetMGM, the official betting partner of On3, has made Florida a 7-point underdog vs. the Longhorns. The over/under is only 43.5 points.

Neither team has looked too sharp thus far on offense. Texas (3-1) is 41st in total offense (438.8 yards) and 55th in scoring (31.8). The Gators (1-3) rank 113th (328.2) and 98th (22.0), respectively, in those categories.

Meanwhile, though, each has shined on defense. Texas is No. 2 in scoring defense (7.75) while UF is 24th (16.0), and seven of the points scored by Florida opponents came via pick six.

Both teams were off this past weekend. Unranked UF has dropped consecutive games to USF, LSU and Miami. The Longhorns have won three straight games since losing at Ohio State in Week 1.

Saturday’s game will air on ESPN. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. ET.

The Gators have never beaten Texas. UF is 0-3-1 in the all-time series, which includes a 49-17 blowout loss last season in Austin, Texas. That was the first meeting between the programs since 1940, when Texas beat the Gators 26-0 at what was then known simply as Florida Field. In the two other previous games, UF lost 12-0 at Texas in 1939 and tied the Longhorns 7-7 in 1924 at Texas.

During the offseason, this year’s UF-UT game was hyped as a meeting between two explosive offenses led by Heisman Trophy candidates at QB, DJ Lagway of Florida and Arch Manning of Texas. But both players have struggled early in the season.

The game’s biggest storyline revolves around the future of Gators coach Billy Napier, who is only 20-22 in his fourth season leading the program. Napier likely needs to start winning soon to possibly have any chance of saving his job.