Orange Bowl Betting – Florida Gators vs. Virginia Cavaliers

There is no lack of motivation on either side when the Florida Gators and Virginia Cavaliers square off in the Orange Bowl. Under Dan Mullen, the Gators have returned to prominence in college football looking to win 11 games for the first time since 2012. Despite a blowout loss to Clemson in the ACC Championship, the Cavs got there for the first time and matched the program’s most wins over the last three decades. They can reach the 10-win mark for just the second time with a win, but they face a stiff challenge as a two-touchdown underdog against a stingy defense.

Florida Gators vs. Virginia Cavaliers

Date and Time: Monday, December 30, 2019, 8 p.m. ET

Location: Hard Rock Stadium, Miami, FL

Opening CFB Odds: Florida -13.5, O/U 54

Florida vs. Virginia TV Coverage: ESPN

Odds Analysis

There has been movement on the line with the Gators getting all the action after brief dip. Florida opened -13.5 and the line dropped to -12.5 before UF backers took over. The spread has seen a consistent spike since, getting up to -14.5. You can understand why the Gators are getting support. They’ve won 10 games for the second straight season in a tough conference. The Cavs, meanwhile, were the second-best team in what most consider the weakest Power 5 conference. The Cavs went 1-2 SU against ranked teams losing by a combined 60 points to Notre Dame and Clemson. The total was wagered up a point to 55 after hitting the board at 54.

Florida Gators

It’s safe to say the Gators are the better team. But the better team doesn’t always win and doesn’t always cover a two-touchdown spread. Since a loss to Georgia that cost them a chance at playing in the SEC title tilt, the Gators are on a heater. They won and covered their last three games allowing only 23 points in wins over Vandy, Missouri and Florida State. The Gators are also 6-1 ATS in their last seven while going 6-0 SU and 4-2 ATS when playing as a double-digit favorite.

The Gators won the BCS National Championship in Miami following the 2008 season starting a stretch where they won seven of nine postseason matchups going 7-2 ATS. They took care of Michigan, 41-15, in last season’s Peach Bowl and will be competing in their second straight New Year’s Six contest. And Florida got here behind a standout defense that notched three shutouts and finished eighth in points allowed at just 14.4 per game.

Kyle Trask had a solid season after taking over for Feleipe Franks a month into the season. Trask completed 67.6 percent of his passes for 2,636 yards and 24 touchdowns for the nation’s 17th ranked passing attack. However, the Gators had trouble running the football with Lamical Perine going for a team-high 539 yards. The Gators need more balance offensively to pull away from a psyched Virginia team that’s just happy to be here.

Virginia Cavaliers

The last two games saw a drastic swing in emotion for the Cavs, who need to bounce back from a humbling 62-17 loss to Clemson in the ACC Championship. A week earlier the Cavs ended a 15-game losing streak to rival Virginia Tech with a 39-30 victory as a 1.5-point dog. Despite that loss to Clemson it’s been a nice season for the Cavs, who reached a New Year’s Six tilt for the first time and will play in their third straight bowl, their longest stretch since a four-game run in the early 2000s.

The Cavs covered in two straight and three of four before falling as a 29-point dog to the Tigers. UVA got points in four games during the season going 1-3 SU and ATS with the only win and cover coming against the Hokies. And the Cavs have a chance to match a program record with their 10th win.

Bryce Perkins is the type of player that can negate Florida’s aggressive defense. He can throw the football, but his mobility is what makes him a threat. And the Cavs need him to be elusive since they can’t run the football without Perkins carrying it. His 745 yards are nearly 300 more than second-leading rusher Wayne Taulapapa. Perkins also threw for 3,215 yards and 18 touchdowns leading the Cavs to an average of 34.3 points per game.

Bet Florida vs. Virginia at BookMaker.eu

UVA was the first to go for more than 300 yards against Clemson, but a lot of those yards came in garbage time. Facing another top defense will hinder what the Cavs can do, though getting Joe Reed back should help the passing game and on special teams keeping the score within the spread. But it won’t be enough to pull out the victory.

Orange Bowl Score Prediction: Florida 33, Virginia 21

Access live betting lines from your mobile device at BookMaker sportsbook! Real-time spreads, totals, props and money line are all available so start betting with BookMaker today.