Kentucky vs Florida Odds, Spread and Picks

• No. 10 Florida travels to Kentucky in Week 5 on Saturday, October 2nd at 6:00pm EST
• The Gators are 19-1 in their last 20 games vs the Wildcats
• Read below for the odds, spread and betting prediction

It’s a clash of two SEC East contenders when Florida (3-1) and Kentucky (4-0) faceoff in Week 5 on Saturday, October 2nd. Kickoff is set for 6:00 PM EST on ESPN.

The Gators are listed as 8.5-point favorites at Kroger Stadium. Dan Mullen’s team has covered the spread in back-to-back contests against Alabama and Tennessee.

Can Florida keep the momentum going against an undefeated Kentucky squad?

Florida vs Kentucky Odds

Odds as of Sept 29th at DraftKings

Gators Are Gaining Steam 

Florida is playing their best football of the season heading into a big clash with Kentucky. The Gators gave Alabama their toughest test of the season in Week 3 before following up with a solid 38-14 victory over Tennessee in Week 4. Dan Mullen’s team has covered the spread in back-to-back games after beginning the year 0-2 ATS.

https://twitter.com/GatorsFB/status/1442855729572900869?s=20

Florida is led by their elite rushing attack, which ranks third in the nation at 323 yards per game. The Gators have two mobile quarterbacks in Emory Jones and Anthony Richardson, while RB Malik Davis has been a force in the backfield with 257 rushing yards and three TD’s on 41 carries. Jacob Copeland leads the receiving group with 10 receptions for 232 yards.

The Gators can beat the Wildcats by dominating the lines of scrimmage and getting pressure on the quarterback. Florida is averaging an impressive 3.5 sacks per game and are allowing only 110 rushing yards per contest. The Gators’ passing attack was their bread-and-butter in 2020, but it’s their play in the trenches that is defining their 2021 campaign.

Ketucky Remains Undefeated

While Florida has a loss on their resume entering Week 5, the Wildcats are undefeated entering this home game at Kroger Stadium. The Wildcats have taken down LA-Monroe, Missouri, Chattanooga and South Carolina to begin the season. While all these teams are inferior opponents, Kentucky flexed its dominance by covering the spread in three of the four games.

Good night, #BBN. pic.twitter.com/bs69uT8vIb

— Kentucky Football (@UKFootball) September 26, 2021

Kentucky is led on offense by junior quarterback Will Levis, who has thrown for 902 yards and seven TD’s with five interceptions. His favorite target is Wan’Dale Robinson, who leads the SEC in receiving yards (402). The Wildcats also has one of the best running backs in Chris Rodriguez Jr., who has rushed for over 500 yards.

Kentucky’s offense is loaded with playmakers, but the defense has also been impressive. The Wildcats are only allowing 260 yards and 17.6 points per game. The issue is that Kentucky hasn’t gone a good job pressuring the quarterback and forcing turnovers. The defense has only forced two turnovers all season, leaving the team with an ugly minus-9 turnover margin.

Florida vs Kentucky Best Bet

Florida and Kentucky have similar numbers entering this game, but you have to go beyond the box scores to get a true understanding of how this game might play out. The Wildcats have played one of the easiest schedules out of all FBS teams, while Florida has looked impressive with schools like Alabama and Tennessee on their resume.

Emory Jones and the Gators cap off a 99-YARD DRIVE.

We've got a ballgame. pic.twitter.com/qrmYfPkdlt

— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) September 18, 2021

A red flag for potential Kentucky bettors is Week 3 against Chattanooga when the team was almost upset after entering the game as 30-plus-point favorites. The Wildcats lost the battle in the trenches and gave Chattanooga six points off three costly turnovers. QB Levis has thrown five picks and lost six fumbles, which will be a problem against this feisty Gators defense.

Florida is heating up entering Week 5 and have dominated this rivalry of late. The Gators have won 19 of the past 20 meetings with Kentucky, including a 34-10 victory in 2020. Look for Florida to dominate the lines of scrimmage and for the defense to force a few turnovers en route to a convincing road victory.

• Pick: Florida Gators -8.5 (-110)