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College Football Odds: SEC Week 10 picks against the spread

By Nicholas Ian Allen

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Oct 31, 2015; Jacksonville, FL, USA; Florida Gators running back Kelvin Taylor (21) and quarterback Treon Harris (3) congratulate each other as they scored a touchdown against the Georgia Bulldogs during the second half at EverBank Stadium. Florida Gators defeated the Georgia Bulldogs 27-3. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

  • Date: Saturday November 7, 2015
  • Time: 12PM Eastern
  • Location: Gainesville, FL
  • TV Channel: ESPN
  • Spread: Florida -21
  • Over/Under Total: 37.5

It may not seem like it, but this is the game of the year for the Florida Gators. Having raced to a 7-1 start this season, including a wildly unexpected 5-1 record in SEC play, the Gators can wrap up the SEC East and a spot in the conference championship game with a win over Vanderbilt Saturday. Ranked No. 11 in the first College Football Playoff rankings, Florida is also still alive in the hunt for a national championship. Therefore, expect them to be ready Saturday.

An already terrific Florida defense should have a field day against the Commodores. Thanks to a talented secondary that includes All-American cornerback Vernon Hargreaves III, the Gators have the second best turnover ratio in the nation (plus-13), rank No. 7 in the country in scoring defense (15.5 points per game), and opponents have averaged 303.0 total yards per game this season, which ranks third in the league and No. 15 overall.

Vanderbilt has scored just 15.8 points and has gained an average of 360.4 total yards of offense this season, but even those weak averages are inflated slightly because of a 47-point, 541-yard performance against Austin Peay. In their other seven games, Vandy has averaged 11.3 points and 334.6 total yards per game.

The Commodores have a minus-11 turnover ratio, have reverted to an unsuccessful two-quarterback system in Johnny McCrary (1,499 passing yards, 6 TD, 12 INT) and Kyle Shurmur (13-for-31, 109 yards, 0 TD, 1 INT) over the past two weeks and lost 34-0 last week.

The ‘Dores have played good defense this season (18.5 points and 323.4 total yards allowed per game), but Kelvin Taylor (584 rushing yards, 10 TD) and the Florida offense should score enough to cover.

Next: Kentucky at Georgia

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