Florida football finally gets break with Idaho Vandals in Week 12

Florida football is a massive favorite against Idaho, a team that transitioned down from the FBS to the FCS this year. Do the Vandals have any chance?

Florida already has the requisite number of victories to ensure that they will go bowling in the first year of the Dan Mullen regime. With the SEC East title already out of reach, the Gators have only to pad their record heading into bowl season. In a weekend that features SEC teams against largely overmatched opponents, the Gators get face Idaho in Week 12 action at the Swamp.

Idaho is an interesting case, as the first team in college football history to transition up from the I-AA level to I-A football and then subsequently transitioned back down to the lower subdivision. The Vandals were an FBS independent last year after their football-only membership in the Sun Belt expired. As a result, Idaho took the lifeline thrown to them by the Big Sky at the FCS level.

Florida has been more dynamic defensively than offensively this season, as the team transitions to Mullen’s system. But given the level of competition this weekend, there will be opportunities for Feleipe Franks and crew to put up big numbers. Against an FCS opponent that enters the contest 4-6 on the year, it is highly unlikely that the Vandals are going to suddenly morph into an upset-minded outfit.

But there’s a reason why they play the games, and in a season where strange things need to happen it would certainly fit the bill to see the Vandals come out ahead. Here’s how you can watch the Saturday game between Florida and FCS Idaho live and find out for yourself:

Date: Saturday, Nov. 17
Time: 12:00 p.m. ET
Location: Gainesville, Fla.
Venue: Ben Hill Griffin Stadium
TV: ESPNU
Live Stream: WatchESPN | FuboTV

Keys to Victory

Idaho is the leader in net punting at the FCS level. If the Vandals are forced to put that to the test against Florida, it means they’ve already lost the game. The less that Cade Coffey sees the field as a punter and the more he sees it as a placekicker, the better the chance that Idaho can keep the game close. They also need to get a turnover or two to set up their offense with short fields, which the Vandals must turn into touchdowns to stay alive for a potential upset.

Florida, on the other hand, needs to just keep from doing anything foolish. As long as they stay on schedule, limit penalties, and refrain from turning the ball over to the Vandals, they should have no trouble taking down their FCS foe at home. The real question is not whether Florida can win but by how much they will prevail.

Betting Odds

Odds courtesy of oddsshark.com

Point Spread: Florida -40
Over/Under: 60

Prediction

Florida is going to do what the oddsmakers expect they will do. The Gators are going to cover a 40-point spread in the Swamp, but the defense will prevent the Vandals from adding enough points to go over the total points line. It is exactly the type of result that one is likely to see all across the SEC scoreboard this weekend.

Final Score: Florida 52, Idaho 7