An SEC East showdown helps to kick off a busy Saturday of college football Week 5 action. The Florida Gators are ranked 22nd in the nation as they travel to take on the Kentucky Wildcats. The odds suggest that a tight game could be on the way, as the current point spread has Kentucky .
The Gators enter with a record of 3-1, with their defeat coming at the hands of 10th-ranked Utah. The Wildcats are a perfect 4-0, winning all four games by double digits. The matchup kicks off on Saturday at noon ET and will be broadcast on ESPN, just in time for the early days of legal online Kentucky sports betting.
Kentucky vs. Florida odds and betting lines
Below are the latest betting odds for Kentucky vs. Florida at legal online sportsbooks. You can change the type of bet via the drop-down arrow. Clicking any of the odds will direct you to the sportsbook offering that line. Sports betting promos are available for new users.
Kentucky puts perfect record on line versus 3-1 Florida
Kentucky has kicked off the regular season at 4-0. After opening with three straight double-digit wins in non-conference play, the Wildcats began the SEC portion of their schedule with a 45-28 road win over Vanderbilt last week. Wildcats CB Maxwell Hairston had two interception returns for TDs in the convincing victory.
Florida opened the campaign with a tough road loss at Utah. The club has rebounded with three straight wins, including an upset over Tennessee in Week 3. The Florida vs. Kentucky college football rivalry stretches back to 1917. The Gators have a commanding 53-20 lead in all-time meetings, but the Wildcats have won the last two and three of the last five.
Wildcats seek third straight win over rival Gators
The Wildcats also started last season at 4-0, but then proceeded to struggle in SEC play to finish with a mark of 7-5. That was good enough for a bowl game appearance, a 21-0 loss to Iowa at the Music City Bowl, but the club was hoping for much more. Kentucky will look to avoid a similar fate this season as the conference portion of the schedule continues.
Through four games, Kentucky is averaging 396.5 yards per game while allowing 293.3. Senior RB Ray Davis is off to a productive start with seven total TDs, booking two end zone trips in three of four games. On defense, the team is holding opponents to 77.5 rushing yards per game, but the competition level ramps up this week.
Gators ranked 22nd heading into SEC showdown
Florida closed out last season at a disappointing 6-6, including a 26-16 home loss to Kentucky in Week 2. The club was then hammered by Oregon State at the Las Vegas Bowl by a score of 30-3. The Gators entered this season hoping for better days and opened with a tough test at Utah, losing by a score of 24-11 as a 5.5-point underdog.
The team has rebounded with three straight decisive wins, including a 29-16 upset over Tennessee. Florida is averaging 412.5 yards per game while allowing 245. Similar to the Wildcats, the ground game and rushing defense have been strengths. Sophomore RB Trevor Etienne is averaging 6.7 yards per carry and has 375 combined yards.
Kentucky vs. Florida player props
While it’s a battle of two strong defensive teams with solid rushing attacks, the play of the quarterbacks could ultimately prove to be a deciding factor. Here are the latest Kentucky vs. Florida player props for the two starting signal callers.
Kentucky QB Devin Leary props vs. Florida
Devin Leary is a senior transfer from NC State. In five games with the Wolfpack a season ago, he threw for 1,265 yards, 11 TDs, and four INTs before he was shut down with a pectoral injury. He joined the Wildcats out of the transfer portal and has opened his tenure with the team at 4-0.
Leary is completing 59.3% of his passes for 1,060 yards, an average of 265 per game. He has thrown for nine touchdowns and five picks and is not much of a rushing threat. Florida is allowing an average of 162.8 passing yards and 13.5 points per game. In last year’s game between the two clubs, Wildcats QB Will Levis threw for 202 yards, one TD, and one INT.
- Devin Leary to throw an interception:
- Devin Leary to score a TD (non-throwing):
- Devin Leary to score first TD:
Florida QB Graham Mertz props vs. Kentucky
Graham Mertz is a junior transfer from Wisconsin. Last season for the Badgers, he threw for 2,136 yards, 19 TDs, and 10 INTs. His biggest yardage output of the campaign to date came in the opening week road loss to Utah. Mertz completed 31 of 44 for 333 yards, one touchdown, and one pick as the Gators attempted to come from behind.
Mertz is completing 77.8% of his passes for 951 yards, four TDs, and one INT. He also doesn’t rack up many rushing yards, but he has run for two touchdowns. Kentucky is giving up an average of 215.8 yards through the air and 15.5 points per game. In last season’s meeting of the two teams, Gators QB Anthony Richardson threw for 143 yards and two picks.
- Graham Mertz to throw an interception:
- Graham Mertz to score a TD (non-throwing):
- Graham Mertz to score first TD:
Kentucky vs. Florida injury report: Who’s out, who’s starting
The current forecast for Kroger Field in Lexington on Saturday is calling for temperatures in the mid-70s without any wind or precipitation to deal with. Both sides are dealing with some injuries. Here’s the latest injury report for Kentucky vs. Florida.
Kentucky Wildcats Week 5 injury update
- RB Jamarion Wilcox, questionable, hamstring
- RB LaVell Wright, questionable, undisclosed
- TE Josh Kattus, questionable, undisclosed
- OL Kenneth Horsey, out, leg
Florida Gators Week 5 injury update
- OL Kingsley Eguakun, questionable, ankle
- TE Keon Zipperer, questionable, knee
- QB Jack Miller III, questionable, shoulder
- WR Thai Chiaokhiao-Bowman, questionable, lower body
- WR Marcus Burke, questionable, upper body
- S JaMarkis Westin, questionable, upper body
- TE Tony Livingston, questionable, upper body
- WR Eugene Wilson III, questionable, collarbone
- OL Micah Mazzccua, questionable, suspension
