This weekend’s matchup between Florida football and the Ole Miss Rebels carries high stakes for both teams.
The Rebels, eyeing a playoff berth, can’t afford to slip up in Gainesville. As for the Gators, a win would mean bowl-eligibility and a much-needed spark for a program in search of consistency.
Freshman quarterback DJ Lagway is set to lead Florida’s offense as they look to pull off another upset in back-to-back weeks. With both teams fighting for critical goals, this game promises drama and plenty of intrigue.
Dan Santaromita, a senior editor for The Athletic, chooses the Gators to cover the spread at plus-10 points.
Here’s everything he wrote.
What The Athletic said about the matchup
“Ole Miss heads to Florida as a double-digit favorite, but Florida’s win against LSU last week has added some extra upset intrigue to this game,” Santaromita wrote. “Can DJ Lagway lead the Gators to an upset of a CFP contender?
“The Rebels are part of the gaggle of two-loss SEC teams looking for a spot in the 12-team playoff. A loss in Gainesville would end those hopes for Ole Miss.
“Florida is looking for its sixth win and bowl eligibility, which would be a decent accomplishment against a schedule that features six teams still in the mix for the playoff (Miami, Texas A&M, Tennessee, Georgia, Texas, Ole Miss). Florida is a program that expects more than simple bowl berths, but the Gators haven’t had a winning season since 2020 and getting a pair of noteworthy wins late in the season with a talented freshman in Lagway at quarterback would create some hope for the future among Florida fans.
“Florida has been up and down, based mostly around having three different quarterbacks start this season, but Ole Miss has also been inconsistent. The Rebels somehow lost to Kentucky at home, and the loss at LSU, which is now 6-4, looks worse than it did at the time. However, this is the same team that also beat Georgia in somewhat dominant fashion. Which version of the Rebels shows up this weekend?”
How to watch Florida-Ole Miss
The Gators play their final home game of the season against the Rebels on Saturday, Nov. 23. Kickoff is set for noon ET and will be broadcast on ABC.
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This article originally appeared on Gators Wire: The Athletic makes pick for Florida football vs. Ole Miss spread
