Canes Warning
Fansided

ESPN College GameDay Panel Unanimously Loves Miami over Florida

The ESPN College Gameday panel that included two-time Stanley Cup Champion Matthew Tkachuk unanimously loved Miami over Florida.
ByAlan Rubenstein|
Sep 8, 2018; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; A Miami Hurricanes fan holds a school logo sign during the first half against the Savannah State Tigers at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-Imagn Images
Sep 8, 2018; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; A Miami Hurricanes fan holds a school logo sign during the first half against the Savannah State Tigers at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-Imagn Images | Jasen Vinlove-Imagn Images

To no one's surprise, Miami football was the unanimous pick by the ESPN College GameDay panel over Florida on Saturday night at Hard Rock Stadium. ESPN College GameDay was live from Coral Gables for the first time since Miami beat Notre Dame 41-8 during the 2017 season.

ESPN College GameDay featured an appearance with Miami head coach Mario Cristobal, an interview of quarterback Carson Beck by former Heisman Trophy winner Desmond Howard and a feature on Miami cuisine on Calle Ocho by reporter Jess Sims.

The entire ESPN College GameDay crew picked Miami over Florida. Miami is a 7.5-point favorite over Florida. Florida is +240 on the moneyline and Miami is -310. The ESPN Football Power Index projects Miami with a 75.2 percent chance to defeat Florida. Miami enters Saturday's game 3-0 and Florida is 1-2.

Florida and Miami both began the season in the Associated Press Top 25 and USA Today Coaches polls. Florida's losses to South Florida and at LSU dropped the Gators out of the polls and prevented a matchup of two ranked teams. Miami won 41-17 at Florida in 2024. The predictions from the ESPN GameDay panel are below.

Desmond Howard - This is what makes rivalries so special. One team is undefeated, one team is in the dumps, but the team that is in the dumps is going to come with an upset mind. High-spirited game tonight, but it's not going to be enough. I got to go with these Canes, baby.

Nick Saban - I think anything can happen in a rivalry game. I think Florida has its best roster since Billy Napier's been there. I think D.J. Lagway really responds after the adversity and criticism from a week ago but Miami is the most complete team I have seen this year. I'm picking Miami.

Pat McAfee walked from the set to the pool and jumped off from the platform while revving up the Miami crowd and in line with Tkachuk and his ESPN GameDay cohorts, he picked the Hurricanes.

Two-Time Florida Panthers Stanley Cup Champion Matthew Tkachuk - If Florida has any chance to win, they have to run it. They have no chance at all. It's all Canes all Day baby.

Home/Miami Hurricanes Football