Miami at South Florida final odds and predictions
Miami remains a 16.5-point favorite at South Florida and the over/under moved down one point to 64.5 for Saturday night's game in Tampa per FanDuel. Miami is minus 880 on the money line and South Florida is plus 580. Miami is 2-1 against the spread in 2024 and South Florida is 3-0.
Miami won 41-17 as a 2.5-point favorite at Florida, 56-9 as a 48-point favorite versus Florida A&M and 62-0 as a 36.5-point favorite versus Ball State. Miami projects to be favored in every game for the remainder of the 2024 season with the potential exception of at Louisville on October 19.
South Florida won 48-3 as a 44-point favorite over Bethune-Cookman, lost 42-16 as a 30.5-point underdog at Alabama and beat Southern Mississippi 49-24 as a 13-point favorite at Southern Mississippi last week. Two of the three South Florida games have gone under the total this season.
The over/under was 59.6 for South Florida versus Bethune-Cookman, 64.5 for Alabama and 58.0 for Southern Mississippi. All three Miami games have gone over the total in 2024. The total was 54 for Miami at Florida, 57 for Florida A&M and 56 for Ball State last week.
Miami is expected to have starting right guard Anez Cooper and left tackle Jalen Rivers back from injury versus South Florida. Miami cornerback Damari Brown, defensive lineman Rueben Bain and left guard Ryan Rodriguez are expected to remain out on Saturday versus South Florida.
The only player listed on the injury report for South Florida is running back K'wan Powell by Covers.Com. The weather forecast for Saturday night in Tampa is 73 degrees with wind out of the Northeast at eight miles per hour with humidity at 83 percent.
Number eight Miami at South Florida is scheduled to kick off at 7 PM Eastern Daylight Time on ESPN. Bob Wischusen will be calling play-by-play, Louis Riddick is the analyst and Kris Budden is the sideline reporter. Saturday night is the first of at least two consecutive games on ESPN.
Miami should cover the point-spread by pulling away late. The over/under seems high. The prediction here is that Miami wins 31-14. Let's say Miami adds a touchdown and a field goal in the fourth quarter to cover the point spread. Miami begins ACC play versus Virginia Tech on Friday.