The Texas A&M Aggies and Florida Gators have experienced similar beginnings to the 2024 college football season as they prepare for their Week 3 showdown. Both teams started with losses in non-conference home games against AP-ranked opponents but bounced back with decisive victories against FCS teams in Week 2.
Ahead of their Saturday clash, College Football Network provides an in-depth look at the latest betting odds, spread analysis, and a prediction for the Texas A&M vs. Florida prediction.
Texas A&M vs. Florida Betting Preview
The Aggies faltered in their season opener against Notre Dame but bounced back with a commanding performance against McNeese State, putting up the first 45 points of the game.
On the other hand, the Gators were overpowered by Miami (FL) in their opener and lost starting quarterback Graham Mertz to a concussion. Despite this setback, freshman phenom DJ Lagway energized the team in the Swamp, passing for 456 yards in a remarkable collegiate debut.
All Texas A&M vs. Florida odds are from DraftKings Sportsbook and are correct as of Saturday, Sept. 14.
- Spread
Texas A&M -3.5 - Moneyline
Florida +136, Texas A&M -162 - Over/Under
45 points - Game time
3:30 p.m. ET - Location
Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, Gainesville, Florida - Predicted Weather at Kick
87 degrees, 3-5 MPH winds, sun and clouds with possible thunderstorms in the area - How to Watch
ABC, ESPN+
These teams are meeting for the seventh time overall, having split their previous six matchups. This will be their fifth meeting as SEC rivals, with each team winning two of the first four contests.
Their most recent encounter was in November 2022 in College Station, where the Gators secured one of their most notable wins during Billy Napier’s first season as head coach. That loss also added pressure on then-Aggies coach Jimbo Fisher, whose tenure ended after the season, leading to Mike Elko taking over at Texas A&M.
Currently, no coach in the SEC—and perhaps the entire country—faces more scrutiny than Napier.
Since 2016, Florida has covered the spread in six of its nine games as a home underdog, though one of their three misses came in Week 1 against Miami. The Gators have also failed to cover in six of their last eight home games.
In contrast, Texas A&M hasn’t covered the spread as a road favorite since 2021, but early betting trends show that 74% of spread bets favor the Aggies. Last season, Texas A&M was 5-3 against the spread as favorites and when playing unranked teams.
Prediction for Texas A&M at Florida
Whether or not Billy Napier intended to spark a quarterback controversy, he now faces one after DJ Lagway’s record-setting performance in his first collegiate start. Lagway set a new Florida freshman record with 456 passing yards, one of the highest marks by any FBS player in recent years.
A third of Lagway’s completions (6 of 18) went for 35 yards or more, including a highlight-reel 85-yard touchdown to Eugene Wilson III in the fourth quarter. Although Mertz has been cleared from concussion protocol and has been re-named the starter, Napier has acknowledged that Lagway will continue to play a role in the offense with specific packages designed for him.
For Texas A&M, quarterback Conner Weigman has been efficient, consistently throwing for multiple touchdowns, while running back Le’Veon Moss contributed two rushing scores in a recent dominant first-half performance.
The Aggies have relied heavily on their ground game, with six of their first eight touchdowns coming via rushing plays. This strategy could be crucial against a Florida defense that struggled against the run last season, allowing 4.8 yards per carry, ranking near the bottom of the SEC.
Regardless of who is under center for the Gators this week, Texas A&M presents a much tougher challenge than Samford.
Mertz, who won the starting job out of camp, threw for 20 touchdowns with just three interceptions last season. Whether Lagway is the future or the present is up to Napier, but for Florida to win this game, they will need contributions from the entire roster—not just one player.
On the other side, Texas A&M’s offense looked lackluster in their opener against Notre Dame but gained a confidence boost with their dominant performance against McNeese State. Florida represents a significant step up in competition.
MORE: Simulate the College Football Season With CFN’s College Football Playoff Predictor
Points will be at a premium in this game, and with the talent on Florida’s roster, Napier’s seat shouldn’t stay hot for long if they can execute effectively.
Prediction: Florida 17, Texas A&M 15
College Football Network has you covered with the latest news and analysis, rankings, transfer portal information, top players, the college football season schedule, and much more!