UAB at Florida

This is a non-conference game and it's hard to believe the directions these teams have gone this season. Alabama-Birmingham has won six out of the last eight contests (7-1 ATS run) and is bowl bound. They have a balanced offense behind QB A.J. Erdely (13 TDs, 3 INTs) and a ground attack that averages 209.8 yards rushing, 32 points per game. They have been a beast in the role of underdog, scoring 43 points in a cover at North Texas as a +10 dog, beating LA Tech (23-22) as a +9 dog, upsetting Middle Tennessee (25-23) as a +4.5 dog, winning at Southern Miss (30-12) as a +11 dog and last week they won at Texas-San Antonio as a +7 dog. UAB's defense gave up some big numbers early in the season, but over their last six games, no team has topped 25 points and the Blazers are averaging just 20 ppg allowed over that span. While UAB is up, the Florida Gators are way down, losing five in a row. This offense has been bad and getting worse, averaging just 15 points per game over their last five games. Coach Jm McElwain was shown the door and Randy Shannon has had to step in. There are changes on offense for this week, as starting center T.J. McCoy will miss the remainder of the season due to injury and QB Feleipe Franks (5 TDs, 5 INTs) will start after Malik Zaire suffered an injury at South Carolina last week. Florida ranks #116 in the nation in points (20.6 ppg), #102 in passing yards, #114 in total yards. The Gators are on a 4-10-1 ATS run at home, so back the overachieving dog again. Play Alabama-Birmingham and the UNDER in this one.