Sportsbook bettors will be watching two quarterbacks at Florida this season as John Brantley and Trey Burton lead the Gators. Replacing Tim Tebow will not be easy and the Gators are not the favorite to win the college football national championship in offshore sportsbook odds.
Sportsbook odds list Florida with double-digit odds to win the title next season. It is never a good idea to underestimate Florida head coach Urban Meyer. He may be able to find a replacement for Tebow even if he has to use two players to do it. “We’re going to try and play two quarterbacks this year,” Meyer said. “We have to. On third-and-3, we know what we want to do, and John probably is not going to do it because he’s not that kind of player.”
The Gators have been using freshman Trey Burton and tight end Jordan Reed in short yardage situations in spring practice. “Everyone says we ran Tim because he’s a great player. That’s partially true. The other part is single-wing offense gives you plus one in the run game,” Meyer said. “Jordan Reed has proven he can do it, and Trey Burton can run well, too. This is the year I think we actually will play two like we played Tim and Chris Leak.”
Sportsbook bettors will remember that Florida won the 2006 national title when Chris Leak and Tim Tebow shared time at quarterback. Leak threw the ball and Tebow ran it. Don’t discount Florida in sportsbook odds if they are using two quarterbacks. Brantley has thrown 10 touchdowns and only one interception in the 17 games he has played in. “He’s doing fine. He’s having a good spring,” Meyer said. “He can really throw the football, but he’s a guy who has to do a lot better in other things.” The Gators really don’t have anyone else who can throw the ball so don’t look for Brantley to be in the game in running situations. Burton and Reed are going to run the short yardage offense and overall the Gators should be good vs. offshore sportsbook odds.
Burton would like to be the backup but he is in a battle with Tyler Murphy. Reed would have been the backup but he moved to tight end. Sportsbook bettors have noticed that he has been excellent this spring in the Wildcat. “We’ve expanded since ’06,” offensive coordinator Steve Addazio said. “It’s an expanded package. We’re going to have a pretty good Wildcat package ’cause we have some real good Wildcat people, personnel.”