Sheridan: Gators big favorites

<p>Well-known USA Today sports analyst and oddsmaker Danny Sheridan was in Gainesville on Thursday night to speak to the Fightin’ Gator Touchdown Club, and judging by the standing ovation he received from the large and appreciative crowd, he did not disappoint. </p><p>While this was the 20th consecutive year Sheridan has addressed the club, the crowd was understandably a little extra pumped, considering Florida is the defending national champion and ranked No. 1 entering the 2009 season. Sheridan gave them plenty to feel good about during his time at the microphone. </p><p>“I don’t remember any team during the time I’ve covered college football getting this much hype,” Sheridan said following the meeting at the Best Western Gateway Grande Hotel. “But it’s certainly understandable. They were the best team in the country last year, and they have almost everybody back. Right now, they are clearly the best team in the country.” </p><p>Sheridan sets the odds for all sports for USA Today, and his “spreads” are published daily, both in the paper and online. Occasionally, he even sets odds on games that most other oddsmakers avoid like the plague — like UF’s season opener against Charleston Southern. He initially gave a line of UF minus 73 points, which drew a lot of attention. </p><p>“I’ve actually lowered it now to 63,” Sheridan said. “Florida killed Hawaii last year, and Hawaii killed Charleston Southern two years ago. Florida beat Miami last year 26-3, and Miami beat Charleston Southern the week before that 52-7. After I gave it some more thought, 63 sounded about right.” </p><p>Sheridan, added that, right now, Florida would be favored by double digits over every regular-season opponent but one — LSU, for which he said the line “would be about nine points.” </p><p>He said the Gators would be favored at this point by at least 21 points in nine of their 12 regular-season contests. Besides LSU, the only exceptions are Georgia (14) and South Carolina (17). </p><p>“And remember — the winner of the LSU-Florida game has won the last three national championships,” Sheridan noted. </p><p>As far as the 2009 SEC Championship, Sheridan sees an Alabama-Florida rematch. </p><p>“Mississippi has the favorable schedule, and they should win the (SEC) West, but I like Alabama,” he said. “If Alabama gets injuries, they’re history, but if they don’t get injuries, they’re going to have a better team than last year. But the record won’t reflect that because the schedule is tougher. And LSU, they may be real good, but their schedule is a back-breaker.” </p><p>Sheridan had more potential good news for Gator fans. </p><p>“Florida is the number one pick to make it to the BCS Championship game right now,” he said. “Number two is the winner of the Texas-Oklahoma game. </p><p>“Do I think they (Florida) will make it? Yes, they should. But the key is going to be if they lose, lose early.” </p><p>While Sheridan gave the Gators plenty of kudos, he also offered a warning. </p><p>“There’s two things that could hurt them,” he said. “One of them obviously is injuries. The other is that they’re going to get the ‘big head’ because of all the hype and because they know they’re good. The coaches are going to have their hands full.”</p>