ESPN’s pregame college football program (College GameDay) is making its first non-CFP trip to Miami in a half-decade on Saturday, taking in the scenery surrounding the Hurricanes’ home clash against Florida.
With that in mind, BetCarolina.com – which offers insight on college football betting in North Carolina – broke down the odds on which Miami celebrity has the best hypothetical odds of joining Rece Davis and company as this week’s GameDay celebrity picker. A certain former Hurricanes football player, WWE star and actor leads the way.
Celebrity Guest Picker | Percentage Chance | Odds |
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Actor & Miami Alumni | 21.1% | +375 |
Greg Olsen, Former NFL Player & Miami Alumni | 11.1% | +800 |
Michael Irvin, Former NFL Player & Miami Alumni | 11.1% | +800 |
Ray Lewis, Former NFL Player & Miami Alumni | 10.0% | +900 |
Alex Rodriguez, Former MLB Player & Miami Fan | 8.3% | +1100 |
Alix Earle, Influencer & Miami Alumni | 7.4% | +1250 |
Sylvester Stallone, Actor & Miami Alumni | 4.8% | +2000 |
The Field | 23.5% | +325 |
These odds are exclusive to BetCarolina.com as a fun addition to our North Carolina sports betting coverage.
The leading candidate to join ESPN’s College GameDay this week outside Hard Rock Stadium is Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. The Hollywood star played football at UM from 1990 to 1994, registering 77 tackles and 4.5 sacks in 39 games before moving on to professional wrestling, then movie screens worldwide.
Johnson seems like the most logical guest picker in Miami this week. ESPN will air its debut WWE “Premium Live Event” on Saturday night in Indianapolis, as part of the deal between the two entertainment juggernauts. That kind of corporate partnership, and the timing, explains why we have “The Rock” at a 21.1% implied probability to be this week’s picker for the Miami vs. Florida game. If that prop were offered at NC sportsbook apps, it would translate to +375 betting odds.
Johnson is ahead of former “The U” era players such as Greg Olsen and Michael Irvin (+800 apiece) and Ray Lewis (+900) on our board.
In Olsen’s case, the retired CFB and NFL tight end finished his three-year run in Coral Gables with six touchdown catches and 1,215 yards on 87 receptions from 2004 to 2006. Irvin had 2,423 yards and 26 touchdown catches on 143 receptions for the Hurricanes from 1985 to 1987. Both are now in broadcasting.
Lewis had four interceptions and a host of other defensive stats from 1994 to 1995 before going 26th overall to the Baltimore Ravens in the 1996 NFL Draft on his way to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Outside of those four former Miami football stars, keep an eye on MLB superstar and longtime Hurricanes supporter Alex Rodriguez (+1100), influencer and UM alum Alix Earle (+1250) and actor Sylvester Stallone (+2000) to be this week’s guest picker in Miami Gardens. Kickoff is at 7:30 p.m. Eastern on ABC as the Hurricanes, ranked fourth in the Associated Press poll, look to move to 4-0 for the season against their in-state rivals from Gainesville.
At Caesars North Carolina Sportsbook, Miami has +1600 odds to win the national title, eighth on the operator’s board.
Looking back at GameDay’s historical site logbook, the last time the show rolled up to a ‘Canes game was in 2020. when UM beat 18th-ranked Louisville, 47-34. ESPN’s prior trip to that was in 2017, when Miami blasted third-ranked Notre Dame, 41-8.
Before then, the last time GameDay was in town was in 2006 for Miami’s clash against No. 11 Florida State on Sept. 4. UM lost a tight one that day, 13-10.
Come Saturday night, the Hurricanes enter as a 7.5-point home favorite to beat the Gators on bet365 NC Sportsbook, with a -305 moneyline number on the Hurricanes. Florida (1-2) has +245 moneyline odds in Week 4 of the college football season.
USA Today photo by Robert Hanashiro
Author
Christopher Boan is a lead writer at BetCarolina.com specializing in covering state issues. He has covered sports and sports betting in Arizona for more than seven years, including stops at ArizonaSports.com, the Tucson Weekly and the Green Valley News.
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