Heat Map: Florida Bettors Largely Back Canes, With Pockets of Ole Miss Support

As betting activity continues to ramp up ahead of the College Football Playoff showdown between Miami and Ole Miss on Thursday night, a county-by-county look at wagers placed across Florida reveals a largely predictable – but still fascinating – geographic split.

Miami Dominates Statewide Support

Across most of Florida, bettors are firmly backing the Miami Hurricanes (currently -3.5 on the spread). From South Florida through Central Florida and down the Gulf Coast, counties shaded in orange dominate the map, signaling widespread confidence in Miami to defeat Ole Miss.

This support aligns naturally with geography and familiarity. Miami’s brand recognition, in-state presence, and long-standing footprint in Florida football culture make the Hurricanes the default choice for many bettors throughout the peninsula.

Pockets of Ole Miss Support Near State Borders

While Miami controls the majority of the state, several notable clusters of Ole Miss support stand out – and they aren’t random.

Florida Panhandle:

Counties in the western Panhandle, especially those closer to the Alabama border, lean Ole Miss. This region’s proximity to SEC country – and cultural overlap with Alabama and Mississippi football – appears to be influencing betting behavior.

While Leon County, where Florida State University is located, is orange, much of the panhandle marked in Ole Miss blue here would be considered Seminole country.

Levy County & Gilchrist County:

These neighboring counties, located west of Gainesville, and the University of Florida, are another surprise pocket of Ole Miss support. Whether driven by SEC loyalty, skepticism toward Miami, or regional football preferences (Gator Country?), bettors here are clearly bucking the statewide trend.

Northeast Florida – Baker & Nassau Counties:

Along the Georgia border, Baker and Nassau Counties also favor Ole Miss. Like the Panhandle, this region sits on the cusp of SEC-heavy territory, where Ole Miss seems to be benefiting from stronger familiarity and conference credibility.

A Familiar Betting Pattern

Overall, the map paints a clear picture:

• Miami is the overwhelming favorite across Florida
• Ole Miss draws support primarily in border regions and rival-adjacent pockets

While Hurricanes fans dominate the betting conversation statewide, Ole Miss bettors appear concentrated in areas where conference identity still carries weight.

Miami vs Ole Miss: Thursday, 7:30pm ET

#10 Miami (12-2) faces off against Ole Miss (13-1) on Thursday night at 7:30pm ET at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. The Hurricanes are currently 3.5 point favorites on Hard Rock Bet Sportsbook.

A full college football betting sheet is available now on Hard Rock Bet Sportsbook including the spread, total (currently 52.5!), and moneyline.