Arguably the most anticipated game on Saturday, the Florida Gators take on the Miami Hurricanes at 3:30 p.m. With high expectations for both sides, this game will set the tone for the rest of the season. Taking place in the Swamp, the Gators should have the upper hand despite being unranked. Expected to play in front of a sold-out crowd, all eyes will be on Gainesville. The storylines will surely be enthralling, as each side has everything on the line. With both Billy Napier and Mario Cristobal failing to live up to expectations, their moment of truth is upon them. As each team brings back talent, the excuses are up for both coaching staffs. At this point, the writing may be on the wall for the losing coach. Especially for the Gators, with such a daunting schedule, this game feels like a must-win.
Battle of the Trenches
For the Gators, arguably their biggest weakness last season was their physicality. Specifically, on the line of scrimmage, it felt as if the Gators were being pushed back. With a revamped offensive line, fans are not sure what to expect. For Miami, their offensive line is a productive unit and could be a problem for Florida. When comparing the two lines, there is no doubt that the Hurricanes have the edge over the Gators. Florida saw plenty of shifts along their offensive line during the offseason. Losing and gaining players to the transfer portal, it will all come down to how they mesh together. Having limited reps as a unit, it could be tough sailing when the game kicks off. Making some shifts along the line itself, the biggest story should be Damieon George kicking inside to guard. Very underwhelming at tackle last season, fans are hoping for better results inside.
Along the defensive line, the Gators should get the nod thanks to their transfer acquisitions. Already an underrated position group, the Gators went out and got Joey Slackman, the Ivy League Defensive Player of the Year. With Cam Jackson and Caleb Banks returning on the interior, many expect the physicality up front to shift favorably. At edge, Gator fans are quite excited about the return of Justus Boone from injury. Despite the loss of Princely Umanmielen to Ole Miss, fans are hopeful that Boone can slide into his role. After Boone, Tyreak Sapp is a player many expect to have a breakout year. However, the depth is beginning to thin after defensive lineman Jamari Lyons went down with an injury. For Miami, they have a chance to make some plays along the defensive line. With Florida still feeling out the offensive line, the Canes must strike in the pass rush.
Keep Ward in Check
One of the biggest transfers during the offseason, Cam Ward decided to hold off his NFL dreams, choosing the Hurricanes. The former Washington State signal-caller is dangerous with the ball in his hands and a dynamic athlete. Rushing for eight touchdowns to go along with his 25 through the air, keeping him in check is priority one. With Miami also having a multitude of offensive weapons, the Gators’ defense must come to play. Specifically, the secondary, as they have been subpar in years past. Led by former 5-star Jason Marshall Jr., fans are hoping that a change in position coach will lead to results. Deciding to hire Will Harris from the Los Angeles Chargers, big things are expected. From a program that prides itself on its history of defensive backs, the past few seasons have been a struggle. The defensive backs must bring the physicality from the first snap.
Is Mertz up to the Challenge?
A surprise to many last season, quarterback Graham Mertz had a career year in his first season in Gainesville. Throwing 20 touchdowns to only three interceptions, he was able to avoid the turnover bug, which had plagued him. Unfortunately suffering an injury in the second to last game of the season, Mertz decided he had unfinished business. Performing strongly in the Orange and Blue game, fans are excited about what he brings to the table. Despite the Gators’ poor record this past season, he does not shoulder much of that blame. Often losing in shootouts, he and the rest of the offense did enough to win many of their clashes. Now with a full season in Billy Napier’s offense, he comes into this year with aspirations and expectations. Facing a gauntlet of a schedule, he has a chance to prove himself as a top-tier SEC quarterback.
Replacing Weapons
Despite not losing a ton of productive players, the ones the Gators did lose were some of their stars. With receiver Ricky Pearsall off to the league, all eyes will be on this position group. Recruiting two transfers shows that the Gators believed this room needed a more veteran presence. Many expect both transfers Chimere Dike and Elijhah Badger to start from day one. Rounding off the starters with SEC All-Freshman Tre Wilson, this group is suddenly dangerous. There is no doubt that this position group will dictate the entire flow of the game. If the Gators want to knock off a top-25 Hurricanes team, their skill-position players must go above and beyond. Due to this new energy, the transfers have brought, my prediction is leaning Florida’s way. This coupled with the location of the game has me predicting the Gators to score late to knock off the Hurricanes.
Prediction: Florida 27 Miami 21
