Dan Mullen enters his 4th year with the Florida Gators with an overall record of 29-9. He has yet to win an SEC Championship, but that could change this year.
Game 1: vs. Florida Atlantic Owls
The first home game of the season features an in-state opponent. The Gators rarely struggle against non-SEC teams, disregarding bowl games. This should be a refreshing start for the team, but always be on the lookout for an FAU upset.
- Record: 1-0
Game 2: @ South Florida
An early scare in a road game? No chance. The Gators always dominate locally.
- Record: 2-0
Game 3: vs. Alabama Crimson Tide
The last time these two teams played, the Tide won handily, during the SEC Championship. So as learned in that high-stage game, the Gators will have to put together a full game to get a win. Bama lost a ton of talent, but they reloaded after signing another outstanding recruiting class. It’s hard to bet against Alabama’s experience and their young stars such as Bryce Young, John Metchie, and Xavier Williams.
- Record: 2-1
Game 4: vs. Tennessee Volunteers
The first SEC East matchup of the season features Tennessee. The Gators hold a 4-game winning streak against the Volunteers, so don’t expect the streak to end when Tennessee comes into Gainesville. Even though the Tennessee football program is in a state of turmoil, Florida should be ready for anything.
- Record: 3-1
Game 5: @ Kentucky Wildcats
The Gators are primed for an upset this game. The Wildcats’ defense has shown consistent improvement over the past few years, so Emory Jones and the offense will have to control the time of possession.
- Record: 4-1
Game 6: vs Vanderbilt Commodores
This is a good game for homecoming. Vanderbilt posted a record of 0-9 against the SEC last year, and there’s no reason for that to change. The spread for this game should be at least 30.
- Record: 5-1
Game 7: @ LSU Tigers
Revenge should be on the Gators’ mind for this game. The loss against the LSU Tigers last year ruined Florida’s playoff hopes. Death Valley has been a tough venue for road teams, so it’s hard to foresee the Gators winning with LSU’s returning talent.
- Record: 5-2
Game 8: vs. Georgia Bulldogs
Quite easily the biggest game of the year for Florida is the game against Georgia. The Gators blew out the Bulldogs by 16 points last November, but Georgia comes into this season as the most talented team in the country. It’s hard to see the Bulldogs pump the brakes for this big-time SEC East matchup. This is the toughest 2-game stretch of the season for Florida.
- Record: 5-3
Game 9: @ South Carolina Gamecocks
The Gamecocks’ situation is similar to that of Tennessee. With Shane Beamer as the new head coach, this will most likely be a rebuilding year for them. Regardless, the Gators will have to be firing on all cylinders when they travel to Williams-Brice Stadium to ensure a victory.
- Record: 6-3
Game 10: vs. Samford Bulldogs
These Bulldogs won’t scare the Gators in even the slightest way. On to the next one.
- Record: 7-3
Game 11: @ Missouri Tigers
Florida will travel to Columbia to play against a balanced Missouri team. Connor Bazelak‘s improvement throughout last season makes the Missouri offense lethal. Expect this to be a close game, but for the Gators to pull through late.
- Record: 8-3
Game 12: vs. Florida State Seminoles
The last game of the season features another in-state rivalry against the Seminoles. Fortunately enough, the Seminoles haven’t been relevant since 2016, so this should be an easy win. Hopefully, the Gators will run the score up to finish the season off strong.
- Record: 9-3
SEC Championship and Bowl Predictions
Let’s keep it real. Georgia’s stacked squad this year makes it nearly impossible for the Florida Gators to win the SEC East. The Gators’ tough schedule also makes it hard for them to reach a New Year’s Six Bowl. There is still optimism that Florida can get to next year’s Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl as the 3rd best team in the SEC, primed for a probable matchup against Coastal Carolina.