I think I settled on 8 wins this season. I’m still good with that. I also think we will win a decent bowl game this year. This is a young team. Our coaches are going to have to keep them ready for an absolute war every week, with the possible exception of this coming week. The future is bright.
My takeaway from last night is this team is improving and that is all I ask of Billy this season. We probably will lose a few more but outside of special teams I see a much more fundamentally sound team. My prediction is 8-4 is the ceiling for this young Gator team
I was largely aligned with this in the preseason, though I guessed UF would pull an upset against one of the five preseason ranked opponents (Utah, UT, UGA, LSU, FSU) but split the four toss-up games (@UK, @USCE, @Mizzou, Arky) to go 6-6. That could still happen, those SEC road games are dangerous. I think we'll find out UT was very overrated, their defense is soft and Joe Milton is who we thought he was, but I have a little more confidence now in UF going 3-1 in the toss-up games.
7-5 was my pick. UF will be no worse than 6-6 and probably no better than 8-4. 8-4 means we beat a very beatable f$u team at home. It will solidify our recruiting as well.
If the OL can continue to improve, Georgia and LSU will be our toughest challenges and I don’t put either of their programs’ talent level higher than Tennessee’s. In fact UT imo has a better defense than Georgia and LSU.1-1 or 0-2 Arkansas and now Missouri will also be gut checks. But they are games that no one will be surprised if we win. But FSU will be back to earth and then some by the time we play them at home. They have to play Syracuse, Miami, VT, Duke, and Clemson before they play us. They will not be unscathed and could very easily be out of the ACC championship picture. 3-0 or 2-1 Charlotte, Vanderbilt, South Carolina, and Kentucky are games where if we play solid games we should win. 4-0. Worst case scenario 8-4 Best case scenario 10-2 As the season wears on. Our depth on the defensive line will make it easier for our linebackers and secondary. As our DL decreases the time opposing QBs have in the pocket, the lower the time lbs and the secondary have to check receivers. This will eliminate big plays down the field even though we have a young secondary.
Not dramatically, because I think it’s clear UT isn’t near what they were on offense last year. I think we needed that one to get back on track for bowl eligibility. So I guess I feel better about a winning record being achievable, but that can easily flip back the other way.
After watching UGA, LSU and FSU play games this year? NO one is unbeatable. Who else on our schedule is better than those team right now?
Interesting that the OP posed this question. Watching Mizzou beat Kansas State and S Carolina give the poodles all they can handle, I'm still very doubtful whether we win 2-out-of-3 SEC games on the road this season. Ironically, I had Kentucky pegged for the toughest game, but now believe they may be the only win we possibly get out of the three. Not sure we can bottle up Rattler and Cook.
Good grief. The offense nominally earned 31 points in the first half against an SEC defense that was considered top notch. Given the lead, CBN clearly played it close to the vest in the second half to limit UT possessions. Folks may not understand that, or like it; but it was successful. And to the person who was lamenting the length of the passes, I repeat the offense earned 31 points in one half. What does it take to satisfy you? BTW, UT does have a fearsome pass rush. If Mertz stood in the pocket waiting for someone to open down field he would likely be on crutches today. Take what is available; and execute it well.
Young team that is growing into the team we all want to see. We need to put together a complete game on the road.
This. A team as young as ours usually doesn't have a linear progression; it's more up and down, especially given our tough road schedule.
Young but we have a core group on both sides of the ball who are solid. Dont underestimate the confidence boost we'll get from last night. An epic win the staff and players needed. We will keep improving.
The hole in the argument is that playing it conservative was in no way limiting UT possessions. Our first 2 drives in the 2nd half were 3 and outs. UT ran more plays in the 3rd quarter than the first half 30 vs 22. 3rd quarter was FG and 2 downs for TN, if the defense isn't getting it done, the strategy could have easily blown up in BN face. I'll get crap now for being negative, but these numbers are facts not conjecture. I was way more than satisfied with the offensive production in the first half, why is it taboo to want the offense to continue to have success. People can be thrilled with the first half and disappointed with the 2nd half, 26pts vs 3 pts, that is perfectly reasonable reaction.
I thought we’d go 7-5 Losses to Kentucky, Georgia, FSU, lsu and either Ark or Scar im excited about the D and talent upgrade overall and feel much better about Mertz. But let’s not forget- in these wins vs Tennessee dating back to 03- we’ve had teams beat them and then go on to have bad seasons
It’s not taboo … it’s completely unacceptable to be critical of coaches, players, schemes etc. It’s the culture we are in and it’s not just Florida. It’s everywhere. As soon as you give ANY reasonable critique you’re a “hater”, bad fan, gonna hurt recruiting etc. Look no further than Deion at Colorado where he takes a 1-11 team and has obvious doubters and now it’s all “y’all didn’t believe.” I heard Caleb Williams say “nobody believes in me”- he’s the heisman winner lol … You just can’t be critical of anyone anymore. But your points are absolutely valid. Our issues are offense CONSISTENCY and special teams. Billy did a good job overall yesteday though.
