Next step in rebuild is DEFEND THE SWAMP! Got to get back to the only ones getting out alive. No matter the opponent.
I like the grouping, but expect the states schools would o/w fall into the must win or big boy (but TBD). I see opportunities: Tx: lost QB UK: new coordinator and QB again UT: new QB and big portal loss aTm: 1st year starting qb and new coaches/system LSU: no heisman Miami: qb in new system FSU: don't look good with no Jordan Travis UCF: bad rush defense last year UF (self scouting): upgrade in defensive coaches and plugged the secondary and LB; returning crucial injured players; OL appears improved; receiver position looks much better I see challenges though: The OL faces perhaps the best series of teams with excellent rush ends a school has ever faced in a season (Bain, Scourton, Peyton, and on and on). Ultra talented opponent qb, if not experienced. All coordinators have had two years to study CBN tendencies if he does not give away play calling duties. All our opponents were able to upgrade their deficiencies in the portal like we have, so our advantages may not be that pronounced. I would call 8 of them near 50/50 games. I expect between 5-8 wins, depending how good some of our opponents end up being, and I am still dubious about Miami, FSU, LSU, Tennessee and UK. That makes it hard to guess at this point. EDIT: that's TX rb Baxter, not qb
Agreed. My groupings probably wouldn't make sense if you look at them at the end of the season. That's why I like doing this post now, so we can visit it as the season progresses. You never know what's going to happen next! Chances are that our schedule will end up being not as tough as it is on paper now, but the how and why remains to be seen.
Nico Ima-not-leavin is being mentioned as a possible Heisman candidate. Beating Toothless just got a lot harder since Heupel arrived (just ask Bama). CFN thinks Tennessee on the road is a loss while Kentucky is a win...I agree. CFN Predicted Record: 6-6 (3-5) Aug 31 Miami W Sept 7 Samford W Sept 14 Texas A&M W Sept 21 at Mississippi State L Sept 28 OPEN DATE Oct 5 UCF W Oct 12 at Tennessee L Oct 19 Kentucky W Oct 26 OPEN DATE Nov 2 vs Georgia (in Jacksonville) L Nov 9 at Texas L Nov 16 LSU L Nov 23 Ole Miss W Nov 30 at Florida State L
It's a make-it or break-it season game for Billy...who's 2-10 on the road. How are we going to beat Tennessee if we can't beat Miss Stake with arguably the worst QB in the SEC?
Bama's defense really stunk in 2022 so any loss was not surprising;o/w they have dismantled Heupel, as has Georgia. That being said, Tenn has improved recruiting over the last 3 coaches and will continue to be a challenger, whether with Heupel or another coach. I think it is too much pressure on a 1st year qb to expect flawless execution from Nico I., as will be the case for Lagway. That's why I expect CBN to be here for Lagway's 2d year for UF to see where CBN's ceiling is.
What was left unsaid is still there, but as you noticed, it does require a little math. Although it's not 10% that is "missing" it is a number less than 20%. But if you need me to be pedantic, it means our chances of having a losing season are better than our chances of winning eight or more.
Agree with most but Texas lost their RB, not QB. Tennessee’s QB looked really damn good when he played last year, espec In their bowl game. Hate to say it but he looked like the #1 QB coming out of hs, his ranking seems legit. Texas A&M’s QB Connor Weigman is not a first year starting QB. He started the last 5 games in 2022 and started the first four last year until season ending injury. Phil Steele has him ranked as the #7 draft eligible QB in country. He is not a weakness.
Yes, that was meant to be running back. And he is very good. Nico looked good, but Iowa was very bad. I call Weigman a first year starter because he didn't complete a season and wasn't guaranteed to be the starter coming into fall camp. That is a huge difference from an incumbent, though I thought he looked special in high school.
Hhp - oh boy would I like UF to win every game in the state of Florida! That means beating UGA and FSU!!
Yo Gators, listening to Doering, yes the defense fell apart last year - WHY? lack of depth, remember up to game 4 UF was statistically quite good and ranked reasonably high. The injuries to key players, particularly Shemar just killed us. The SEC is a grind and with the new additions is only getting worse. That's why UGA and Bama are so good, that got high 4 stars and 5 star guys waiting in the wings when their starters get hurt, not to mention giving guys a blow and keeping dudes fresh in the rotation. Just didn't have it last year and Billy still has work to do in this area. But it's getting better. Offensive line worries me this year, depth wise, probably more than any other unit.
Who wouldn't? But that would likely mean a 10 win season at minimum and more likely 12-0 if we were good enough to beat Georgia. I don't see it with this schedule. The wear and tear is going to be brutal. Georgia with all its depth likely wouldn't go undefeated.
