You're right, but they're still going to be good. They have a lot to replace, but so do the other teams. And they aced the portal again. But the biggest thing is the game is a road game, while LSU and Ole Miss are home games.
FSU was so dependent on their quarterback and I don’t believe they were on Georgia and Alabama’s level last year no matter what their ACC record was. They did well in the portal but I just don’t see it. I think they will be a playoff team possibly but I’m not worried about them like Georgia or anything
Their D was pretty salty, but I agree that O was a QB only phenomenon. After he went down, they weren't very good.
Well UGA is UGA. But I think FSU in Tally is a more formidable task than LSU in the Swamp. They lost a generational QB and WRs just like FSU. And their defense wasn't anywhere near as good.
Right on schedule, The Athletic just came out with an article discussing the best teams in Florida to prove my point. (Though I believe Malzahn is a much better game day coach than Cristobal and makes up for the difference in players) 1. Florida State 2. Miami 3. UCF 4. Florida 5. USF 6. FAU 7. FIU Footnote under the Miami writeup: We’ll learn a lot about Miami right away when it plays the rival Gators in Gainesville on Aug. 31. It’s a game the Hurricanes are expected to win and need to win to put last year’s late-season struggles behind them. Florida State or Miami? Ranking the Sunshine State's 7 FBS teams heading into 2024 season
I'm just making stuff up & trying to present some variability. Every game will be important for the 2024 Gators. There's not a whole lotta optimism from the media folks given the recent record and insane upcoming schedule. I think they're gonna need one or both of the LSU/Ole Miss games because winnable, at home, and late season.
Underdogs in last 5 games uggh...if we go 0-fer in the usual end of year swoon we have seen the last two years no way this staff makes it and no way they should. You cant go into the off season 0 for 3 years and expect to be in Gainesville anymore. Hopefully we see it coming and have game faces on for October/November.
Vegas is pretty on point usually considerng they have a network of analysts, plugged into A.I., that know every athletes movements and have hidden CAM cameras in every locker room but every year teams surprise and teams disappoint based on pre-season prognostications. We don't know if the last 5 teams on the schedule will be as good as advertised or not. UGA - yeah, probably. Returning QB and stacked with 5 stars. Texas - yeah, they are stacked too. Ole Miss - Great transfer Portal class, expectations are high, but does it translate to being great and the game is in the Swamp? I don't see this as an "automatic" for the Rebs / Land Sharks / Whatever the hell they are. LSU - Sliding down the overall rankings with defections. Heisman QB is gone. A defense in shambles, game is at UF. Again, I don't see this as an automatic "L" for the Gators by any means. FSU - Travis is gone, defensive studs went pro, many transfers. Game is in Tally. Pick em IMO. 0 - 5 NO, I don't think so. Of course so many things come into play. Injuries for sure, depth, Locker Room attitude, scandals, coaches leaving, players portaling. Who knows. I thought UF would best Vegas last year whom had us at 5.5. If not for a penalty on the FG against Arkansas UF would have. I'm taking the Gators and the over this year.
Until we win our first end of year game in the last two years Ill not argue with Vegas. One reason or another we have really stunk from mod October on...
We have to believe we are going to be measurably better. We should be. Seems that even if the schedule is as tough as expected we still win 6 minimum. I think if the staff is good and on their game we win 7 RS, maybe more. How often does Vegas miss these preseason predictions?
I believe Die. In fact we will surprise people, IMO. UF will go to a bowl this year. Interesting how Gator Podcast sites are suggesting an 8 - 4 UF record, with that schedule, may qualify for the 12th spot in the playoffs.
We beat Tennessee last year and lost to Arky. Probably the only deviation from Vegas. We will have to win as underdogs in many games to get to 7-8 wins. To do tgat, we are looking to portal players and young players to step up. We don’t have many returners who were studs last year. That’s a lot to ask in this league with our schedule. Let’s start by beating Miamis ass. Many look to this game as the biggest game but it’s not. All the games are big games and if we can’t beat Miami at home, there aren’t many others that we will be favored in and rightly so. Beat Miami by 10+ and the lines change on a handful of games in our favor.
