My very early 2023 SEC Football Predictions

You think teams are going to walk away from the yearly $100M conference payouts because the football scheduling is imbalanced? I'm not holding my breath.

 

While FSU gets to 10 wins again by playing an unranked, 6-6 team in their bowl game.

 

And barely eeking out the win….

 

That would be a disaster, due to the impact it would have on recruiting. Making it ever harder to turn things around.Which could leave us looking at a much longer and more painful set of seasons, or another ride on the coaching merry go round.

 

Not even gonna think about it.

 

UF will do very well in 2023. 8-4ish. Last 2 years were our 1979. We are clearly in the ascendancy now. And in 2024, we are NCAA Title relevant.

 

It's hard when none of your 200 staff members understand what special teams are.
But you can bet Beamer does.

 

I think if we're not at least 9-4 and contending for the east by the UGa game, we're in real trouble. Year 2 is crucial to the program, because it shows progress and success. A first-year coach can get the benefit of the doubt, but if we end up with a season close to this one, I think the 2024 class falls apart and ends up a lot like this one -- good but not the great one we think is coming. What helps recruiting is winning, and unless we have something to sell, then the top players don't come.

I know people think we have to give a new coach time, but the reality is we only have four seasons with player -- five for those who redshirt. The very best players we only have for three, and that's assuming they don't get frustrated and leave after two or one.

I'm predicting second in the East behind UGa. I think we beat UT at home, but lose to Utah out west. So we'll go into UGa with the chance to win the East, then lose to them and lose another stupid game. I'm not overly confident in this prediction, but it's what needs to happen if we're going to have a successful run under Napier, so I'm hopeful this is what happens.

 

We smoked them last year so I’m not scared of a beamer

 

I like your picks and would say 5-3 in the SEC would be a major improvement. Not sure I see anything better than 4-4 ( even that would be improvement).

 

Couldn’t agree with you more about time given. Coming in to win Year 3 is not advisable anywhere and we have plenty of examples of coaches winning in their first year. Recruiting will definitely suffer at 6-6 or 5-7 next year.

 

If we get to 8 wins next year, Napier has overachieved. No online or qb and we expect a good year? A historically bad defense. We need some miracles to beat good teams.

 

Don’t disagree but he’s got to show progress. Biggest problem I see beyond defense overall Is o line, which was our strength- ugh.

 

Same DC 6/6/ 5/7 improved defense possible 8/4.

 

And a qb that has never started unless it’s Mertz. Great qb play can win some games but I doubt we have that coming our way next year. We have nothing proven to be good except our rb’s and they can’t do much unless they have an offense in front of them. I expect progress but o had higher hopes for this past season as far as roster goes. We could be very young which could bode well for the future but next year not so much.

 

So who do you see UGA and UT losing to?

 

It’s all about the D. Need portal to stay laser focused on the defensive side of the ball. On O, need the QB to throw for 22-25 TD’s and 4 or less INT’s. 3rd down efficiency and INT’s were the root of our issues against teams we should have beat (KY, LSU, Vandy, FSU).

 

Gators finish their first undefeated season and win their fourth national championship.

We embarrass Kirby Smart into retirement.

Book it.

 

Thanks for putting in the "But we could easily end up 6-6 again".

I respect you loyalty to the Gators and you ability to look at the reality.

I took a look at the 2022 Roster and I noted the following on the players on that roster:

• 19 players are heading out via the Portal
• 1 player is gone for disciplinary/legal reasons
• 6 are going to the NFL Draft
• 9 are going due to graduation.
• A total 35 players are off the roster of 124 players are leaving or have left the team

One the bright side:

• We have 20 on the 2023 signee class.
• 4 transfers coming in for the 2023 roster.
• A total of 24 player listed as coming into UF.
• We need to pick up 11 players to fill the roster.

Hopefully, both the Portal and the NIL Gator Cooperative will be kind to the Gators in the next six months.

 

We already have more talent than the last 2 years. As much as i love AR, i think we have better(consistent) qb play whoever it is. I think 8-9 wins is possible.