College Football 2011: The Florida Gators' Game-by-Game Schedule Breakdown
Last season was certainly one to forget for Florida Gator football fans.
After an 8-5 season and a 4-4 mark in the SEC, people are questioning how this team will respond on the field in 2010.
But with a new coach and a highly-touted freshman class on the way, 2011 could be a special year for the Gators.
We all know the SEC Conference is traditionally the best in all of college football. It will be stacked yet again next year, but how will Florida fare against the SEC powerhouses? Will they be able to go undefeated in their non-conference games?
Let's take a look at Florida's 2011 schedule, and give you a game-by-game breakdown for the Gators.
Week 1: Florida Atlantic Owls
1 of 12
2010 Review: 4-8 (3-5 Sun Belt Conference)
Where: Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, Gainesville, Fla.
Preview: This in-state battle shouldn't be much of a fight when it is all said and done.
While Florida finished the season with an inspiring 37-24 victory over Penn State in the Outback Bowl, Florida Atlantic finished 2010 with three straight loses, including a 44-7 trouncing against Troy in the season finale.
This game should give people an early idea of who the Gators are going to go with at the quarterback position. But in reality, Florida could stick in a high school quarterback and still win this contest.
Prediction: Florida 38, Florida Atlantic 21
Week 2: UAB Blazers
2 of 12
2010 Review: 4-8 (3-5 Conference USA)
Where: Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, Gainesville, Fla.
Preview: This game should be another early-season gimme for the Florida Gators.
UAB is a school that relies on the pass, and they do have a solid quarterback in Bryan Ellis. But realistically, this is a Florida defense that is far too fast for UAB players to handle.
This could be one of those games that remain close in the first half, but look for Florida to pull away after that. By this game's end, we should know which Florida quarterback has established himself as the every-day starter.
Prediction: Florida 31, UAB 20
Week 3: Tennessee Volunteers
3 of 12
2010 Review: 6-7 (3-5 SEC)
Where: Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, Gainesville, Fla.
Preview: This will be the first true test of the season as the Gators open up SEC play.
These two teams also met in the SEC opener last year, and it resulted in a 31-17 victory for Florida. This year should be another slug-fest between these two schools.
Tennessee should be an improved, experienced group this fall. On offense, they are led by tailback Tauren Poole, who had a breakout season last year, rushing for more than 1,000 yards and a team-high 11 touchdowns on the ground.
On the other end, Florida will counter with a talented running back of their own in speedster Jeffrey Demps, who is believed by many to be the fastest player in college football.
We know the running games will be there, but whatever team is able to establish the passing game may very well make the difference in this SEC opener.
Prediction: Florida 27, Tennessee 20
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Week 4: Kentucky Wildcats
4 of 12
2010 Review: 6-7 (2-6 SEC)
Where: Commonwealth Stadium, Lexington, Ky.
Preview: Last year when these two teams met in Florida, the Gators routed Kentucky 48-14 in a blowout victory.
That was a Kentucky team that had a lot of senior talent. This year might be a rough one for the Wildcats, who lose a lot of talent on the offensive side of the ball.
Florida, on the other hand, returns a lot of talent and should be coming into their own at this point in the season. Look for this one to be another route, and the Gators to start off the 2011 season with a nice 4-0 mark.
Prediction: Florida 34, Kentucky 17
Week 5: Alabama Crimson Tide
5 of 12
2010 Review: 10-3 (5-3 SEC)
Where: Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, Gainesville, Fla.
Preview: The good thing for the Gators is that this game will be played in front of their home crowd. The bad news is Alabama should be a really good team again in 2011.
The Crimson Tide did lose a lot of talent to the NFL Draft, but they have some studs that will be coming in next year to fill those voids. One thing is for sure when talking about these two SEC schools: there will be a ton of speed on the field in this game.
Look for Florida to make this more competitive than their 31-6 loss to the Tide last year. But in the end, Alabama is just too tough.
Prediction: Alabama 28, Florida 20
Week 6: LSU Tigers
6 of 12
2010 Review: 11-2 (6-2 SEC)
Where: Tiger Stadium, Baton Rouge, La.
Preview: This could be one of the best games of the 2011 SEC season.
Many have said that next year could be LSU's year to win a National Championship. While the Tigers will be stacked with talent, they have to find a way to replace some very important pieces, including key defenders Patrick Peterson and Drake Nevis.
Both of these teams like to rely on their run game, and that should be the case again in this matchup. The key here will be to see which team's defense can step up to the occasion and stop the run.
Prediction: LSU 31, Florida 28
Week 7: Auburn Tigers
7 of 12
2010 Review: 14-0 (8-0 SEC)
Where: Jordan-Hare Stadium, Auburn, Ala.
Preview: The defending National Champions will host the Gators in this Oct. 15 matchup.
Auburn lost a ton of talent from this past year, including obvious names such as Cam Newton and Nick Fairley. With that said, this team isn't going to be nearly as good as it was in 2010.
When looking at this matchup, Florida will run their offense through speedsters like Demps and Trey Burton, while Auburn will rely on their all-purpose back Michael Dyer. We can expect a lot of rushing yards to be put up on the board in this one.
In the end, Auburn has the home advantage, which gives them a slight edge in this SEC showdown.
Prediction: Auburn 31, Florida 30
Week 8: Georgia Bulldogs
8 of 12
2010 Review: 6-7 (3-5 SEC)
Where: EverBank Field, Jacksonville, Fla.
Preview: Just when you thought the schedule would finally take a turn for the Gators, they instead get to play against a Georgia team that should be very improved in 2011.
Both of these schools had off-years last season, but it should be a different story next year. Georgia has a young quarterback in Aaron Murray, who could be a Heisman Trophy winner when his college career is finished.
But after playing two straight road games against tough opponents, and then getting a week off, the Gators should be ready for this game. Look for this to be a signature victory for Florida.
Prediction: Florida 35, Georgia 28
Week 9: Vanderbilt Commodores
9 of 12
2010 Review: 2-10 (1-7 SEC)
Where: Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, Gainesville, Fla.
Preview: Finally, a game that shouldn't push the Gators to the wire.
Vanderbilt is a team that has traditionally struggled in SEC play as of late. The Commodores managed just one conference win last year, and that came against Ole Miss. The team is led by quarterback Larry Smith, who should be improved in 2011.
When Florida and Vanderbilt played in 2010, the Gators thumped the Commodores by 41. Look for the story to be much the same next year.
Prediction: Florida 45, Vanderbilt 17
Week 10: South Carolina Gamecocks
10 of 12
2010 Review: 9-5 (5-3 SEC)
Where: Williams-Brice Stadium, Columbia, S.C.
Preview: There might not be a more explosive offense in all of football next year than that of South Carolina.
Stephen Garcia, Marcus Lattimore and Alshon Jeffrey are all three of the best players in the country at their respective positions. Add to that a solid defense that is going to get a jolt with one of the top recruiting classes in the country, and South Carolina could very well be a National Championship contender in 2011.
Florida has the team speed to compete with South Carolina, but the Gamecocks will have just too much talent to lose this home game.
Prediction: South Carolina 49, Florida 31
Week 11: Furman Paladins
11 of 12
2010 Review: 5-6 (3-5 Southern)
Where: Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, Gainesville, Fla.
Preview: First of all, what is a Paladin?
Second, why did Florida even schedule this game?
As bad a year as it was for Florida last year, they will be back this season, and they will make sure to not let this game be any type of slip-up. Look for Florida's offense to be explosive in this one and have a breakout game heading into the final couple weeks of the season.
Prediction: Florida 55, Furman 10
Week 12: Florida State Seminoles
12 of 12
2010 Review: 10-4 (6-2 ACC)
Where: Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, Gainesville, Fla.
Preview: Florida State cruised to a 31-7 blowout victory in this in-state rivalry last season.
The bad news for the Gators is that the Seminoles should be even better in 2011. The good news is the Gators should be much-improved as well.
In last year's game, the Gators failed to get any type of offense going, while Florida State picked Florida's secondary apart. It looks like Florida State will be a more run-oriented team this season, which should make this game interesting.
Look for this to be a close one, but Florida State could potentially be playing for a BCS game by this point, and that will motivate them even more to leave Gainesville with a victory.
Prediction: Florida State 35, Florida 27
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