Predicting the Florida Gators' Next 5 Games

Step one: Beat Florida Atlantic and UAB to a pulp. Done. 

Step two: Defeat Tennessee for the seventh straight time. Done.

Step three: Take your game on the road.

Besides Kellen Moore, Tyler Bray was the hottest quarterback in the nation coming into Week 3. You wouldn’t think so watching last week’s game. The Florida defense hurried him, knocked him down, frustrated him and forced two interceptions. They also stopped the running game cold. Tauren Poole came into the game with 98- and 101-yard performances under his belt and was held to 18 yards on nine carries. The return of DE Sharrif Floyd was a welcome one and the Gator defense can now claim the No. 1 rush defense in the nation at 30.7 yards per game.

They looked explosive on offense and Chris Rainey was literally everywhere. He accrued 233 total yards including 100 yards on the ground and in the air. He blocked a punt that led to a Caleb Sturgis field goal and was a real momentum-changer. If anyone wants to beat Florida, they are going to have to figure out how to stop him and that’s a lot easier said than done.

Florida did commit 16 penalties that gave Tennessee 150 extra yards. They will need to improve in this area before they go into a brutal stretch of October games. Alabama, LSU, Auburn and Georgia lie ahead and I’m here to preview each of them.  

September 24th at Kentucky

It is tough to play anywhere on the road in the SEC and Kentucky is no exception. Last season, the Wildcats nearly took down eventual national champion Auburn and upset 10^th-seeded South Carolina. This season their roster is a little different and they are coming off a loss to in-state rival Louisville.

The Cardinals showed Florida that Kentucky is vulnerable to the big pass, as each of the three touchdowns in the air came from 25 yards and beyond. They also showed them that Kentucky’s run game is very capable to stop as they exploded in their first two games but were held to 35 yards against the Cardinals. Stopping the running game will put the pressure on Morgan Newton to perform and he will fail, as Bray did.

If history continues to repeat itself, Florida should have little trouble in this game, as they have won 24 consecutive games over Kentucky. Trey Burton returns for an encore performance of his six-TD game last season and John Brantley threw for a career-high 248 yards in their 48-14 win.

Florida wins 31-7.

October 1st vs. Alabama

Much like Florida, the Crimson Tide have done everything they are supposed to do so far. Their first test lies Saturday against the high-powered offense of Arkansas led by Tyler Wilson and Ronnie Wingo Jr. To win this game, Florida is going to have to get to AJ McCarron early and often and force him to make mistakes. McCarron is the superior player in the dual-QB Alabama offense. If/when Philip Sims gets his chance to play, they must pounce on him.

Chances are likely that the tumultuous Alabama defense will stifle the Florida offense and slow them down from their usual pace, but I feel they are up for the challenge. Defense and special teams will play an enormous role. Rainey will need to make something happen in the punting game and Florida will win on a Caleb Sturgis field goal.

Florida wins 24-21. 

October 8th at LSU

Jordan Jefferson stomping someone out in a bar fight and getting suspended has been the best thing to happen to Les Miles all season. The blessing in disguise has brought new life to QB Jarrett Lee. Lee has thrown for 444 yards through three games and is completing 67.8 percent of his passes. Ruben Randle has stepped up as a go-to receiver and the running game of Spencer Ware and Michael Ford is consistently producing. They have been tested early and often so far and have succeeded each time. Their defense is stingy and has stopped the likes of Darron Thomas, LaMichael James, Chris Relf and Vick Ballard.

Pending the outcome of the Alabama game, this may be a must-win situation for the Gators. Through three games the LSU defense is averaging 47.7 rush yards per game and 207.7 total yards per game, good for third and sixth in the nation. Their power may be too much for Florida down in the bayou. Rainey and Demps will have their hands full and will need some special plays. Crazier things have happened. 

LSU wins 23-20. 

October 15th at Auburn

Auburn’s 17-game win streak has come to an end. They have dropped from the AP Top 25 and have proven to be very vulnerable and inconsistent. Clemson racked up 624 yards against the Tigers and overcame an early 14-0 deficit. Auburn’s rush defense is currently averaging 266 yards per game, good for 116^th in the nation (out of 120 FBS teams).

The Florida run game spells disaster for the defending national champs despite the fact they will be on their home turf. Barring a complete defensive makeover by Gene Chizik in the coming month, Florida takes this one big.

Florida wins 34-14.

October 29th vs. Georgia

This late-season battle in the SEC East will be a determining factor in who represents the SEC East in the conference championship. Aaron Murray and Company have broken out of their early season slump after crushing Coastal Carolina 59-0. They showed us their offense can score against South Carolina but their defense came up short. Freshman phenom Isaiah Crowell is slowly adhering to the big-game atmospheres and by the time this game comes around, he will be ready to take on the Gators' powerful defense.

However, with Crowell’s growth comes Florida growth as well. This game is over a month away and barring any losses, the Gators will be in their best shape yet and will be looking to put the nail in the coffin on the SEC East.

Florida stole one away from Georgia last season in overtime and knocked the Bulldogs under .500 for the season. Nothing was short of amazing as punter Chas Henry stepped in for an injured Caleb Sturgis and saved the Gators with a 37-yard field goal to win it. The freshman Aaron Murray threw three interceptions and accounted for four total turnovers in the game as Florida fought off a second-half comeback. Expect the same raucous environment and momentum swings in this storied rivalry as Florida prevails by a field goal.

Florida wins 31-28.