Overview
The Florida Gators kick off the 2022 season by hosting the #8 and 2021 Pac-12 champion Utah Utes here at the Swamp (7:00 ET). The Gators look to erase the memory of a disappointing 6-7 season where they went 2-6 in the SEC. The Gators allowed 26.8 points per game (#74) and managed to score 30.7 points per game (#49). By comparison, the Utes scored 36.1 points per game (#14) while allowing 26.0 (#46). Granted, these statistics were for last year's teams, which bodes well for Kyle Whittingham's squad as they return many of the same players and look to repeat as Pac-12 champions on the strength of their strong running game and disciplined run defense. Based on FPI, the Gators should lose 21-24. As long as the Gators stay healthy, they have the better talent, and theoretically they will apply that talent using more disciplined play under first-year head coach Billy Napier.
Utah has 6 preseason all-conference players: RB Tavion Thomas, TE Brant Kuithe, OL Braeden Daniels, DB Clark Philips, DB Cole Bishop, and DL Van Fillinger. QB Cam Rising was named to preseason second-team All-Pac-12. Florida has 1 preseason all-conference player: OL O'Cyrus Torrence. Florida DL Gervon Dexter abnd DE Brenton Cox were named to the preseason second-team All-SEC, and DB Trey Dean and LB Ventrell Miller were named to the third-team all-conference.
Trenches
The Gators are larger in the trenches by 15 pounds on offense and 10 pounds on defense. The Gator defense has a definite experience advantage, but that may be nullified by the fact they are all playing in new or redefined positions. Both teams are built to run and stop the run.
The Gator offensive line averages 321.4 pounds and 4.2 years experience.
The Ute offensive line averages 306.4 pounds and 3 years experience.
The Gator base defense will likely be 3-4-5. The defensive line averages 285.3 pounds, with the JACK linebacker augmenting. This unit averages 3.7 years of experience, but all of these positions have been redefined for the presumptive starters. The linebackers average 233.3 pounds including the JACK.
The Ute base defense is a 4-3-5 with all the athletes being sophomores or freshmen, with the notable exception of Florida transfer Mohamoud Diabate. The defensive line averages 276 pounds. The linebackers average 226.3 pounds.
Receivers and Secondary
The Gators are more experienced, larger, and more talented at the receiver positions. If Florida can work in transfer Ricky Pearsall off injury, he may be the X-factor. Utah is disciplined on both sides of the ball.
Florida's receivers are large and fast, but will be asked to block more under Napier.
Utah's receivers are rather small compared to their equivalents in the SEC, but they are capable.
Florida's secondary has a long way to go before reclaiming their title as DBU, but Corey Raymond has plenty of talent here to maximize the top-tier talent in this unit.
Utah's secondary is unheralded, but it returns all of its players from a top-20 scoring defense.
Backfield
The Gators have an excellent backfield on paper. The Utes have an excellent backfield that won a conference championship.
Florida has plenty of talent to choose from at running back, with the most talented back likely being the transfer from Louisiana, Montrell Johnson. QB Anthony Richardson has a lot of hype behind him. His playing style has been described as being a QB with the raw skill of Russell Wilson on the body frame of Tim Tebow.
The Utes have one of the best backfields in the nation despite the lack of blue chip attention out of high school or other FBS universities (for the transfers).
Overall
Utah is a 2.5 point favorite and the over/under is 51 points. Despite the FPI prediction of a 21-24 loss, I will go with a 21-14 victory for the Gators. If weather is a factor with a week of monsoon rains, then take the under because it will be hard for the teams to get 51 points in the rain. These teams are relatively even in skill. The visitors are likely more disciplined, but there are signs that Coach Napier has instilled a sense of discipline in this team to match Coach Whittingham's squad. The Utes will certainly need to play disciplined ball in what will be a loud, hostile crowd in a hot and humid (and potentially rainy) night in the Swamp.
The Florida Gators kick off the 2022 season by hosting the #8 and 2021 Pac-12 champion Utah Utes here at the Swamp (7:00 ET). The Gators look to erase the memory of a disappointing 6-7 season where they went 2-6 in the SEC. The Gators allowed 26.8 points per game (#74) and managed to score 30.7 points per game (#49). By comparison, the Utes scored 36.1 points per game (#14) while allowing 26.0 (#46). Granted, these statistics were for last year's teams, which bodes well for Kyle Whittingham's squad as they return many of the same players and look to repeat as Pac-12 champions on the strength of their strong running game and disciplined run defense. Based on FPI, the Gators should lose 21-24. As long as the Gators stay healthy, they have the better talent, and theoretically they will apply that talent using more disciplined play under first-year head coach Billy Napier.
Utah has 6 preseason all-conference players: RB Tavion Thomas, TE Brant Kuithe, OL Braeden Daniels, DB Clark Philips, DB Cole Bishop, and DL Van Fillinger. QB Cam Rising was named to preseason second-team All-Pac-12. Florida has 1 preseason all-conference player: OL O'Cyrus Torrence. Florida DL Gervon Dexter abnd DE Brenton Cox were named to the preseason second-team All-SEC, and DB Trey Dean and LB Ventrell Miller were named to the third-team all-conference.
Trenches
The Gators are larger in the trenches by 15 pounds on offense and 10 pounds on defense. The Gator defense has a definite experience advantage, but that may be nullified by the fact they are all playing in new or redefined positions. Both teams are built to run and stop the run.
The Gator offensive line averages 321.4 pounds and 4.2 years experience.
The Ute offensive line averages 306.4 pounds and 3 years experience.
The Gator base defense will likely be 3-4-5. The defensive line averages 285.3 pounds, with the JACK linebacker augmenting. This unit averages 3.7 years of experience, but all of these positions have been redefined for the presumptive starters. The linebackers average 233.3 pounds including the JACK.
The Ute base defense is a 4-3-5 with all the athletes being sophomores or freshmen, with the notable exception of Florida transfer Mohamoud Diabate. The defensive line averages 276 pounds. The linebackers average 226.3 pounds.
Receivers and Secondary
The Gators are more experienced, larger, and more talented at the receiver positions. If Florida can work in transfer Ricky Pearsall off injury, he may be the X-factor. Utah is disciplined on both sides of the ball.
Florida's receivers are large and fast, but will be asked to block more under Napier.
Utah's receivers are rather small compared to their equivalents in the SEC, but they are capable.
Florida's secondary has a long way to go before reclaiming their title as DBU, but Corey Raymond has plenty of talent here to maximize the top-tier talent in this unit.
Utah's secondary is unheralded, but it returns all of its players from a top-20 scoring defense.
Backfield
The Gators have an excellent backfield on paper. The Utes have an excellent backfield that won a conference championship.
Florida has plenty of talent to choose from at running back, with the most talented back likely being the transfer from Louisiana, Montrell Johnson. QB Anthony Richardson has a lot of hype behind him. His playing style has been described as being a QB with the raw skill of Russell Wilson on the body frame of Tim Tebow.
The Utes have one of the best backfields in the nation despite the lack of blue chip attention out of high school or other FBS universities (for the transfers).
Overall
Utah is a 2.5 point favorite and the over/under is 51 points. Despite the FPI prediction of a 21-24 loss, I will go with a 21-14 victory for the Gators. If weather is a factor with a week of monsoon rains, then take the under because it will be hard for the teams to get 51 points in the rain. These teams are relatively even in skill. The visitors are likely more disciplined, but there are signs that Coach Napier has instilled a sense of discipline in this team to match Coach Whittingham's squad. The Utes will certainly need to play disciplined ball in what will be a loud, hostile crowd in a hot and humid (and potentially rainy) night in the Swamp.
Last edited:
