Florida takes on the Hurricanes in Orlando on Saturday in the first matchup between the two teams since 2013. Football writers Sam Campisano, Dylan Rudolph, Kyle Wood and Tyler Nettuno give their predictions for the game below.
Sam Campisano
Prediction: Florida 34, Miami 21.
Ah, good old preseason college football predictions. What could possibly go wrong?
I fully expect Florida to beat Miami on Saturday in Orlando. In fact, I expect them to cover the seven-point spread. Florida 34, Miami 21. Famous last words, right?
Redshirt freshman quarterback Jarren Williams is making his first career start on Saturday against the Gators. A top-10 team. On national television. At a neutral site.
Where have we seen that before?
Feleipe Franks debuted two years ago under very similar circumstances against Michigan. Franks struggled in that game. UF’s offense failed to score a touchdown and the team lost 33-17.
I’m not saying Jarren Williams is Feleipe Franks, but I am saying his lack of experience will probably hurt him against a strong UF defensive unit (No. 6 in total defense in the SEC last year).
Expect high nerves and a few mistakes early in the game. Miami will keep pace with UF in the first half, but the Gators’ superior talent will ultimately prevail. Florida will pick up right where it left off at the end of last season.
@samcampisano
scampisano@alligator.org
Dylan Rudolph
Prediction: 19-9 Florida
College football fans who are expecting a high-flying shootout to start their season will be sorely disappointed on Saturday.
Just as any other matchup this early in the season, both teams will test different lineups and rotations to work through problems and find out what they have for the rest of the season.
Florida will try to dink and dunk its way down the field with short routes and quick dropbacks from quarterback Feleipe Franks against a talented, but young, Miami secondary. At the same time, the Hurricanes will attempt to establish the run and allow redshirt freshman quarterback Jarren Williams, who played in just one game last year, to develop some comfort in the pocket.
The two teams will use the contest to build confidence while trying to limit turnovers and bad field position, but it won’t result in much scoring as both will struggle to punch it in the redzone. Florida, in particular, may have a hard time scoring close to the goal line in large part due to an inexperienced offensive line that may struggle to get a push against a sturdy UM defensive line. Both teams’ kickers will be busy, but the Gators will edge out Miami mostly due to a better grasp of their scheme compared to UM, which is entering its first year under new head coach Manny Diaz.
Florida by 10 thanks to sophomore kicker Evan McPherson’s leg.
@dyrudolph
Kyle Wood
Prediction: 27-13 Florida
Months of speculation and Twitter banter by fans of two of the state’s premiere programs will be put to rest on the field at Camping World Stadium on Saturday night. Miami and Florida both had busy offseasons, to say the least, in very different ways.
Regardless of UF’s departures, and UM’s additions by retention, the Gators will be the better team in this Week 0 clash, and it will show. Feleipe Franks’ growth as a passer and the safety net that is his talented, deep receiving corps will be a saving grace if the Hurricanes’ pass rush can bully the Gators’ inexperienced offensive line.
Conversely, Miami is putting its faith in redshirt freshman quarterback Jarren Williams. Granted, Williams also has talented targets to help him out in his starting debut, but their depth is not comparable to Florida’s.
Both teams have strong defenses, it’s the advantage UF has offensively that will be the difference in this game. Miami had the defense of a top-25 team last season, but the offensive prowess wasn’t there. Maybe Williams will be the one to lead the Hurricanes out of their offensive slump, but I don’t expect that renaissance to begin Saturday night.
@Kkylewood
Kwood@alligator.org
Tyler Nettuno
Prediction: 31-17 Florida
The kickoff of the 150th season of college football will be a spectacle fitting for the state of the game midway through its second century.
The matchup — played in Orlando and televised by ESPN — is essentially Disney’s wet dream. I mean, come on. They’re hosting College GameDay at the Magic Kingdom, an event which costs a full $100 to attend and is 21.3 miles from the damn stadium (seriously, don’t say I didn’t warn you when fans are stuck in I-4 traffic at kickoff).
But behind the veil of commercialism lies an intriguing matchup between the Gators and ‘Canes. Florida’s players have been talking trash all summer, and for good reason. They ended the season with as much momentum as you can ask for.
But Miami presents a challenge for UF, especially its front seven. If that unit feels disrespected by all the chatter (as it probably should), the UM defense will come out with high energy.
The Gators shouldn’t underestimate the danger they face in the Hurricanes’ vicious defense. Florida has to replace four offensive line starters from a year ago, and Miami will look to put the pressure on quarterback Feleipe Franks early and often.
But Franks has a stable of talented skill position players to get the ball to, such as running back Lamical Perine and receivers Van Jefferson and Trevon Grimes. Their speed will allow Florida enough explosive plays to pull away from a gassed Miami defense in the second half despite a slow start, and redshirt freshman quarterback Jarren Williams — making his first career start — won’t be able to keep up.
@TylerNettuno
tnettuno@alligator.org
The Gators and 'Canes played annually from 1944-1987. They've played six times since then, with UM taking every game except for a 26-3 Florida win in 2008.
