Here is my view of UF's path to a bid:
Nov. 5: Tampa (exhibition), 2 p.m.
This one does not count, but will be fun to watch. UF record after this one is 0-0.
Nov. 13: Gardner-Webb
UF better open with a win. 1-0.
Nov. 16: North Florida
UF gets a second win. 2-0.
Nov. 19: New Hampshire
UF gets its 3rd win against so-so competition. 3-0.
Nov. 23-26: PK80 Invitational (Portland, Ore.)
UF v. Stanford UF gets a win against a power conference team. 4-0
UF v. Zags or Ohio State Likely Zags, wins this time 5-0.
UF v. Butler, Duke, Texas or Portland State Likely Duke and UF probably loses to Duke 5-1.
Dec. 4: Florida State
UF finally gets FSU, 6-1.
Dec. 6: Loyola-Chicago
UF beats another non-power conference team. 7-1.
Dec. 9: Cincinnati (Never Forget Tribute Classic, Newark, N.J.)
This is a battle of two good defensive teams, UF the one with the better offense wins, 8-1.
Dec. 16: Clemson (Orange Bowl Classic, Sunrise, Fla.)
UF beats an middle of the road power conference team. 9-1.
Dec. 20: James Madison
UF beats another non-power conference foe. 10-1.
Dec. 22: Incarnate Word
Another lower level opponent UF beats. 11-1.
Dec. 30: Vanderbilt
UF finally wins Vandy, maybe in another close one. 12-1, 1-0 in the SEC.
Jan. 2: at Texas A&M
UF loses a tough game at a tough place, 12-2, 1-1.
Jan. 6: at Missouri
UF beats a young UMo team with a lot of talent. 13-2, 2-1.
Jan. 10: Mississippi State
Another battle of defensive teams ala last year and UF win with the better offense. 14-2, 3-1.
Jan. 13: at Ole Miss
UF gets a road win at Mississippi. 15-3, 4-1.
Jan. 17: Arkansas
UF gets a tough home win as they did last year against UAR. 16-3, 5-1
Jan. 20: at Kentucky
UF loses at UK as usual. 16-4, 5-2
Jan. 24: South Carolina
UF beats SoCar at home as UF did last year. 17-4, 6-2
Jan. 27: Baylor (SEC/Big 12 Challenge)
UF wins this one at home. 18-4, 6-2
Jan. 30: at Georgia
UF beats the Dogs. 19-4, 7-2
Feb. 3: Alabama
UF beats a young but talented UAL team at home. 20-4, 8-2
Feb. 7: LSU
UF beats LSU wiith a new coach and not much talent yet. 21-4, 9-2
Feb. 10: at South Carolina
Frank Martin uglies it up enough to win at home. 21-5, 9-3
Feb. 14: Georgia
Another UGa game UF needs to win as the schedule gets tough. 22-5, 10-3.
Feb. 17: at Vanderbilt
Vandy gets UF in the 2nd game in their confusing arena. 22-6, 10-4.
Feb. 21: at Tennessee
This is tough game for me to pick. So give it to UTn. 22-7, 10-5.
Feb. 24: Auburn
UF handles an improving AU team at home. 23-7, 11-5.
Feb. 27: at Alabama
UF gets a road win against a good but young team. 24-7, 12-5.
March 3: Kentucky
UF handles UK at home as usual. 25-7, 13-5.
March 7-11: SEC Tournament (St. Louis)
UF goes 2-1 to finish 27-8 and earn a top 4 seed.
The key to me is getting through the Phil Knight event with only 1 loss.
I like doing this each year so see if UF is ahead or behind where I thought they should be. That way I do not get too excited or too down as there will be ups and downs in 35 game pre-NCAA season.