Game Thread ***OFFICIAL GAME THREAD: UF vs Utah***

[MJMGator]

Utah will probably be a solid favorite, maybe by a TD or thereabouts. But preseason rankings really aren't much more than mental masturbation when you get right down to it and being in the top ten almost five months out means doodly squat. I'm not calling the "upset" (at least for now) but I wouldn't be shocked if we pulled it off. Much depends on how hard these kids work during the summer and how we fare in the portal. In the fullness of time, all will be revealed.

I wouldn’t be shocked if we win, but I wouldn’t lay money in it either.

 

[oxrageous]

I think AR15 is going to light Utah up. The Utes will not only be melting, the crowd is going to be absolutely deafening.

It's going to be a great opening win to the Napier era.

 

[Gator By Marriage]

I think AR15 is going to light Utah up. The Utes will not only be melting, the crowd is going to be absolutely deafening.

It's going to be a great opening win to the Napier era.

If it’s a 3:30 or 4 o’clock start (or God forbid for the Utes an even earlier one); it’s going to be interesting to watch.

 

[TN G8tr]

I think the UTES are going to experience many things they have not encountered as a team from the MWC:

Obviously the humidity.
Opening first game on the road and with expectations perhaps a bit of overconfidence?
Hostile environment.
Napier's first game.
And AR15

It will be an environment they have never been in before.

 

[Sec14Gator]

Utah will probably be a solid favorite, maybe by a TD or thereabouts.

I don’t expect either team to be favored by more than 1-2 points.

 

[oxrageous]

I don’t expect either team to be favored by more than 1-2 points.

UF will be favored. Zero question about that.

 

[GatorJB]

Utah will probably be a solid favorite, maybe by a TD or thereabouts. But preseason rankings really aren't much more than mental masturbation when you get right down to it and being in the top ten almost five months out means doodly squat. I'm not calling the "upset" (at least for now) but I wouldn't be shocked if we pulled it off. Much depends on how hard these kids work during the summer and how we fare in the portal. In the fullness of time, all will be revealed.

I think they return a lot of key players from last year, so I don't think it's a stretch to consider them a top 10 team. This is a tough home opener for sure, but I like it. Usually, when you play a cupcake to start off, you don't know how good you are. We'll know exactly how we measure up with the rest of the coubtry by the end of the game. I feel pretty confident that if we win this game, we finish the season in the top 10.

It'll also be a good game. Should be exciting til the end. It's a tough matchup for both sides. Glad we have home field advantage this year.

 

[Back Alley Gator]

UF will be favored. Zero question about that.

By whom? Vegas?

 

[soflagator]

By whom? Vegas?

Yes. The pathetic little Mitt Romney’s are bringing their gang to Gainesville thinking they have a chance in the September heat. Sad! It won’t be close. Gators win big. Believe me!

 

[Loogis]

I think I read somewhere they lost some key people on defense

 

[oxrageous]

By whom? Vegas?

Yes. Let me guess, you have a pessimistic view of this game.

UF gets tons of points for a home game - it's extremely rare they are an underdog at home. Utah being favored in Gainesville is laughable.

 

[Back Alley Gator]

Yes. Let me guess, you have a pessimistic view of this game.

UF gets tons of points for a home game - it's extremely rare they are an underdog at home. Utah being favored in Gainesville is laughable.

No...I think we have a very good chance of pulling the upset. I don't think we will be favored because I expect Utah will be ranked in the top 15 and for us to be unranked. I don't think any oddsmakers will put that matchup in our favor. But I think we have more going for us than will be evident. I think it will be a close game and we should win. But I'm a gator fan and I don't expect professional oddsmakers to view the game with my same orange and blue glasses.

 

[Sec14Gator]

UF gets tons of points for a home game - it's extremely rare they are an underdog at home.

There is little fun on this board when agreeing with Ox, but since 2003, UF has been a home dog only 17 times. That includes 13 years under the fantastic four of zoom, mush, macelwain and danno.

 

[lizardbreath]

Yes. Let me guess, you have a pessimistic view of this game.

UF gets tons of points for a home game - it's extremely rare they are an underdog at home. Utah being favored in Gainesville is laughable.

 

[Brooks]

I think AR15 is going to light Utah up. The Utes will not only be melting, the crowd is going to be absolutely deafening.

It's going to be a great opening win to the Napier era.

I agree with this assessment. After watching them in person yesterday, this is a good Gator football team we have here. The coaches seem to actually know what they are doing, the kids are getting coached for once. It was refreshing.
Utah isn't going to be used to the crowd noise and the Florida humidity. We are going to run it down their throat. If AR is healthy and starting that day, forget it. Utah won't stand a chance. It'll probably be like a 31-14 spanking.

 

[lizardbreath]

No...I think we have a very good chance of pulling the upset. I don't think we will be favored because I expect Utah will be ranked in the top 15 and for us to be unranked. I don't think any oddsmakers will put that matchup in our favor. But I think we have more going for us than will be evident. I think it will be a close game and we should win. But I'm a gator fan and I don't expect professional oddsmakers to view the game with my same orange and blue glasses.

 

[ThreatMatrix]

Rankings mean just about nothing.

 

[Gator By Marriage]

This is a tough home opener for sure, but I like it. Usually, when you play a cupcake to start off, you don't know how good you are. We'll know exactly how we measure up with the rest of the coubtry by the end of the game.

I recall reading an interview of Saban where he said he always preferred to start the season against a highly ranked team. He said it gave the team something to focus on all off season as opposed to opening against a G-5 or FCS team.

 

[Brooks]

We will stick Marshall on their best WR Vele. They have Lakeland Lake Gibson's all-time leading rusher True Freshman Jaylon Glover at RB. He's got good size and that's probably the biggest threat. Maybe they can run the ball on us a little bit. Other than that I don't think Rising has enough weapons to outgun us.

 

[CGgater]

UF will be favored. Zero question about that.

What if AR gets suspended for the opener? How much does that change your prediction? Because I didn’t see anyone close to being a solid “next man up.”