Utah (-2.5) at Florida: Saturday, Sept. 3

Florida hasn't been an underdog at home versus a non-conference opponent since it was a five-point dog vs. Florida State in 2017. And according to ESPN's Chris Fallica, the last time the Gators were home underdogs in a non-conference game against anybody other than Florida State was way back in 1986 vs. Miami.

To open the Billy Napier era, though, the Gators are 2.5-point underdogs in Gainesville against Utah, the reigning Pac-12 champions.

The Utes played like a top-10 team over the second half of the 2021 season while the Gators collapsed in the final days of the Dan Mullen era. How quickly can Napier put his stamp on the way Florida plays? His teams at Louisiana were simultaneously creative and physical. At Florida he has an electric quarterback in Anthony Richardson, so that's a good place to start.

The blistering heat and humidity tip the scales in the Gators favor. I skip that game because its so hot and humid. Miserable.

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"One of the reasons why propaganda tries to get you to hate government is because it's the one existing institution in which people can participate to some extent and constrain tyrannical unaccountable power." Noam Chomsky.

I sold my UF/Miami ticket in '86 for like $100. Lot of money to me back then. Went straight to the beach.

Should be interesting game!

Napier's first game as head coach so Utah probably won't know what to expect. da swamp is nasty in September. I've sat in that stadium for both a gator fan and a UCF fan in early games and it is not fun to be in....unless you are winning.

And now they serve beer. Makes it even worse.

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"One of the reasons why propaganda tries to get you to hate government is because it's the one existing institution in which people can participate to some extent and constrain tyrannical unaccountable power." Noam Chomsky.

Trivia department: the airboat was invented in Utah.

wtf johnny

WTF!!!

Seriously, this post is odd and off subject, even for you!




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"Most people would die sooner than think; in fact, they do." - Bertrand Russell


"Morality is doing what is right, regardless of what you are told. Religion is doing what you are told, regardless of what is right.


If I do not answer you .... nothing personal, I just have you on ignore.

Edited: 07/24/2022 at 10:20 AM by LBLarry

There is some muted talk amongst the gator nation that can only be described as wishful optimism. They are saying that the gators are the sleeper team this preseason and Napier is going to come out very strong with a punch in the nose for Utah victory in a close game where Richardson showcases his accuracy and talent that gives them a 10 win season. Consistent with their long and proud history, they will beat teams that they do not belong on the same field with and will lose to at least one team that is very close to community college. They will shine early, suffer huge injuries, suffer transfers and make a bowl game days before Christmas that no one, not even them, really cares about.

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"One of the reasons why propaganda tries to get you to hate government is because it's the one existing institution in which people can participate to some extent and constrain tyrannical unaccountable power." Noam Chomsky.

Gators have a favorable schedule with 8 home games (including gator bowl). I'd love to see them go up to Knoxville and knock off the vols.

In BOLD are home games

Sep 3 SAT vs Utah 7pm ESPN
Sep 10 Sat vs Kentucky 7pm ESPN
Sep 17 Sat vs USF 7:30pm SEC Network
Sep 24 Sat AT Tennessee
Oct 1 Sat vs Eastern Washington
Oct 8 Sat vs Missouri
Oct 15 Sat vs LSU
Oct 29 Sat vs Georgia , Jacksonville
Nov 5 Sat AT Tamu
Nov 12 Sat vs South Carolina
Nov 19 Sat AT Vanderbilt
Nov 25 Fri AT FSU

I'll be there. After a summer of doing work on the farm, I am acclimated to hot and humid. We will see how Utah fares in that department in the 4th quarter. Hard to prepare for that, I'd think.

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I :heart; Q

I was at The Swamp on 9/11/1982 when the USC TrojEnz made their first trip to G'ville. September heat in full effect. Trojies brought their full compliment of sideline air conditioners, but were dropping like flies. UF won 17-9.

I remember sitting behind the visiting teams in Sept. Fla Field was below grade and had Astroturf. It was a death trap and you could see the players dieing. The Gators used to have the same advantage in basketball before the O-Dome. Kentucky and the other "northern" teams would come down and crush them in the first half only to wilt and make it a game in the second. Fla Gym was unairconditioned and a sweat box even in January.

Interesting

Any gator practice reports? I've been knee deep in UCF ones. Gators sounding good preseason?

NO thing is out of bounds for dubdub! pay attencion, lorenzo!!!

Very quiet from the gator camp. I don't know if that is disciplined information management or just plain nothing good to report.

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"One of the reasons why propaganda tries to get you to hate government is because it's the one existing institution in which people can participate to some extent and constrain tyrannical unaccountable power." Noam Chomsky.

"If you set your expectations low, you'll never be disappointed."

Hopefully they're just setting outside expectations that way ("rebuilding year") but will let their play on the field do all the talking.

It's hard to come out with any swagger after a season-ending loss, like last year's bowl game loss to their little brother down south.

UCF pretty much hit rock bottom with that bowl game loss to BYU the year before.

When you've reached rock bottom, there's nowhere to go but up.

That season is known as: The Radio Silent Season by CentroDavo




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"Most people would die sooner than think; in fact, they do." - Bertrand Russell


"Morality is doing what is right, regardless of what you are told. Religion is doing what you are told, regardless of what is right.


If I do not answer you .... nothing personal, I just have you on ignore.

Edited: 08/06/2022 at 10:57 AM by LBLarry

LOL, but still not as bad as when UCF was still a D-III school for which every away game was scheduled as their opponent's homecoming.

Who would schedule their first game of the season as homecoming? Any school if UCF was coming to town. Dave would remember those days if he's as old as I am.