– Last Updated on June 8, 2018 7:50 am
2017 Football Preview – SEC – Florida Gators
Looking for 2017 Florida Gators predictions? The Gators 2016 season was a tale of two sides of the ball. On the defensive side they were one of the best defenses in all the land. But the offense couldn’t hold up their end of the bargain and that ultimately was their downfall in trying to reach their goal of a National Championship
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2017-18 College Football Preview – Florida Gators
Head Coach: Jim McElwain
2016 Record: 9-4
Florida Gators to win the 2017 FBS Championship: +4000
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Can the offense be good enough this year to bring the Gators to the promised land?
2017 Florida Gators Predictions: Team Strengths
Stout Defense: Everyone knows the strength of the Florida Gators team is the defense so it’s no surprise that is what the team will rely on heavily this year to have success.
Last years Gator defense were really able to shut down opposing teams. They only allowed opponents to score 16.77 points per game.
The strength of the defense was the secondary and although they are losing some starters from last year, they have a lot of young guys who should be able to step up in their place.
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The Gators only allowed 148.5 yards per game in the passing game last year, and the only 300 yard passer was Josh Dobbs from Tennessee.
This group needs to stay a strength this year, or it could be a long year for the Florida Gators, and their fans.
SEC East: It sounds like a weird strength but one of this teams biggest strengths is the division they play in.
The SEC East is the weaker of the two division’s and it’s really not even close. The toughest competition in the SEC East is Tennessee and Georgia which are stiff competition but there is also a lot of mid level teams in their division.
Kentucky, Vanderbilt and Missouri are all teams who shouldn’t put up much of a competition to Florida. If the Gators played in the SEC West they would have to play the likes of Alabama, LSU, Auburn and Texas A&M every year.
2017 Florida Gators Predictions: Team Weaknesses
Who’s at QB?: The biggest question that the Florida Gators have this year is who is going to be under center.
They need this position to be stable and at least serviceable this year if the Gators want to win another SEC East title.
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The Gators might be in luck it looks like though. Malik Zaire, the former Notre Dame quarterback just announced he was transferring to Florida.
Although he isn’t guaranteed the starting quarterback job I would say he has to be the favorite to win the job.
He played 15 career games at Notre Dame and was at least serviceable when he played there, which is all Florida really needs out of him.
They need a quarterback that can move the ball down the field a bit, and not make turnovers. If they are down in the fourth they need to have confidence that they have a quarterback that can make a comeback.
Who’s going to step up on the line?: The offensive line struggled last year and no matter who is the quarterback they need to play better this year.
They weren’t really good in the rush or the passing game. They allowed 28 sacks and the rushing attack was 113th in the nation.
Now part of the rushing is on the running backs too but they need to be better if they want the offense to play better.
Florida Gators Prediction
9-3
The Florida Gators have a pretty easy conference schedule but they are going to have a test right out of the gates this year.
They face the Michigan Wolverines to start the season, and they will know right away what kind of team they have, and it is probably a must win if they want to make the playoffs. That is a lot of pressure on the Gators in week one.
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I think that the quarterback position will be better this year, but I don’t think it will be good enough in week one to beat the Wolverines, and that will hurt their chances at the playoffs.
I also think they will lose to LSU. They finish out the season against Florida State and that is a team that they can’t seem to beat, and that will be another loss this year.
They will finish the season with a 9-3 record and still get a really good bowl, probably even a New Years Day bowl.
2017 Florida Gators Football Schedule
- 9/2/17 3:30 PM ET @MICH
- 9/9/17 TBD UNCO
- 9/16/17 TBD TENN
- 9/23/17 TBD @UK
- 9/30/17 TBD VAN
- 10/7/17 TBD LSU
- 10/14/17 TBD TAM
- 10/28/17 TBD UGA
- 11/4/17 TBD @MIZZ
- 11/11/17 TBD @SOCAR
- 11/18/17 TBD UAB
- 11/25/17 TBD FSU
What do you think about our 2017 Florida Gators predictions? Please leave us a comment below telling us how you think they’ll do in 2017!
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