Florida Football: 3 bold predictions vs. Mississippi State in Week 5

KNOXVILLE, TN - SEPTEMBER 22: Jeremiah Moon #7 of the Florida Gators celebrates a safety during the second quarter of the game between the Florida Gators and Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium on September 22, 2018 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by Donald Page/Getty Images) /

4 of 4

(Photo by Rob Foldy/Getty Images) /

1. Dan Mullen’s homecoming spoiled on last-second TD

The marquee coach hires of the offseason have started out horrendously. Mullen’s loss to Kentucky was literally a “worst performance against Kentucky this century” kind of defeat for his new program. He’s not alone.

Willie Taggart has gotten off to a bumpy start at Florida State. Chip Kelly is still winless and UCLA and Kevin Sumlin‘s might have broken Khalil Tate at Arizona. Even Jimbo Fisher is 2-2, albeit with explainable losses at the hands of Alabama and Clemson.

Mullen will have his chance to push himself further away from that company, but ultimately he won’t be able to get it done. So far this season, Mississippi State’s best is significantly better than Florida’s best output. The Gators have enough raw talent to take a lead, but their ability to maintain it and keep the ball away from Mississippi State in crunch time is wishful thinking, at best.

Next. NFL Mock Draft 2019: First round after Week 4. dark

Florida will jump out to an early lead, but a raucous crowdy and a little bit of extra motivation will push Mississippi State over the top. The Gators lose, in heartbreaking fashion, and the narrative of Mullen’s rough start will be trumpeted in Starkville for the rest of the year.

Home/Florida Gators