Florida Football: Way-too-early 2019 game-by-game predictions

Florida football finished with 10 wins in 2018 but is looking to contend for titles in 2019. Let’s take a look at early game-by-game predictions.

If you’re a Florida football fan, you have to be optimistic about the future of the program which seems as bright as it’s been since Urban Meyer led the way about a decade ago.

The Gators are fresh off a Peach Bowl blowout win over Michigan and a 10-win season all while bringing in one of the nation’s best 2019 recruiting class. Mix all that together and you have a program that looks like it’s ready to contend for SEC titles starting in 2019 and extending through the foreseeable future.

Dan Mullen will have his work cut out if he wants to top Georgia in the SEC East in 2019, but the Gators have the talent to make things interesting.

The Gators have to be thinking SEC title in 2019, but will they get there?

The last time these two in-state foes faced off was back in 2013 and Miami got the best of the Gators with a 21-16 victory. The last Florida win dates all the way back to 2008 when Urban Meyer was still head coach, but seven of the past eight matchups have ended with Miami wins, and Florida is going to end the slump against the Hurricanes.

Miami is under the direction of a new head coach as Manny Diaz took over for Mark Richt who retired suddenly. Diaz is familiar with the program as he the defensive coordinator for Richt, but that doesn’t mean he’s going to seamlessly transition to head coach.

In his first game as head coach at a neutral site in Orlando, Diaz’s Hurricanes will struggle as Dan Mullen’s Gators will pick up right where they left off in 2018, smacking Miami around a bit.

The Hurricanes will make things interesting late in the game, but the lack of a proven No. 1 quarterback (yes, I’m including Tate Martell in that) is horrifying. Martell will have his ‘welcome to life as a starter’ moment as the Gator defense swallows him whole.

Final Score: Miami 17, Florida 28 (1-0)