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Florida Football: Post-spring game-by-game predictions for 2019

By John Mitchell

GAINESVILLE, FL - SEPTEMBER 01: Feleipe Franks #13 of the Florida Gators throws a wrist band to a fan following a victory over the Charleston Southern Buccaneers at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on September 1, 2018 in Gainesville, Florida. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)
GAINESVILLE, FL - SEPTEMBER 01: Feleipe Franks #13 of the Florida Gators throws a wrist band to a fan following a victory over the Charleston Southern Buccaneers at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on September 1, 2018 in Gainesville, Florida. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Lance King/Getty Images)
(Photo by Lance King/Getty Images) /

Florida took out five years worth of frustration on Florida State last season, routing the Seminoles 41-14 in Tallahassee to not only earn its first win in the rivalry series since 2012, but to also plunge the final nail in Florida State’s coffin as its nation’s leading 36-game bowl streak came to an end.

Willie Taggart enters his second season in Tallahassee with a lot of pressure. He lost a majority of the fanbase after last season’s struggles, and I could envision a scenario in which he is let go following this season if tangible signs of progress aren’t evident. With Deondre Francois’s dismissal, the quarterback job now likely goes to sophomore James Blackman, who looked good in limited action while maintaining a redshirt season last year, and has plenty of starting experience after taking over for an injured Francois in 2017. Of course, Wisconsin graduate transfer Alex Hornibrook could factor into the competition, but it would be an upset if Blackman isn’t taking the first snaps in 2019.

Whether or not the Seminoles are able to show the progress that Taggart needs will depend on the play of the offensive line. The ‘Noles were brutal up front last season. Francois was constantly running for his life, and they rarely got enough push up front to spring their talented running backs. Junior Cam Akers is one of college football’s most talented running backs, but he was held to just 4.4 yards percarry as a sophomore as a result of poor play up front.

How much better will that unit be in 2019? It’s not an overnight fix, and it’ll likely take years of recruiting to fix the mess that Jimbo Fisher left up front. The good news is that things probably can’t get any worse for that unit. When you hit rock bottom, the only way to go is up.

Next. NFL Mock Draft 2020: Way-too-early edition. dark

I expect Florida State to have already clinched bowl eligibility by the time they enter the Swamp, but it isn’t likely to have much more success against the Gators than it had at home last season.

Pick: Florida 38, Florida State 14 (10-2, 6-2)

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