Florida Football: Game-by-game predictions for 2019

ATLANTA, GEORGIA - DECEMBER 29: Lamical Perine #22 of the Florida Gators is congratulated by his teammates after scoring a fourth quarter rushing touchdown against the Michigan Wolverines during the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on December 29, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Mike Zarrilli/Getty Images) /

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(Photo by Rob Foldy/Getty Images) /

The final game of the season also happens to be a rivalry showdown, like it usually is for the Gators and Florida State.

Willie Taggart took over at Florida State last season and actually broke a lengthy streak for the Seminoles — and not one a coach ever wants to break. His Florida State team was the first in 36 years to miss a bowl game in Tallahassee. Like I said, that’s not the kind of streak you want to end, especially if you’re a first-year head coach.

The expectations will be elevated in year two for Taggart and another missed bowl could spell the end of his tenure before it truly gets started. Fortunately, I see about seven wins for the Seminoles heading into this season finale, so a bowl bid should be safe.

That’s good news because the Seminoles aren’t beating the Gators in Gainesville.

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Florida won’t blow Florida State out like it did a year ago, but the game will be comfortably in hand before a James Blackman touchdown and a Seminole field goal in the fourth quarter make things interesting. Still, the Gators hold on to win, recording their second straight 10-win season.

Final Score: Florida State 20, Florida 27 (10-2)

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