We are only 10 days away, or 243 hours, or 14,630 minute, or 878,340 seconds from kickoff.
Coaches, players, and fans are getting anxious.
But, what should we actually expect to see from the Gators and this new look offense in the home opener against Idaho….
Look, Idaho is a bad football team. They are led by head coach Paul Petrino (brother of Louisville head coach Bobby Petrino). They were 1-11 last year and had the 121st ranked defense in the FBS out of 123 qualifying schools. In other words….. The Gators need to score points. Kurt Roper and the new offense couldn’t have asked for a better team to open against. Idaho might be the worst statistical defensive team Florida has faced in a really long time.
Idaho starts sophomore QB Chad Chalich who started as a true freshman last year. Idaho’s offense was ranked higher than Florida’s last year at 90th (yes we know, we know). But that is a deceiving statistic, seeing as how the Idaho Vandals had the 87th strongest schedule out of 123 schools and scored their highest point total (38) against FCS school Old Dominion in a LOSS.
Florida has a very favorable schedule to open the season.
I expect the passing game to open up early and often. I expect Driskel to air it out to his receivers and throw 2 TD’s. I also expect the backup QB (whomever it may be) to come in for mop-up duty in the 4th quarter. Running back’s Kelvin Taylor, Matt Jones, and Mack Brown will get most of the carries, but you will see the young guys like Mark Herndon, Brandon Powell, and Adam Lane get touches late. This is the kind of game where Florida’s offensive line should abuse the smaller defensive line of Idaho. Florida will rotate around 8 offensive lineman to get the younger guys reps in live game action.
I expect the defense to be the defense. Florida’s defense in the home opener against Toledo last year only allowed 1 first down in the entire first half. Toledo only converted 1 third down THE ENTIRE game. The Gators have the second longest active opening day winning streak (24) in the nation. This Florida defense which returns 6 starters will not give in to a pretty bad Idaho offense. I expect Florida to hold Idaho to a FG or two. Sophomore All-American Vernon Hargreaves will have his second opening day interception.
Look for this game to be a statement game from Muschamp to the country. I expect a vintage Florida opening day beat-down on Idaho under the lights.
Final Score: Florida 41 Idaho 3