Florida Preview

#6 Florida

We are 55 days away from the start of the college football season and it's time to preview my #6 team on my SEC Power Poll, but first in case you missed it here is the rest of the Power Poll so far. #14 Kentucky #13 Ole Miss #12 Tennessee #11 Vanderbilt #10 Texas A&M #9 Mississippi State #8 Missouri #7 Auburn 

Step back in time just a few short years ago the Florida Gators where on top of College Football winning two national championships, and being lead by the one and only Tim Tebow. Now fast forward three years later, and somehow Florida has slipped to the middle of the pack. Where did all the speed and talent go? Was Tebow really that good? Now coached by Will Muschamp who's compassion is on a different level than most coaches, but it will take a little more than jumping around and screaming your head off to get the Gators back to Atlanta. 

Lets breakdown last years Gator team to see what they will need to improve on to turn the swamp. The Gator's where great on defense last year finishing 8th in the nation, as they should be with defense being Muschamps speciality. The even better news is Florida returns 10 starters back to what could be the best defense in the nation in 2012.

 Its a totally different story on offense where the Gator's made the switch from the spread to more a pro style offense finishing 105th in total offense! 2012 offense will be better than 105th, but is 60th enough to really up the win total of 7-6? The first question they will have to answer before moving forward is who will be their starting QB? Jeff Driskel and Jacoby Brissett will be the two choices for the starting role, but can either of the former 4 stars become a true leader of this offense? Driskel was forced into last years Alabama game, but didn't play well and was injured; Brissett started a couple of games in 2011 due to injury, but was only 18 out of 39 %46 for 206 yards with 2 TD's and 4 picks. There is one player maker I think Florida can really build there offence around this year in WR Andre Debose.

Returning Starters: 18

Offence: 7

Defence: 10

ST: 1

Schedule and Predictions

• Bowling Green W
• @ Texas A&M ? W
• @ Tennessee W
• Kentucky W
• LSU L
• @ Vanderbilt ? W
• South Carolina L
• Georgia L
• Missouri ? W
• Louisiana W
• Jacksonville State W
• Florida State L

W = WIN / L = LOOSE / ? SWING GAME

I have the 2012 Gators going 8-4, but there are three games @ Texas A&M (There first home SEC Game) @ Vanderbilt and Missouri at home that are must wins to insure a good season. If the Gators where to lose these games then I think it would end up being a disastrous season down in the Swamp. 

 



-Patrick Pierce

Follow me on Twitter @Patrickp13