My Predictions for the 2023 Florida Gators Schedule
In 2022, in year one of Florida Gators head coach Billy Napier’s tenure, the Gators finished the season 6-7, with five of those losses coming by two scores or less. In year two, Napier hopes to take another positive step forward with his team to compound with what may ultimately end up being a top-five recruiting class in 2024. Here are my predictions for the 2023 season for the Florida Gators.
Florida at Utah
Florida RB Montrell Johnson (2) – Scott G Winterton/Deseret News
Kicking off the 2023 season will see the Florida Gators travel to Utah to take on the Utes in a rematch of what was one of the best finishes of any game in the 2022 season.
Last year saw Florida LB Amari Burney intercept Utah QB Cam Rising in the end zone in the final seconds of the game to win it for the Gators 29-26.
This year, Florida will not have the now Indianapolis Colts rookie starting QB Anthony Richardson, who made some of the flashiest plays on his college resume against the Utes last season. Utah also has QB concerns of their own, with Utes QB Cam Rising recovering from ACL surgery and his status being uncertain for the August 31 season opener.
Given the uncertainties that are present with what Florida and Utah will bring to the table, going on the road on a Thursday night is a tall task for a youthful team like the Gators. The Gators fall short against the Utes to open the season.
Prediction: Loss
McNeese at Florida
Following a tough road test with McNeese will be exactly what the doctor ordered for the Gators. The first game in The Swamp in 2023, slated for a 7:30 PM kickoff, means that the crowd will be rowdy and eager to see what the Gators can do at home. This should be an easy win for the Gators.
Prediction: Win
Tennessee at Florida
Last year, Florida traveled up to Tennessee after getting roughed around by Kentucky and USF in The Swamp in back-to-back weeks and put up quite the performance despite losing the game. This year, the Volunteers will have to come down to Gainesville with a new QB in Joe Milton, seeking their first win over the Gators in The Swamp since 2003. Milton is getting hyped up to be, somewhat ironically, the next Anthony Richardson, which I don’t really buy going into 2023.
Florida fans show up in droves for the Tennessee game, and this year will be no different. Florida finished with a home record of 5-2 (the two losses being to Kentucky and LSU) last season. Florida has to continue to protect its home field, and I think they will do that by winning their first SEC matchup of the season in what should be a thrilling game against the Vols.
Prediction: Win
Charlotte at Florida
Much like McNeese, Charlotte will be a much-needed gimme game after a high-strung bout against Tennessee. Like the McNeese matchup, Charlotte will be another night game, and The Swamp will be rowdy. The Gators should be able to handle Charlotte ahead of their second road test of the season against Kentucky.
Prediction: Win
Florida at Kentucky
Before 2018, in the then Gators head coach Dan Mullen’s first year, Florida had not lost to Kentucky in 31 years. In 2018, that streak ended in The Swamp, with the Wildcats winning 27-16. Since then, Florida and Kentucky have split the last four matchups 2-2.
Last year, the Wildcats and QB Will Levis rolled into Gainesville and won in what was an ugly game for Florida, 26-16. Kentucky head coach Mark Stoops has his program trending up, and like Florida QB Graham Mertz, Kentucky will be starting their own transfer QB, Devin Leary. That said, I think Florida will keep their early season momentum going and win a close game over the Wildcats in Lexington.
Prediction: Win
Vanderbilt at Florida
After defeating Kentucky, Florida returns to The Swamp for UF Homecoming. Vanderbilt beat the Gators last year 31-24 in what was a terrible performance all around for Florida. That was only the second loss against the Commodores for Florida since 2013. This year, Florida will put what happened last season behind them and win big against the Commodores with all of the alumni back in town.
Prediction: Win
Florida at South Carolina
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Florida DT Desmond Watson (21) – Kim Klement/USA Today Sports
This South Carolina game is where I think things start to change for the Gators. I am expecting big things from the South Carolina Gamecocks in 2023, particularly from QB Spencer Rattler. Florida throttled South Carolina in Gainesville last season 38-6, so Gamecocks head coach Shane Beamer and Rattler will look to avenge their loss, and I think they will, in what will be Florida’s second loss of the season.
Prediction: Loss
Bye Week
After suffering their second loss of the season, the Gators will get a chance to regroup before facing the Georgia Bulldogs in Jacksonville.
Florida vs. Georgia (Jacksonville)
The annual Florida and Georgia game has been largely one-sided the past six years, with Georgia winning five of the last six matchups (Florida won in 2020 44-28). Georgia will be undefeated and will keep that winning streak going, led by what should be another great defensive unit coached by Bulldogs head coach Kirby Smart and defensive coordinator Will Muschamp. Florida is not up to par with Georgia yet when it comes to roster talent, but they are making progress. I do think this game is closer than the previous matchups, though.
Prediction: Loss
Arkansas at Florida
Florida returns home from Jacksonville to take on Arkansas. This game has been circled by a contingent of Florida fans because it will mark the first time ever that Florida will wear black uniforms, in honor of Veterans on Veterans Day. After the game ends, the jerseys will be auctioned off, and proceeds will be donated to charities that help military families in need. Last season, mobile quarterbacks had immense success against the Florida defense, and Arkansas QB KJ Jefferson will be the first talented mobile QB the Gators’ defense faces. I think Florida will take care of the home field once again and get back in the win column, defeating the Razorbacks.
Prediction: Win
Florida at LSU
There are not enough words to describe just how insane the Florida-LSU matchups over the past decade have been. Since 2012, all of the games have been decided by 14 points or less, and each of them has had some memorable moments.
The goal line stand by the Gators in Baton Rouge to go to the SEC Championship in 2016, the Marco Wilson shoe throw in the heavy fog in The Swamp 2020 that led to Florida losing the game and ultimately a spot in the College Football Playoff, and Gators safety Brad Stewart’s pick-six of now Cincinnati Bengals QB Joe Burrow in 2018 to seal the game for the Gators are just a few that come to mind amongst many others.
Essentially, the Florida and LSU matchup is guaranteed chaos and drama, and this year will undoubtedly be no different. That being said, Death Valley is a tough place to win in, and I think Florida falls short.
Prediction: Loss
Florida at Missouri
Following what should be an exhilarating matchup against LSU, Florida travels to take on Missouri in a game that is almost always strange. It will likely be an 11 AM local time kickoff, and ever since Missouri joined the SEC, Florida has started slow in those games, especially after losing to LSU the week prior. I think that loss lingers into the next week, and the Gators fall to the Tigers in Columbia.
Prediction: Loss
Florida State at Florida
To end the season, Florida welcomes their arch-rivals to Gainesville, the Florida State Seminoles. Last year’s matchup was a slugfest in Tallahassee that the Noles managed to come out on top from, 45-38.
I expect the Noles to be at the top of the ACC, seeing as they are returning almost 90% of their roster from last season, including Heisman hopeful Jordan Travis at QB.
The Seminoles should be positioned for a College Football Playoff spot heading into this game, and getting one last big road win would cement their place. Jordan Travis could do no wrong against Florida in last year’s matchup, throwing for 270 yards and a touchdown whilst adding 83 yards rushing and two touchdowns on the ground.
In 2023, though, I think Florida, with nothing to lose, as they did back in 1997 when they upset the Noles to keep them from appearing in back-to-back National Championship games, will shock the Seminoles in an upset at home, ending the season on a high note, and most importantly, protecting The Swamp.
Prediction: Win
2023 Record: 7-5
If the Gators truly want to get back to the promised land, they have to protect The Swamp, and I think this year’s schedule is favorable enough for them to do so. If they want to have a respectful record by season’s end, they have to win games in the first half of their schedule. The away schedule is not easy in 2023, and with the team being so young, it’s hard to predict them coming out on top of most of them. However, seeing how the team responds to those games will be telling for the future of the program.
