It is no secret that the Florida Gators are at a crossroads for their season. After having high hopes and expectations entering the year, the month of September has not lived up to the dreams of anyone in Alachua County.
Through 3 weeks, the Gators have struggled to a 1-2 start. After a season-opening win over Long Island University, Florida was the talk of the country….for losing at home to USF 18-16. Sure, USF was the positive talk of the CFB world for that win, but that left Florida to be in the spotlight
for all the wrong reasons.
Florida went 4/12 on 3rd downs vs USF, allowed USF to go 6/16 on 3rd down (with a couple key conversions), only had 3 TFLs for -5 yards, and lost the turnover battle. Oh, and they had yet-another game-changing penalty allow USF to get in position for the winning field goal. That was the now-infamous Brandon Bett spit in the face penalty, if you were wondering.
That seen-around-the-world loss to USF was compounded by a loss on the road against rivals LSU 20-10. Losing would be bad enough, but losing in a game where your quarterback throws 5 interceptions, including a pick-6, on the heels of a loss at home to a G5 team that was the lead story on every CFB show and podcast all week makes things even worse.
In the aftermath of the LSU loss, pretty much everybody is questioning the outlook of the Gators program. They’re talking about Billy Napier being on the hot seat. They’re scrutinizing the performance of D.J. Lagway and the offense in general. There’s dissection of recruiting. No matter the topic, the conversation is critical at minimum.
So that brings us to today, in the middle of rivalry week ahead of Canes vs Gators. Sure, all the things I’ve said up to this point make Florida a team on the brink. But it also makes them something else:
Dangerous.
Even with a pair of losses in the first 3 weeks, Florida is a team with talent. Their QB, though inconsistent, is talented. Their RB is among the best in the country. Their receivers have talent. Their OL and DL have size and skill. And their secondary is deep with blue chippers at every position. And, with the world talking about their recent failures, I’m sure they’d love nothing more than to play their best game of the year and ruin Miami’s season.
When I look at the Gators right now, I see a wounded, cornered animal. The world is either against them (like me) or making fun of them (also like me, but also many others) or counting them out. They have nothing to lose and everything to play for, especially with the chance to ruin Miami’s (to this point) stellar season.
I’m not saying I expect Florida to win. But what I am saying is that Miami cannot take them lightly, and to expect them to give their best effort. They know the narratives. They have friends. They have families. They hear the talk. They see the videos and articles and podcasts. And they know another loss is potentially terminal for their coach, and their season.
Mike Bianchi of The Orlando Sentinel wrote that both Napier and Lagway are on the hot seat after the LSU loss, but I think it’s more than that. The entire Gators program, as currently constructed, will be staging a last stand. And, buoyed by that emotion, and playing for the future of their coach and team, I expect Florida to do their best to shock the world and beat Miami.
I’m sure you’re asking yourself: “what’s the point, Cam?” The point, dear reader, is that the Canes need to be prepared for Florida’s best shot. Trick plays. New wrinkles on offense and defense. Effort, energy, and enthusiasm that has been absent in previous weeks.
So yeah, I expect Miami to win. You’ll see later this week, I’ve predicted a Miami victory. But to get there, it’s going to take another tough, physical performance from the Canes against a team in dire straights to get the victory we all so greatly desire.
#BeatUF
Go Canes
