Gators Online Gameday Predictions: Florida Gators vs. Kentucky Wildcats

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The No. 22 Florida Gators are on the road this week in Lexington to take on the Kentucky Wildcats. Florida comes into the game on a two-game losing skid to Kentucky and a four game losing streak away from Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.

Can the Gators end both of those streaks and remain in the driver’s seat in the SEC East?

Gators Online staff writers Zach Abolverdi, Nick de la Torre and Corey Bender, and Keith Niebuhr, will pick every game this season and we will keep track of our staff picks and predictions as the year goes.

Zach Abolverdi

Since the season opener, I’ve said that Florida’s offense at Utah won’t be the unit we see the rest of the season. That’s how much I think the Gators missed starting center Kingsley Eguakun on the road. As much as Billy Napier, Graham Mertz and other players didn’t want to admit it, all the procedural issues they had in Salt Lake City don’t happen if Eguakun is in the starting lineup.

If it wasn’t obvious then — or against Tennessee — you will learn in Lexington. Eguakun is back after missing three of the first four weeks, just in time for the first SEC away game. His presence will shore up the OL play, help the unit handle the crowd noise and, most importantly, protect Mertz. The return of starting wide receiver Eugene Wilson III is also huge for Florida.

The Wildcats boast some playmakers on offense as well, but they haven’t faced a defense as elite as Austin Armstrong’s unit so far. The Gators had four sacks last week and will be coming for more against quarterback Devin Leary, who already has five interceptions this season. Leary will throw his sixth pick Saturday and suffer his first loss as UK’s starter.

Prediction: Florida, 24-20

Corey Bender

This is a matchup I’ve been going back and forth on since the start of the week.

With that said, I think this game be close all the way through. It will be interesting to see how the early kick affects Florida as well, as its first four games took place in the evening.

Graham Mertz’s experience will be key here. He has played in a number of big-time games and will lead this young Florida team into its first SEC road game of the season. He has also been very reliable and surpassed the expectations of many. The running game will be heavily relied on, though.

I believe Austin Armstrong’s defense will force a few key turnovers when needed too. His unit has been strong out the gate, while Devin Leary has already thrown a handful of interceptions.

This should be a key victory to build off for the Gators.

Prediction: Florida, 27-24

Keith Niebuhr

You can only play the teams they tell you to play, but Kentucky’s first four opponents have a grand total of one win over an FBS team — and that was Vandy’s 7-point victory against Hawaii. The bottom line, the ‘Cats haven’t played anyone. 

Yet, that doesn’t mean they aren’t good … it just means we really don’t know. On the flip side, Florida has played three FBS teams and looked good against only one of them.

Because the Gators can run the ball and play defense that could be what the doctor ordered in tough a road environment. Play efficient football, win the turnover battle and you’ll probably escape with a win.

Prediction: Florida, 24-22

Nick de la Torre

I don’t feel confident in my pick this week. All offseason I said Florida would beat Tennessee (nailed it) but lose to Kentucky.

Florida has not been a good road team. The Gators were 1-3 in true road games last year and 1-5 away from home. The Gators were a procedural mess on the road at Utah in the season opener. You can argue that it’s the season opener and you’re working out the kinks, but you also have four months to prepare for that game. The Gators weren’t ready to play. Is that a one-off? Last season’s games away from The Swamp make it look more like a trend than a one-off.

I have some trepidation about picking Kentucky because I don’t think we know who Kentucky is. The ’Cats paid for three wins and then played Vanderbilt. Sure, they have the best rushing defense in the SEC, but what does that mean against Ball State, Eastern Kentucky, Akron, and Vanderbilt? Are the ’Cats a product of their schedule or are they actually good? I don’t know yet.

Ultimately, I stayed with my offseason pick of Kentucky based on coaching. I’ve watched Mark Stoops and Brad White coach circles around Dan Mullen, who is one of the best game day coaches and game planners I’ve seen. They out-coached Billy Napier and the Gators last year in The Swamp and held a more dynamic Florida offense to just 16 points.

Prediction: Kentucky, 24-23

Tracking the picks

Game	Abolverdi	Bender	Niebuhr	de la Torre
Season Record:	4-0	3-1	4-0	3-1
Utah	Utah ✅	Utah ✅	Utah ✅	Florida ❌
McNeese	Florida ✅	Florida ✅	Florida ✅	Florida ✅
Tennessee	Florida ✅	Tennessee ❌	Florida ✅	Florida ✅
Charlotte	Florida ✅	Florida ✅	Florida ✅	Florida ✅
Kentucky	Florida	Florida	Florida	Kentucky
Vanderbilt				
South Carolina				
Georgia				
Arkansas				
LSU				
Missouri				
Florida State