Gators Online Gameday Predictions: Florida Gators vs. Vanderbilt

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The Florida Gators (3-2, 1-1 SEC) return home after a loss in Lexington and will host the Vanderbilt Commodores this weekend. The Gators are looking to both avenge a loss to the ‘Dores last season and get back in the win column.

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

The Gators need a get-right game, and this could fit the bill. Vanderbilt has one of the worst scoring defenses and rushing offenses in the country, the perfect opponent for a team that gave up 329 rushing yards last week and has struggled to score against Power 5 teams.

However, this matchup also has the potential to get weird. Florida could be missing top running back Trevor Etienne, left tackle Austin Barber and center Kingsley Eguakun. And with Miguel Mitchell also questionable, UF’s starting lineup could have two true freshman safeties.

They will be tested by Vanderbilt’s AJ Swann, who’s taken more deep shots than any quarterback in the SEC this season. The Gators should still beat the Dores by a couple scores and control the game, but the missing starters on offense will keep them from scoring more points.

Prediction: Florida, 31-17

Corey Bender

Vanderbilt has relied on its passing game as of late, and the Gators currently rank third nationally in passing yards allowed per game.

I expect Austin Armstrong to give the Commodores plenty of different looks in order to get pressure on AJ Swann. UF’s defense has been highly successful in the red zone and on third down as well, so when you consider that along with the atmosphere in the Swamp, it doesn’t look promising for Vandy’s offense.

Switching over to offense, Graham Mertz should have a fairly efficient day. He does not take many risks and should not have to against a Vandy defense that ranks 111th in pass defense. But it all starts with the duo of Trevor Etienne and Montrell Johnson, although Etienne is questionable due to injury.

The Gators should control this matchup on both sides of the ball, especially in the time of possession column.

Prediction: Florida, 34-17

Keith Niebuhr

Last week’s performance was so uninspiring, it left much of Gator Nation shook. But Florida should get back on the winning track Saturday at home against a Vanderbilt team that is itself struggling. On paper, this should be all Gators.

So even though Florida hasn’t played great outside of that first half vs. Tennessee this would seem to be a favorable matchup. And, it’s at The Swamp, where the Gators are a different team than on the road. I don’t expect a blowout because the evidence suggests that’s probably not likely. But Florida probably will win.

Prediction: Florida, 26-16

Nick de la Torre

I view this week as a must-not-lose game. I don’t know that anything Florida does this week will appease an angry fan. Beating Vanderbilt, even decidedly, won’t make me think the Gators have fixed their issues. Still, this is a game that Florida should win. The Gators will likely be without starting left tackle Austin Barber, starting center Kingsley Eguakun, and leading rusher Trevor Etienne. That means Lyndell Hudson will likely start at left tackle, Jake Slaughter at center, and a heavier workload for Montrell Johnson.

On paper, Vanderbilt has a ton of holes. The Commodores’ pass defense is ranked 111th in the country. Their rushing defense is 85th in the country and the second-worst in the SEC. Vandy has quarterback drama as well. This week should (emphasis on should) be a chance for Florida to get right heading into a tough road game at South Carolina.

Prediction: Florida, 31-13

Tracking the picks

Game	Abolverdi	Bender	Niebuhr	de la Torre
Season Record:	4-1	3-2	4-1	4-1
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	Florida	Florida	Florida	Florida
South Carolina				
Georgia				
Arkansas				
LSU				
Missouri				
Florida State