Gators Online Gameday predictions: Florida vs. Utah

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — It’s here, Gator Nation. You’ve survived the long, barren offseason. Florida Gators football is back. UF plays host to No. 7 Utah tonight at 7:00 on ESPN.

Saturday serves as not just a top-10 matchup for Florida but the start of a new era. It will be the 53rd time that Billy Napier will lead a team out of the tunnel as a head coach. However, he’s never done it in a cathedral like Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in front of 90,000.

“I get to coach this game for a living, so it’s pretty special to have an opportunity to do something that you love, that you dreamed of doing for a long time,” Napier said Wednesday night. “So, to get the chance to do it at a really high level with a great group of people, representing a great place.”

Gators Online predicts the game

Zach Abolverdi: Florida enters Saturday’s opener with a ton of newness and unknowns, while the Utes return 17 starters from a Pac-12 title team. Utah has an established culture and identity heading into Year 18 under Kyle Whittingham, while the Gators are starting from scratch with Billy Napier. Those two factors will make a difference in a close game. I think Utah ultimately wins the rushing battle and makes one more stop defensively.

Utah, 27-24.

Corey Bender: This is one game where you can make the case to throw out rankings. The Swamp will be rocking this evening, it’s Billy Napier’s first game at Florida, and it’s also the first game of the season. Florida holds several advantages if you dissect the game from that standpoint. Utah is more proven and has the better roster. However, I’m sure there will be early-season hiccups. The Gators can take full advantage of that and rely on the hostile environment and night crowd to push them over the top.

Florida, 24-21.

Nick de la Torre: This is the most exciting I’ve seen the fan base in quite some time. The Swamp is going to be a living, breathing entity on Saturday night and I can’t wait to experience that. I think we’re in for a dog fight. Both teams can run the football and I don’t know which team can stop the other from doing it. Outside of Anthony Richardson going off, however, I think Utah’s experience gets them the win. I do think we’ll see the beginnings of what Napier wants to do in Gainesville. I expect Florida to be a more disciplined outfit in 2022 but, as Napier says, it’s a journey.

Utah, 31-27.

Donavon Keiser: In a bloodbath under the lights in The Swamp, I have the 2021 Pac-12 Champions sneaking out of Gainesville with a win. Both offenses will sputter with first-game woes and rely heavily on the ground game. In a close game, the Utes narrowly escape with a three-point victory. 

Utah, 31-28.

Pat O’Donnell: The Gators will get out of the Swamp alive in Napier’s first game at the helm. Utah has a number of holes on offense and defense, and it’s hard to think those questions will be answered in such a hostile environment. I like the Gators to be able to control the game and use the crowd to their advantage. In doing so, the Utes’ College Football Playoff dreams will quickly fade in just week one. As for Florida, Napier and his team will be looking to ride the momentum against Kentucky next Saturday.

Florida, 24-20.