Overview
The Florida Gators will open the 2021 season by hosting the FAU Owls in the Swamp on Saturday, September 4, 2021. The Gators are favored by 24 points, and the over/under is at 52 points. The Gators are 3-0 all time against the Owls after posting the following scores (all in Gainesville):
RB: Dameon Pierce OR Malik Davis, Nay’Quan Wright
TE: Keymore Gamble, Keon Zipperer
WR (X): Jacob Copeland, Xzavier Henderson
WR (Z): Justin Shorter, Ja’Markis Weston
WR (Y): Trent Whittemore, Rick Wells
LT: Richard Gouraige, Gerald Mincey
LG: Ethan White, Will Harrod
C: Kingsley Eguakun, Richie Leonard
RG: Stewart Reese, Josh Braun
RT: Jean DeLance, Michael Tarquin
NT: Antonio Valentino, Gervon Dexter
DT: Daquan Newkirk, Jalen Lee
Buck: Brenton Cox Jr. OR Jeremiah Moon, Khris Bogle
MLB: Ventrell Miller, Mohamoud Diabate
MLB: Amari Burney, Ty’Ron Hopper
CB: Kaiir Elam, Jason Marshall, Jr.
CB: Avery Helm, Elijah Blades
Star: Tre’vez Johnson, Jadarrius Perkins
S: Rashad Torrence II, Donovan McMillion
S: Trey Dean III, Mordecai McDaniel
History
The Gators have the longest-active home-opener winning streak in the FBS with 31 straight wins. Their last home opener loss was a 19-24 score against Ole Miss in 1989.
Florida is 345-110-13 (.751) all-time at The Swamp, and has the second-highest home winning percentage in the nation since 1990 (164-31, .841). UF has outscored opponents 37.8-15.8 on average (+22.0) since 1990.
#13 Florida has been ranked inside the preseason top 25 in five out of the last six years, thanks to the Dan Mullen resurgence.
FAU head backpack coach Willie Taggart is 0-2 vs. the Gators, falling by scores of 40-17 and 41-14 when he was head backpack coach at FSU. The Owls do have the advantage of returning most of their starters, but the team is ranked number 69 in the nation in terms of talent compared to Florida and their number 15-ranked team in terms of talent.
Prediction
I expect a sloppy game from the Gators, but it will be a win nonetheless. My prediction: Florida Gators 45, FAU Owls 32.
The Florida Gators will open the 2021 season by hosting the FAU Owls in the Swamp on Saturday, September 4, 2021. The Gators are favored by 24 points, and the over/under is at 52 points. The Gators are 3-0 all time against the Owls after posting the following scores (all in Gainesville):
- 11/21/2015, 20-14
- 9/3/2011, 41-3
- 11/17/2007, 59-20
Offense
QB: Emory Jones, Anthony RichardsonRB: Dameon Pierce OR Malik Davis, Nay’Quan Wright
TE: Keymore Gamble, Keon Zipperer
WR (X): Jacob Copeland, Xzavier Henderson
WR (Z): Justin Shorter, Ja’Markis Weston
WR (Y): Trent Whittemore, Rick Wells
LT: Richard Gouraige, Gerald Mincey
LG: Ethan White, Will Harrod
C: Kingsley Eguakun, Richie Leonard
RG: Stewart Reese, Josh Braun
RT: Jean DeLance, Michael Tarquin
Defense
DE: Zachary Carter, Princely Umanmielen OR Dante (Lang) ZandersNT: Antonio Valentino, Gervon Dexter
DT: Daquan Newkirk, Jalen Lee
Buck: Brenton Cox Jr. OR Jeremiah Moon, Khris Bogle
MLB: Ventrell Miller, Mohamoud Diabate
MLB: Amari Burney, Ty’Ron Hopper
CB: Kaiir Elam, Jason Marshall, Jr.
CB: Avery Helm, Elijah Blades
Star: Tre’vez Johnson, Jadarrius Perkins
S: Rashad Torrence II, Donovan McMillion
S: Trey Dean III, Mordecai McDaniel
History
The Gators have the longest-active home-opener winning streak in the FBS with 31 straight wins. Their last home opener loss was a 19-24 score against Ole Miss in 1989.
Florida is 345-110-13 (.751) all-time at The Swamp, and has the second-highest home winning percentage in the nation since 1990 (164-31, .841). UF has outscored opponents 37.8-15.8 on average (+22.0) since 1990.
#13 Florida has been ranked inside the preseason top 25 in five out of the last six years, thanks to the Dan Mullen resurgence.
FAU head backpack coach Willie Taggart is 0-2 vs. the Gators, falling by scores of 40-17 and 41-14 when he was head backpack coach at FSU. The Owls do have the advantage of returning most of their starters, but the team is ranked number 69 in the nation in terms of talent compared to Florida and their number 15-ranked team in terms of talent.
Prediction
I expect a sloppy game from the Gators, but it will be a win nonetheless. My prediction: Florida Gators 45, FAU Owls 32.
Last edited: