Florida Gators
Head Coach: Will Muschamp
2013-14 Record: 4-8, 3-5 Southeastern Conference
2013-14 Bowl Result: N/A
Odds to Win National Championship: +10681
Returning Starters
Offense: 7, Defense: 7
Offense
All eyes will be on junior quarterback Jeff Driskel, who started just three games in 2013 before suffering a season-ending injury, which is important to consider when making your college football picks throughout the year.
Driskel has compiled a 12-3 record as a starter, while totaling 2,271 passing yards with 14 touchdowns and 10 interceptions, as he’s one of seven returners on this side of the ball for a squad that went a disappointing 4-8 last year.
The Gators have tremendous depth at the running back position, as three players return that rushed for 330-plus yards, with Mack Brown leading the way.
Senior offensive linemen Chaz Green figures to anchor a group that has 66 career starts, as he works his way back in the lineup after missing all of 2013 after starting 19 games in his 20 appearances.
Defense
College football handicappers need to be aware that the Gators figure to have one of the best stop units in the country when looking over the NCAA football odds each week, with seven key players returning.
Florida possesses one of the best defensive end combinations nationally, with Jonathan Bullard and Dante Fowler returning to Gainseville.
The majority of the linebacker core is back, including No. 1 tackler Michael Taylor, which has many experts believing that this group will be similar to the 2012 version under Muschamp.
Sophomore defensive back Vernon Hargreaves III was named Third-Team All-American last season as a true freshman—ranking second in the SEC in passes defended and tied for seventh in the league in interceptions.
Schedule
The Gators should arrive in Tuscaloosa to take on the Alabama Crimson Tide with a perfect 3-0 record on Sept. 20, which can’t be ignored when making your college football predictions in Week 4.
Florida has an advantageous bye after that affair—before taking on the Tennessee Volunteers on the road and then hosting a pair of road games versus LSU and Missouri.
It’s a very challenging schedule throughout, especially with South Carolina and Florida State being two of the program’s final three games.
Outlook
Muschamp looked very confident went talking about this squad during SEC Media Days, especially since Driskell is back in the fold, and Kurt Roper taking over as offensive coordinator after holding that position at Duke for six years.
Health is the key, but landing one of the four spots in the inaugural college football playoff is not out of the question.
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