2019 College Football
PREVIEW By Nick Moore
Nothing signals the end of summer quite like the beginning of college football. As Orlando’s Camping World Stadium prepares to host the 2019 College Football Kickoff between the Florida Gators and Miami Hurricanes, Central Florida Lifestyle previews the state’s most prolific programs and what you can expect from each this season.
FLORIDA GATORS – AP Ranking, #7 THE OUTLOOK:
Dan Mullen enters his second season in Gainesville having already raised the expectation level. Last season’s return to 10-win form, followed by the signing of a top 10 recruiting class and a top 10 preseason ranking has Gator fans anticipating one hell of an encore in 2019. Mullen will also benefit from the return of many of his highest-caliber offensive weapons from a season ago — perhaps no more notable than redshirt junior quarterback, Felipe Franks. As familiar as Franks is expected to be in year two under Mullen, he’ll be even more familiar with this season’s top receiving targets Van Jefferson, Josh Hammond and Trevon Grimes — all of which played a pivotal role in helping Franks’ development last season. As has been the case in recent years, the Gators will lean heavily on an experienced defense that boasts some of the nation’s top cornerbacks in C.J. Henderson and Marco Wilson. Joining them to fill the void left by last year’s defensive leader, Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, is none other than Brad Stewart. Where have you heard that name before? It was Stewart’s game-clinching interception returned for a touchdown last year against LSU that provided the momentum needed to return some swagger back to the Swamp and the Gators back into the national spotlight.
40
Central Florida Lifestyle | August 2019
THE SCHEDULE:
Sat, August 24, #21 Miami (at Camping World Stadium - Orlando) Sat, September 7, UT Martin Sat, September 14, at Kentucky Sat, September 21, Tennessee Sat, September 28, Towson Sat, October 5, #14 Auburn Sat, October 12, at #4 LSU Sat, October 19, at South Carolina Sat, November 2, #3 Georgia (at TIAA Bank Field – Jacksonville) Sat, November 9, Vanderbilt Sat, November 16, at Missouri Sat, November 30, Florida State
THE PREDICTION:
8 wins, 4 losses — It seems almost unfathomable that a team returning as much talent as the Gators are to finish the 2019 regular season with one less win than last year. However, in at least two cases, the Gators must go on the road seeking revenge from teams who left Gainesville with victories last season. The SEC West rotation delivers an always difficult Auburn team at a time on the schedule that almost seems like a must-win if the Gators want to remain part of the National Championship conversation before entering the meat of their schedule with visits to Baton Rouge and Jacksonville.