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Week 3 Predictions: Florida Gators vs Colorado State Rams

By Shannon Seal

GAINESVILLE, FL - SEPTEMBER 01: Fred Johnson #74 of the Florida Gators prepares to enter the stadium prior to the game against the Charleston Southern Buccaneers at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on September 1, 2018 in Gainesville, Florida. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)
GAINESVILLE, FL - SEPTEMBER 01: Fred Johnson #74 of the Florida Gators prepares to enter the stadium prior to the game against the Charleston Southern Buccaneers at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on September 1, 2018 in Gainesville, Florida. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images) /
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The Florida Gators need to rebound after the tough loss to Kentucky, and Colorado State isn’t going to lay down either.

After a tumultuous week coming off of the loss to Kentucky, what will the Florida Gators response be on Saturday afternoon? Here again, there has been so much noise around this program from the outside.

There are many out there almost laughing at the Gators after the humiliating performance against Kentucky. I look at it like this – these Gators still have so much to play for. After all, it was only one game and one loss in a long season.

If you told me before the season that the Gators would have a great season, say a 10-win season, but one of the losses were to Kentucky, I would be completely okay with that. Now that of course, is a monstrous if.

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I am interested in seeing how coach Dan Mullen can get to these guys, and if things will be different this season. Perhaps this could be an early season wake up call for Florida. Or it could be an early tale of just how far Florida really has to go to get back to the top of the SEC— and the loss to Kentucky was just the first in a miserable season ahead.

But the season can only be taken a game at a time, and right now it’s all about the next game. Florida faces Colorado State on Saturday afternoon in Gainesville. And although this is a game the Gators should breeze by, the Rams just took down Arkansas just last week.

Colorado State was even down by 18 points in the second half and blanked the Razorbacks 17-0 in the fourth quarter. This is by no means a pushover opponent and one the Gators can’t come limping into.

Rams quarterback K.J. Carta-Samuels was the big reason behind the furious comeback. Carta-Samuels completed 22 out of 27 passes for nearly 300 yards and 2 TD’s in the second half alone. This could bode disastrous for a UF defense that looked shaky last week all the way around, and now that top corner Marco Wilson will be sidelined for the season. Carta-Samuels primary target in the passing game is receiver Preston Williams, who had 12 grabs for 154 yards and 2 TD’s against the Hogs.

This is a game that was scheduled as part of the agreement to acquire former head coach Jim McElwain.

Prediction:
I think (and hope) that UF comes out with a purpose on Saturday against an opponent that should be well overmatched. I will give the Gators the benefit of the doubt with the loss to Kentucky (for now), I believe CeCe Jefferson, who is expected to return from suspension, will give the Gators D-Line the spark that it needs to harass the Rams up front and pressure Carta-Samuels.

Jefferson’s return along with David Reese at the second level, drastically improves this Gator defense even without Wilson’s service at corner. Shut down defense, and Florida gets back to running the football. Big day for Jordan Scarlet and company.

Florida 33
Colorado State 10

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