Way Too Early SEC East Predictions: Is there hope for Florida football?
![Florida Gators head coach Billy Napier leads his team out of the tunnel and onto the field at Steve Spurrier Field at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, FL on Saturday, October 15, 2022. Before the start of the LSU game. LSU defeated the Gators 45-35. [Doug Engle/Gainesville Sun]Ncaa Football Florida Gators Vs Lsu Tigers](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_1080,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape%2Fcover%2Fsport%2F7d2d4d988943517ac3c90e452a69af8df1ab47d99c758e8b63b19dd371fb2ab1.jpg "Florida Gators head coach Billy Napier leads his team out of the tunnel and onto the field at Steve Spurrier Field at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, FL on Saturday, October 15, 2022. Before the start of the LSU game. LSU defeated the Gators 45-35. [Doug Engle/Gainesville Sun]Ncaa Football Florida Gators Vs Lsu Tigers")
. . . Gators . 4. team. 840
SEC Power Rankings: Don’t count Florida football out
2022 Record: 6-7
2023 FPI Rating: 12.7
ESPN Win Projection: 7-5
It is weird to think that Florida football might be the ultimate wildcard in the SEC East. Computer models actually really like the Gators, and while some gambling sites think Florida is only going to win five games, most models peg the Gators for seven or even eight wins.
The Spring Game didn’t help perception, with the offensive line looking abysmal and Graham Mertz being far from proven.
But there were a lot of injuries along the line during Spring, and the defense looks like it will do more than stand around in a static zone.
Florida should beat Vanderbilt, Missouri, and South Carolina. According to computer models, they are also favored against Kentucky, and it’s a coin flip against Tennessee.
But their cross-over games are against LSU and Arkansas, so finding a fourth SEC win is far from guaranteed.