Will Patton to Denzel, "You were the right man for the job." Yes you are Billy Napier. After turning around the Raging Cajuns, serving under Saban and Dabo, it's Billy time in Gainesville, well deserved. They beat an outstanding Utah team to let the SEC know, Florida is back.
Kentucky opened with a 24 point win over Miami of Ohio but look at the stats, no Chris Rodriguez, 50 yards rushing. Will Levis was under pressure and sacked 4 times. Gone this season WRs Wan' Dale Robinson and Josh Ali, that's almost 2,000 receiving yards and 10 TDs. Levis is an NFL prospect, big and strong, moves well for a big guy too but now he faces an athletic Gators defense who he struggled against last year with all his star RB and receivers, 7-17, 87 yards and a pick, though the Cats won as Florida repeatedly shot themselves in the foot with penalties and mistakes, signs of a poorly coached team. Enter Napier.
Luv QB Anthony Richardson, big, strong, athletic, made good decisions last week against a top tier Utah team. They can run it, 284 yards vs a solid Utah defense and seem to have much needed balance, unlike Kentucky who will ride Levis' arm and his young receivers unless they can figure out how to run it. Gators did give up 230 yds. on the ground last week but 91 of those were to the quick and elusive QB Cam Rising, Levis is unlikely to duplicate that.
LB Jordan Wright returns for Kentucky, he's a player but the Cats are going to have their hands full with the Gators offense IMO, who made plays when they had too, i.e., Richardson. And the Gators defense can pin their ears back and come after Levis with the Cats non-existent running attack and questionable O-line play.
Last year one of my biggest plays, posted, was Kentucky ML (+7.5 dog), in Lexington. Now it's the "Swamp" and it'll be wild and raucous you can believe that. Napier can open his Gator career with wins over 2 top 20 teams, and I'm not going against him. Hard fought game, Cats defense will show up just don't know about their offense, looks very one dimensional to me, reminds of UNC last season with Sam Howell after losing all his offensive production. Total is 52.5, seems high to me, Gators slug it out 27-17 but control the game on the ground and AR making the necessary throws to keep the chains moving.
Gators -5.5, -110
As always good luck to all!
Have an opinion I'll get to later on Miss St/AZ.