Bowling Green
5th MAC8-4
Florida
2nd SEC11-1
Bowling Green @ Florida preview
Ben Hill Griffin Stadium
Will Muschamp did not have the type of debut season that Florida fans were hoping for in 2011 and starts 2012 with slightly lower expectations and a No. 23 ranking. The Gators dropped four in a row to ranked opponents at one point last season and avoided their first losing season in a generation by taking out Ohio State in the Gator Bowl. First-year offensive coordinator Brent Pease takes over for Charlie Weis and has yet to lock in on a starter at quarterback. Bowling Green, which visits Florida on Saturday, is improving steadily under coach Dave Clawson and returns 20 starters from last season’s 5-7 team. The Falcons are intent on returning to a bowl game for the first time since 2009.
TV: 3:30 p.m. ET, ESPN. LINE: Florida -29.5
ABOUT FLORIDA (7-6, 3-5 SEC): The Gators were 89th in the nation in passing yards and 71st in scoring at 25.5 points under Weis, who left to take the head job at Kansas. Pease inherits that offense and plans on using Saturday’s opener to decide between sophomores Jacoby Brissett and Jeff Driskel at quarterback. Each will play a quarter in the first half and that will dictate who gets more time in the second half. The running game is also in rebuild mode after the departures of Chris Rainey and Jeff Demps. The offense could have to cover several holes on the defense, which is missing 2011 sack leader Ronald Powell for the first month because of a knee injury. Defensive linemen Kedric Johnson and Nick Alajajian are also out with knee injuries.
ABOUT BOWLING GREEN (5-7, 3-5 MAC): The Falcons lost three games last season by a touchdown or less and are confident that both the offense and defense will take steps forward in 2012. Quarterback Matt Schilz passed for 3,024 yards and 28 touchdowns as a sophomore last season and is backed up by MAC Freshman of the Year Anthon Samuel, who set a school freshman record with 844 rushing yards. Defensive end Chris Jones led the MAC with 8.5 sacks last season and combined with linebacker Dwayne Woods for 28 total tackles for loss. Bowling Green has never faced Florida and is 1-3 all-time against SEC schools, with the lone victory coming over Kentucky in 1985.
EXTRA POINTS
1. The Falcons are 3-6 against ranked teams since 2003, with the last victory coming at No. 25 Pittsburgh in 2008.
2. Florida safety De’Ante Saunders will miss the first two games. He has a hamstring injury that would have kept him out Saturday but has also been suspended.
3. The Gators brought in the nation’s fourth-ranked recruiting class, specifically stockpiling on the offensive and defensive lines.
PREDICTION: Florida 45, Bowling Green 24
TV: 3:30 p.m. ET, ESPN. LINE: Florida -29.5
ABOUT FLORIDA (7-6, 3-5 SEC): The Gators were 89th in the nation in passing yards and 71st in scoring at 25.5 points under Weis, who left to take the head job at Kansas. Pease inherits that offense and plans on using Saturday’s opener to decide between sophomores Jacoby Brissett and Jeff Driskel at quarterback. Each will play a quarter in the first half and that will dictate who gets more time in the second half. The running game is also in rebuild mode after the departures of Chris Rainey and Jeff Demps. The offense could have to cover several holes on the defense, which is missing 2011 sack leader Ronald Powell for the first month because of a knee injury. Defensive linemen Kedric Johnson and Nick Alajajian are also out with knee injuries.
ABOUT BOWLING GREEN (5-7, 3-5 MAC): The Falcons lost three games last season by a touchdown or less and are confident that both the offense and defense will take steps forward in 2012. Quarterback Matt Schilz passed for 3,024 yards and 28 touchdowns as a sophomore last season and is backed up by MAC Freshman of the Year Anthon Samuel, who set a school freshman record with 844 rushing yards. Defensive end Chris Jones led the MAC with 8.5 sacks last season and combined with linebacker Dwayne Woods for 28 total tackles for loss. Bowling Green has never faced Florida and is 1-3 all-time against SEC schools, with the lone victory coming over Kentucky in 1985.
EXTRA POINTS
1. The Falcons are 3-6 against ranked teams since 2003, with the last victory coming at No. 25 Pittsburgh in 2008.
2. Florida safety De’Ante Saunders will miss the first two games. He has a hamstring injury that would have kept him out Saturday but has also been suspended.
3. The Gators brought in the nation’s fourth-ranked recruiting class, specifically stockpiling on the offensive and defensive lines.
PREDICTION: Florida 45, Bowling Green 24