Florida football failed to protect its home turf from the stampeding USF Bulls during Week 2, succumbing to the herd heartbreakingly, 18-16, in the Swamp. It was the first loss ever for the Gators against their in-state peers on the collegiate gridiron.
The demoralizing defeat crushed the Orange and Blue’s College Football Playoff hopes and could possibly signal a lost season, considering the brutal schedule that awaits the programs starting in Week 3. In fact, Sports Illustrated has Florida missing out on the postseason altogether after the shocking upset.
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Still, most of the sports media still think that the Gators will play in a bowl game, but it certainly will not be one of high regard. USA TODAY Sports writer Erick Smith updated his weekly bowl projections and still has Billy Napier and Co. taking on the Memphis Tigers in the Gasparilla Bowl, which will be held in Tampa on Dec. 19.
Smith was already bearish on the team after the 55-0 win over the LIU Sharks in Week 1 and his opinion appears to remain unwavering.
Two of the Gators’ last three bowl appearances have come at Raymond James Stadium: a 29-17 Gasparilla Bowl loss to UCF in 2021 amid the Mullen-Napier coaching transition and a 33-8 steamrolling of Tulane last season. Florida has never played Memphis in the postseason.
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This article originally appeared on Gators Wire: Florida football bowl prediction after Week 2 for Gasparilla
