National media outlet makes disastrous prediction for one of Tennessee Vols' top rivals
247Sports made their predictions this week for each SEC team's final record in 2023. They have the Tennessee Vols finishing 9-3 with losses to Missouri, Alabama, and Georgia. Tennessee fans probably won't love that prediction — specifically the loss to Mizzou — but it's nowhere near as bad as the prediction that 247Sports made for […]
247Sports made their predictions this week for each SEC team's final record in 2023.
They have the Tennessee Vols finishing 9-3 with losses to Missouri, Alabama, and Georgia.
Tennessee fans probably won't love that prediction — specifically the loss to Mizzou — but it's nowhere near as bad as the prediction that 247Sports made for one of the Vols' top rivals.
247Sports has the Florida Gators going 5-7 in Billy Napier's second season leading the program. They think Florida will lose to Utah, Tennessee, Kentucky, South Carolina, Georgia, LSU, and Florida State. Oddly, they have the Gators beating Missouri.
From 247Sports: If the Gators fail to split non-conference showdowns with Utah and Florida State this season, Billy Napier will fail to reach bowl eligibility in his second campaign, further heating up his unexpected hot seat early in his tenure. Florida's in a great spot recruiting for 2024, but on-field production is going to matter this fall and the schedule appears to be treacherous. Splitting road games against comparative teams Kentucky and South Carolina is necessary too, but it may not happen.
This would be quite a disaster for Napier and the Gators. Florida went 6-7 in Napier's first season at Florida. That's obviously far below the standard that's been set in Gainesville, but it was Napier's first season leading an SEC program. It usually takes a year to get things moving in the right direction.
Unfortunately for Florida, it doesn't seem like things are moving in the right direction this offseason. The Jaden Rashada NIL drama cast Florida in a negative light. And a lackluster spring game that featured plenty of offensive struggles didn't help the narrative that the Gators are trending in the wrong direction (it's worth noting, however, that Napier's recruiting has been good — Florida currently has the No. 9 2024 recruiting class in the nation).
If Florida goes 5-7, it will all but guarantee that Napier isn't in Gainesville for a third season. The Gators have fired coaches a year removed from an SEC East division title (Jim McElwain in 2017), they won't hesitate to move on from Napier if he has two straight losing seasons. Maybe Napier and Florida surprise some folks. But if their current trend continues and 247Sports is correct, the Gators will be looking for a new head coach later this winter.
