Florida at Utah: 2023 Week 1 game preview

Florida opens up their season against a ranked Utah team on the road. Can the Gators running backs lead the offense to an upset win? 

TV schedule: August 31st, 2023 at 8:00 P.M on ESPN

Location: Rice Eccles Stadium, Utah

The Gators open up their season facing off against the Utah Utes. Graham Mertz is the starting QB for the Gators this season. Mertz is a QB who can play complimentary football but will need to lean on the running game if Florida wants to have success this season.

The defense will be challenged a lot in this game by Cam Rising and company who is returning for his senior season. Utah is looking to repeat as Pac-12 champions. Utah is the favorite in the conference that might not end up existing after this season. If the Gators want any chance of winning this game, they will need their defense to get enough stops on the Utes.

It is quite unlikely that the Gators will be able to put up more than 25+ points in this game. Montrell Johnson and Trevor Etienne are a deadly running back group. They may make their plays and gains against Utah’s defense, but still, they won’t be able to control the entire game.

Prediction: Florida: 17 Utah: 28

Utah just has too much talent to lose to a Florida team that is still in a rebuild. I think that Florida’s running game will have their moments against the Utes but they won’t control the entire game. During his days at Wisconsin, Mertz was able to prove that he was at his best a complimentary QB. Until he proves it, Mertz will be just that.

If Florida wants a chance at winning this game, they will need to be able to stop Cam Rising and the rest of the Utes offense. While Utah’s offense might not be as good as last season, they will be able to put up points at home for the win.