The Athletic gives its outlook for Florida-Miami matchup in Week 1

The start of Florida football’s 2024 campaign is nearly at hand with the Miami Hurricanes coming to the Swamp on Saturday to renew a once-heated in-state rivalry.

Both teams brought in new head coaches ahead of the 2022 season and neither have performed up to the standard expected from their respective schools. However, the ‘Canes have earned enough confidence from the voters to place at No. 19 in the US LBM Coaches Poll‘s preseason ranking while the Gators are an afterthought in the major polls.

The season-opener on Saturday is a pivotal game for both programs — particularly for Florida, which faces possibly the toughest schedule among FBS schools this fall. The Athletic’s Manny Navarro penned up his college football Week 1 oddly specific predictions and offered the following on the battle in the Swamp.

What The Athletic expects from UF-UM

“Florida has won 34 consecutive home openers and finds itself as a home underdog in a season opener for only the second time since 1970,” Navarro begins.

“The last time that occurred? Two years ago, when the Gators held on to beat Utah, 24-19, in Billy Napier’s debut as the boss in Gainesville. Those Utes, however, didn’t have the type of talent at the skill positions that the 2024 Hurricanes will bring to the Swamp.”

Napier and Co. have made some improvements to the team’s roster, but it might not be enough to make it over the hump against Mario Cristobal’s squad on Saturday.

“Florida should be improved defensively, but this is a team that gave up 450-plus yards and an average of 41.2 points in its final five SEC games a year ago,” Navarro continues.

“Miami will put up more than 30 points and 400 yards in a tone-setting two-score victory on the road,” he concludes.

Florida’s season opener for 2024