Expert Predictions: Can shorthanded Gators prevail in Las Vegas Bowl?

Will the Gators prevail and prevent a second sub-.500 season? Here’s what the Gators Wire crew thinks.

The final game of the 2022 season for Florida football is nearly at hand with the Oregon State Beavers awaiting in the Las Vegas Bowl for a Dec. 17 matchup between an SEC and Pac-12 school.

The Gators arrive in Vegas well outside of the top 25 without a single vote in both polls thanks to their lackadaisical 6-6 record overall (3-6 in the SEC). On the other hand, the Beavers had a fine season finishing with a 9-3 record and a No. 14 ranking in the Coaches Poll (No. 17 in the AP Poll) that was capped off with a rivalry win over the Oregon Ducks in the final week.

The Orange and Blue have a steep hill to climb in this one as a handful of players will miss this game either due to program departures or declaring for the NFL draft. Nonetheless, the game must go on so here is what the Gators Wire crew expects to see on Saturday afternoon in Sin City.