It is not the game the Gator Nation had in mind when the 2021 campaign began, but on Thursday, Florida football will face the Central Florida Knights in the… (checks notes) Gasparilla Bowl, held in Raymond James Stadium, Tampa. Most Floridians think of the pirate festival when they hear the name Gasparilla, but there is very little festivity about this game.
Nonetheless, the matchup will serve as a de facto state championship, as these two schools bring in the top records among their collegiate peers. You know it was a bad year in Florida when the 8-4 and 6-6 teams were the best of the bunch, but here we are with a preview of the upcoming two-and-one matchup between the Gators and Knights over the next decade-plus.
Ahead of the game, the Gators Wire staff offers up their takes and predictions for the second-biggest bowl game in the Tampa Bay area. Take a look below at our thoughts and final scores, as well as the overall composite assessment.