USA TODAY Sports projects Florida to play a familiar opponent in bowl game

According to USA TODAY Sports’ latest bowl projections, the Florida Gators are projected to play in the Las Vegas Bowl against a recent foe.

USA TODAY Sports has released its updated bowl projections following Week 6 of the college football season. They currently have the Florida Gators playing the Utah Utes in the Las Vegas Bowl, set to take place on Dec. 17.

Florida and Utah have already seen each other on the field this season, with the Gators pulling off the upset win over the defending Pac-12 champions 29-26 in [autotag]Billy Napier[/autotag]’s first game as Florida’s head coach. The game served as a coming-out party for [autotag]Anthony Richardson[/autotag], whose electric play kept the Gators in the game. [autotag]Amari Burney[/autotag]’s interception preserved the win deep into the game’s final drive.

The projected Las Vegas bowl would be interesting, but very unlikely to happen. A post-season rematch between teams that met in the first game of the season does not typically happen. If it does, it usually has national championship implications tied to the rematch. This game would not. On top of that, the return leg of their home-and-home is scheduled to open the 2023 season in Salt Lake City. Both programs would challenge this bowl assignment so these teams don’t have to see each other three times in a calendar year.

Next up for the Gators is a rivalry game against LSU. The game will be Napier’s and LSU coach Brian Kelly’s first meeting in the rivalry. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. EDT. The game will be broadcast on ESPN.

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