Following an upset win of Tennessee, the Gators are set for an out of conference battle against the Charlotte 49ers of the American Athletic Conference.
The 49ers are 1-2 on the season with their lone win coming against South Carolina State on opening weekend.
The following are our staff’s predictions for Florida vs Charlotte:
Carson Euverard – Even with a few starters out the Gators will win big against the 1-2 49ers. Charlotte gave up 41 points against Georgia State last week so the offense should have no issues moving the ball. Billy Napier will have plenty of opportunities to get the backups some reps in this one. Trevor Etienne should have another big game in the first half and we’ll most likely see freshman Treyaun Webb get carries in the second half.
Austin Armstrong’s defense was swarming against the Volunteers and will give the 49ers trouble on offense. Gators win 56-10.
Alyssa Britton-Harr – I believe the Gators coming off back-to-back wins, especially against Tennessee, will continue to have their momentum fired up. Charlotte is a smaller team who has not played well so far into the season with only one win under their belt. Florida will be missing some key players, but the Gators running ball game will allow them to have a quick start and score touchdowns. Graham Mertz has proved himself to be that guy and that he is here in the “swamp” to get the job done. The Gators have been able to come together as a team early into the season, and it will be a huge component to what the rest of the season will look like. Therefore, I believe Coach Napier and the Gators will take the victory this weekend, 37-10.
Hugh Green – After a huge upset win over the Tennessee Volunteers last weekend, Florida welcomes a Charlotte team who is 1-2 so far this season. The Gators will be without a few key guys due to injury including starting center Kingsley Eguakun and wide receivers Eugene Wilson III and Ja’Markis Weston. Florida will also have offensive linemen Damien George, Jr. and Micah Mazzccua and tight end Dante Zanders on the sidelines for the first half as they will serve a suspension from the scuffle at the end of last week’s game.
With these guys out, the Gators might suffer somewhat of a slow start on the offensive side of the ball. However, with the way Trevor Etienne and the Florida running attack looked last week, they are almost guaranteed to have another great game against Charlotte. Etienne rushed for a career high 172 yards, including a 62-yard touchdown that set the tone early.
I am expecting a run-heavy attack from the Gator offense, and the defense to not allow much to a 49ers team who has yet to play a team of this caliber in 2023. Florida should win this game without much trouble in front of another sold out Ben Hill Griffin Stadium crowd. Florida, 47-10.
Brian Fox – The Gators enter the game as a 29-point favorite over the Charlotte 49ers. Charlotte is 1-2 against the spread with the win coming from an 18-point loss to Maryland. Last week, the 49ers lost 41-25 against Georgia State at home. The Gators should be able to move the ball at ease against this inferior opponent. Additionally, the Florida defense should continue their early season hot streak, Florida, 38-10.
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Florida and Charlotte will kick off from Ben Hill Griffin Stadium at 7:00 PM. The game will not be broadcast on television, but can be streamed via ESPN+ and SEC Network +.