USAToday has Florida picked No. 22

It's way early to even speculate anything, but I will make one observation that I think all would probably agree with---
Florida State does not want to be ranked number one playing a number two ranked Bama in the first game of the season.

Alasippi said:

It's way early to even speculate anything, but I will make one observation that I think all would probably agree with---
Florida State does not want to be ranked number one playing a number two ranked Bama in the first game of the season.

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Alabama is going to play with a chip on its shoulder because Alabama is coming off the loss to Clemson. Alabama will be focused. But Alabama is going to be favored in this game, and Alabama is Alabama, so FSU is also going to be focused.

Two well coached teams with months to prepare for a monster game to start the season. I give the edge to Alabama on coaching, but to FSU for their returning starters. It will be a great game to watch.

I nailed Northwestern and Iowa as teams that Michigan is fortunate to not have on their schedule. Add Nebraska to that list.

Why these sleeper teams could win the Big Ten title

ALA2262 said:

I nailed Northwestern and Iowa as teams that Michigan is fortunate to not have on their schedule. Add Nebraska to that list.

Why these sleeper teams could win the Big Ten title

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Agree, thy have an easy schedule, but they also return no one from the team that made a run last year, and they don't have the depth to reload like Alabama or OSU can. They will be very young next year.

B1GTide said:

Agree, thy have an easy schedule, but they also return no one from the team that made a run last year, and they don't have the depth to reload like Alabama or OSU can. They will be very young next year.

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Oh, I'm not saying they will have a good season because of an easy schedule. I'm saying it would be worse with Iowa, Nebraska, and Northwestern on the schedule. I have them losing to UF, PSU, Indiana, Wisconsin, and, of course, tOSU. :biggrin:

I am going to go against the grain here. I think Coach Mac may have a warm seat right now. He has not delivered the past two years. I know he has made the SECCG, but he did so more by default than anything. The SEC East has been comprised of a bunch of teams who didn't want to win the division and did whatever it took to make sure that it did not happen. Should UGA step it up and dominate the SEC E, look for UF to make a change.

Florida:

Michigan (Dallas) L
Northern Colorado W
Tennessee W
@Kent W
Vandy W
LSU L
aTm L
UGA L
@ Mizzou W
@USCe L
UAB W
FSU L


I have them a 6-6. I just don't see Mac having a good team. I would say his luck is going to run out this year, and the winner of the UF-UT game could be fighting for bowl eligibility.


I really see the east as


1. UGA
2. USCe
3. UF
4. Vandy
5. Kentucky
6. UT
7. Mizzou

tlockwood said:

I am going to go against the grain here. I think Coach Mac may have a warm seat right now. He has not delivered the past two years. I know he has made the SECCG, but he did so more by default than anything. The SEC East has been comprised of a bunch of teams who didn't want to win the division and did whatever it took to make sure that it did not happen. Should UGA step it up and dominate the SEC E, look for UF to make a change.

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I agree with you. the truth is that Mac has benefited from UT and UGA being down, and even then his teams have struggled mightily down the stretch.

ALA2262 said:

I nailed Northwestern and Iowa as teams that Michigan is fortunate to not have on their schedule. Add Nebraska to that list.

Why these sleeper teams could win the Big Ten title

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Out of all those teams only Iowa has a real shot.IMO

tlockwood said:

----snip----I think Coach Mac may have a warm seat right now. He has not delivered the past two years. I know he has made the SECCG, but he did so more by default than anything. ----snip----

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"Default"? :conf2:

Let's review.....

Here's how Florida fared under their previous head coach, Will Muschamp:

2011 - Florida's first losing conference record (3-5) since 1979
2012 - Florida lost to Georgia (did not score a single TD) and thus lost the SEC East title, despite an 11-2 record that year
2013 - Florida's first losing season (4-8) since 1979
2014 - 4-4 in the conference and 7-5 overall - (Coach Boom gets canned)

Given the above perspective....I don't understand how anyone could possibly think Coach Mac's seat is warm - or will be warm this upcoming season.

81usaf92 said:

----snip----I just don't see Mac having a good team. I would say his luck is going to run out this year, ----snip----

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I have a feeling when you talk about "luck running out"....you're not referencing his bad luck of losing his starting QB in each of his last two seasons....

And still winning the SEC East both seasons.

Heck...I would LOVE to see that luck run out! :biggrin2:

Florida, under Coach Mac, has everything in place right now except the QB position.

That doesn't guarantee they will win another SEC East title.

It doesn't guarantee anything actually.

But given the ridiculous amount of talent on the team right now plus the improvements made on the coaching staff, i wouldn't bet against them.

Sorry if I speak through O&B glasses but that's really and truly how I see it, based on all the reports and info I see every week along with what they have done the past 2 seasons considering injuries and other misc. handicaps.

Bazza said:

"Default"? :conf2:

Let's review.....

Here's how Florida fared under their previous head coach, Will Muschamp:

2011 - Florida's first losing conference record (3-5) since 1979
2012 - Florida lost to Georgia (did not score a single TD) and thus lost the SEC East title, despite an 11-2 record that year
2013 - Florida's first losing season (4-8) since 1979
2014 - 4-4 in the conference and 7-5 overall - (Coach Boom gets canned)

Given the above perspective....I don't understand how anyone could possibly think Coach Mac's seat is warm - or will be warm this upcoming season.




I have a feeling when you talk about "luck running out"....you're not referencing his bad luck of losing his starting QB in each of his last two seasons....

And still winning the SEC East both seasons.

Heck...I would LOVE to see that luck run out! :biggrin2:

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You can't deny that UF has escaped some games because of the other team shooting themselves in the foot the last two years. I'm just not sold on Mac and it mostly deals with his offensive philosophy and his poor recruiting. Poor being by UF standards. Mush and Zook did better in recruiting. I could be wrong, but I think when mushchamp's defense is totally gone then so is Mac's success story.

81usaf92 said:

----snip----I could be wrong, but I think when mushchamp's defense is totally gone then so is Mac's success story.

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You do realize that with all the injuries Florida had last season, they were playing a majority of freshmen and sophomores that Mac recruited.

That is a factor many don't take into consideration when making "predictions" of Florida. Those players who acted as replacements got immeasurable experience under fire.

Bazza said:

You do realize that with all the injuries Florida had last season, they were playing a majority of freshmen and sophomores that Mac recruited.

That is a factor many don't take into consideration when making "predictions" of Florida. Those players who acted as replacements got immeasurable experience under fire.

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Maybe but he hasn't had a great recruiting season since he's been in Florida, and I'm not too sure that mush couldn't be in Atlanta under the same circumstances . I've always felt that the only either fired mush A year to early our year too late

81usaf92 said:

Maybe but he hasn't had a great recruiting season since he's been in Florida, and I'm not too sure that mush couldn't be in Atlanta under the same circumstances . I've always felt that the only either fired mush A year to early our year too late

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While I agree that our recruiting could improve, IMHO in no way is it so bad that it warrants discussion relating to Coach Mac's seat being warm. In fact, we finished very well this year in our recruiting class and most feel it's our best finish yet under Coach Mac.

The bottom line (as we all know) is winning games and there's no way anyone can dispute that Coach Mac has done that, regardless of anyone's interpretation of how it was accomplished.

Florida still has a ways to go to get back into the national title hunt, but I believe progress is being made on many levels.

In the immortal words of a very highly respected head coach....it's a process!

I think that Florida's weakness on offense the last few years has been along the offensive line. Sure, they have lacked good QB play, but whoever they have thrown back there has been destroyed - hit on almost every play. Fix that, with their tremendous defensive play, they can only get better.

As far as Mac having a "warm" seat right now - every coach has a warm seat other than a select few. Not because they should, but because fans and boosters are idiots. Mac's only failure the last 2 seasons is a failure to beat the best team in the country both years in the SECCG. In every other way, he has exceeded expectations at FL - or, should I say, reasonable expectations.

Redwood Forrest said:

I wonder just what it would take to convince you that MAC is a good HC? Have you looked at Colorado State the few years before MAC and then at Colorado State after MAC? MAC took a loser and turned them around. Georgia was the hands down favorite to win the EAST in MAC's first year and Tennessee was hands down favorite to win the EAST last year ...... but MAC won it both times. That seems impressive to me.

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In the context of the time, it's not so impressive. Mac may well be a VERY good coach. I'll say he's 'decent' at this point.

But look a little closer (and this is 81's point):

2015
He beat a 5-7 UK team by only 14-9.
Tennessee collapsed in the final minutes and gave UF a game they'd been dominated in early.
He beat 4-8 Vandy, 9-7
He needed overtime - I repeat, OVERTIME....to beat Florida Atlantic

He was 2-3 against teams with double digit wins, losing two blowouts where his team scored a total of nine points.

2016
Scraped by UMASS
Collapsed with a huge halftime lead against Butch Jones
Beat 6-7 Vandy by 7
Got creamed by a mediocre Arky team
Beat LSU due to some lousy play calling by LSU
Once again got manhandled by both FSU AND Alabama

He was 0-2 against ten-win teams, with two blowout losses, making him 2-5 vs double-digit winning teams.


He's 19-8 and with just a play going the other way in the one score games he'd be 13-14.

Indeed, without the natural talent Florida gets due to their name, he's probably worse than that.