2021 Gasparilla Bowl Preview: UCF vs. Florida

The UCF Knights have wanted to play the Florida Gators for awhile, but Florida didn’t want to schedule a game on UCF’s terms. Now, though, the two teams will have to meet because they’re playing in a bowl game. Florida can’t duck UCF any longer. This game could be one of the more emotional non-January bowl games on the docket.

UCF Knights vs. Florida Gators
Date: Thursday, December 23rd, 7:00 PM ET

Location: Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, FL

CFB Odds: Florida -6.5

UCF Knights

The Knights have every reason to be motivated for this contest. It’s in Florida. It’s in Tampa. It’s against another Florida school. It’s against one of the premier Florida schools. It’s an SEC opponent. The fact that the Knights tried to schedule Florida but were rebuffed by the Gators should give UCF a lot of motivational fuel for this game. It’s a matter of pride, bragging rights, and so much more for the Knights. It’s fair to say that UCF should be more motivated to win this game than Florida.

The Knights are having a down year compared to previous seasons, which is why a win over Florida would definitely set the tempo for next year’s team. It would give the Knights an uplifting conclusion to a season which has been marked by its volatility. The Knights went through a lot of ups and downs and never truly settled into a groove. First-year head coach Gus Malzahn’s team fell short of the AAC Championship Game. This bowl game is a clear way for UCF to salvage its season.

A win in this game would also allow UCF to recruit against Florida and gain leverage in publicity and other marketing components for the next year. These things matter. The Knights began this season with high hopes, but in a game against Louisville UCF lost a bevy of players, including starting quarterback Dillon Gabriel, who is now at UCLA, to a broken clavicle. To make matters worse, UCF lost that game in the final seconds. Mikey Keene took over at UCF and went 6-3 in his nine starts. Keene will need to have a big day if UCF hopes to beat Florida. 

Florida Gators

The Dan Mullen era is over at Florida. After a tumultuous start and an even more turbulent tenure, Florida decided that Mullen was just not what the Gators were looking for. Florida fired him after a 4-2 start turned into 5-6 at the end of the year. An interim coach guided Florida to an ugly win over a Florida State team that was trying to solve its own considerable problems. UF ended the season 6-6.

The Billy Napier tenure is now here for the Gators, with few of the current interim bowl-game coaches being retained for the 2022 season. Players know their lives are about to change and some will fall out of favor with the new regime. It’s a cluttered and complicated situation for a team which profoundly underachieved this season and rarely played strong defense. Florida imploded on that side of the ball for much of the 2021 season. If we’re talking strictly about talent, Florida should wipe the floor with UCF, but UCF is probably going to be the more motivated team in this game. A lot of programs will be playing in bowls in an emotionally uncertain situation. Florida is one.

Outlook

UCF will be the more motivated team in this game. In bowl season, that counts for a lot and often makes the difference. It will here.

Knights vs. Gators Prediction:

Knights 42, Gators 30