One sports bet that must be thought about at great length over the next few months is the record for the Florida Gator football team in 2011. Florida’s new head coach is Will Muschamp, freshly arrived from Texas, but in many ways the biggest coaching story for the Gators is that former Notre Dame boss Charlie Weis is calling the shots as the offensive coordinator. Florida struggled immensely last season, losing 10-7 at home to Mississippi State and looking very inept in other games, even at home. The Gators were no match for South Carolina in what amounted to the SEC East championship game.
The skill positions all have talented contributors, but the degree to which they’ll flourish under Muschamp and Weis’ system remains to be seen. Tailbacks Chris Rainey and Jeff Demps are blazingly fast but not suited to run between the tackles. Young Mack Brown – the running back, not the Texas coach who lost Muschamp in the offseason – needs to stay healthy and power the ball up the middle. At receiver, Frankie Hammond, Omarius Hines, Deonte Thompson, and Andre Debose should form a relatively competent and capable good group of receivers for quarterback Jeff Brantley. It’s also worth noting that if freshman Ja’Juan Story finds his way to the field early in the season, Florida could be more successful than a lot of people currently think. Story is a big, physical receiver that Weis could use in a very effective manner.
The big point of uncertainty for Florida’s offense is the offensive line. Just two starters return, and the pair of Jon Halapio and Xavier Nixon struggled at times in 2010. Nick Alajajian moved from tackle to center to replace the departed Mike Pouncey. The left of the line is altogether thin and experienced, with few accumulated starts from 2010. There isn’t much quality depth. Moreover, Florida whiffed on several of its offensive line recruits, so if the infirmary ravages the Florida offensive line, this team will have problems.
Defensively, the recruiting depth built up under Meyer will help Muschamp and company immediately. MLB baseball betting experts are aware that Meyer was a fabulous coach; they know that Florida is a magnet for quality recruits as a result.
Just two starters return, but plenty of extremely talented and veteran players return, so that number is somewhat skewed. Sophomores Ronald Powell, Sharrif Floyd, and Dominique Easley give Florida a young and freakishly athletic defensive line. There is quality depth as well with Omar Hunter and Jaye Howard coming off the bench at tackle and Chris Martin and Larentee McCray at end. At linebacker, the Gators return starters Jon Bostic and Jelani Jenkins and have plenty of experienced backups like Dee Finley as well. Front seven depth and athleticism will be the strength of the Florida team in 2011.
The only question for the Gators defense in 2011 is in the secondary where all of the returning starters have now departed. Much like the defensive line, recruiting has been very good and there is plenty of talent on hand, albeit inexperienced talent. Janoris Jenkins being dismissed hurt the Gators’ chances to at least have one experienced cover corner, so Florida needs something big from either Jeremy Brown, Cody Riggs, Moses Jenkins or perhaps a freshman with uncommonly good instincts. At Safety, Matt Elam had a good freshman season and steps into the starting spot. Josh Evans is a decent free safety but he might be pushed by the freshmen Florida has hauled in during the offseason.
If the Gators’ youngest and most talented recruits deliver the goods, the sports betting calculus will favor Florida more than it currently does.