Last years game was a great early season thriller. Richardson came out and showed he was the real deal, while Utah exposed a shaky Florida defense. Things are very different this year. Thursday’s showdown in Salt Lake features a Florida team that has again not done great in the transfer portal. The big question is if Cameron Rising will play after tearing his ACL in Utah’s loss in the Rose Bowl on January second. I don’t blame Utah for keeping their cards close to their sleeves, but it will only have been 241 days since the injury, so even if Rising is able to strap it up, the Loaded Dice team does not expect him to be at full strength. In his place, former walk-on Bryson Barnes, who played well against Washington state and in the Rose Bowl, is expected to start. Behind him expect Utah to use 3rd string Nate Johnson to mix it up and add a more speedy, perhaps wildcat like, element to the offense. It is important to note that Utah Tight End Brant Kuithe, who was a stabilizing factor for the Utah offense, is recovering from an ACL tear last September 24 and is still listed as questionable. Last year, defense was a strength for the Utes averaging an allowed 20.4 pts/ game while maintaining an impressive 107 avg rushing yards per game. Expect Junior safety Cole Bishop to step up big this season after Utah will look to replace Clark Phillips and RJ Hubert in the secondary. To replace Anthony Richardson’s exit for the Colts, Wisconsin transfer Graham Mertz will be taking control. Mertz posted 5405 Yds with 38 TDs, but won’t be the running threat Richardson was. Gators will also be replacing center, right guard and tackle, so our team expects some early growing pains on the offense. Defense will be the strength of this Florida team, especially on the defensive line. Given the injury concerns with Utah, both strength of defenses, and and early season high altitude game, i team expects a very low scoring first to 17 kind of game.

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