Florida football is set for its first real test of the 2025 season, and ESPN has a strong prediction for how Saturday will unfold in the Swamp.
After crushing LIU 55-0 in Week 1, the Florida Gators welcome in-state foe South Florida, fresh off a shocking 34-7 upset over then-No. 25 Boise State. Suddenly, what looked like a routine early nonconference matchup has turned into a storyline that could be intriguing.
According to ESPN’s Matchup Predictor, the Gators are given an 82.7% chance to win, while USF sits at just 17.3%.
The numbers reflect Florida’s dominance in Week 1, where sophomore quarterback DJ Lagway threw three first-half touchdowns, the defense pitched a shutout and the offense played clean football with zero penalties or turnovers.
On the other side, USF quarterback Byrum Brown lit up Boise State’s defense for 210 yards through the air, and his offense looked far more explosive than in recent years.
If there’s a trap-game vibe here, it’s because USF has nothing to lose and everything to gain. Florida, meanwhile, has to prove it can carry momentum into a brutal September slate that includes the LSU Tigers, Miami Hurricanes, Texas Longhorns and Texas A&M Aggies.
Billy Napier has stressed that the Gators must build on their last game, and Week 2 against USF provides another chance to prove his program is trending in the right direction.
How to watch Florida football vs. USF
Florida faces USF in Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 6 with a 4:15 p.m. ET kickoff. The game will be shown on the SEC Network.
Follow us @GatorsWire on X, formerly known as Twitter, as well as Bluesky, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.
This article originally appeared on Gators Wire: Does ESPN think Florida football can handle upset-minded USF in Week 2?
Reporting by Aidan Gallardo, Gators Wire / Gators Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
