USAT projects same bowl game, different opponent for Florida after Week 9

Florida football fell to 5-3 this season after its loss to the Georgia Bulldogs in Atlanta on Saturday. With four games remaining on the schedule, the Gators need just one more win to reach the postseason after missing out on a bowl game last year. For the past four weeks, USA TODAY Sports writer Erick Smith has projected Florida to play in the Gator Bowl and once again predicted the same venue after the Week 9 loss. However, this time he has a new opponent: the Louisville Cardinals.Florida has played in the Gator Bowl nine times since 1952 with seven wins. UF previously participated in the Sunshine State event during Will Muschamp's first season on the sidelines in 2012, beating Ohio State, 24-17. Florida's last loss in a Gator Bowl game was in 1975, when Maryland shut out Doug Dickey's squad, 13-0.The Gators and Cardinals have met three times on the collegiate gridiron, with Florida winning the first two at home in 1980, 13-0, and 1982, 31-17, but losing the 2013 Sugar Bowl, 33-23.USA TODAY Sports' Week 9 bowl projectionBowl: Gator BowlOpponent: LouisvilleDate: Dec. 30Time: 11:30 a.m. ETLocation: Jacksonville, FloridaConference matchup: SEC vs. ACCFollow 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: USAT projects same bowl game, different opponent for Florida after Week 9