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ESPN holds steady on Florida’s bowl projections after Week 8

Florida’s bye week did not change ESPN’s postseason outlook for the Gators.

Kyle Bonagura and Mark Schlabach kept Florida in the same two bowl matchups they projected after the Gators’ win at Texas, with Bonagura sending Florida to the Gator Bowl against Pittsburgh and Schlabach projecting a ReliaQuest Bowl matchup with Nebraska.

Bonagura has Florida facing Pitt on Dec. 30 in Jacksonville, while Schlabach projects a meeting with Nebraska on Dec. 31 in Tampa. The latter lines up with CBS Sports' projection following Week 8.

The projections are unchanged from ESPN’s previous update, which came after Florida’s 27-24 road win over Texas.

Florida enters its rivalry matchup with Georgia at 5-2 overall and 3-2 in SEC play, needing one more win to become bowl-eligible. The Gators still have plenty of room to alter their postseason destination with five regular-season games remaining. After Georgia, Florida closes with Oklahoma, Kentucky, Vanderbilt and Florida State.

A Gator Bowl appearance would keep Florida in Jacksonville and match the Gators with an ACC opponent. The ReliaQuest Bowl would also keep Florida close to home while offering a Big Ten matchup against one of the sport’s most recognizable programs.

The fact that both ESPN projections held steady through the bye also reflects where Florida currently sits in the SEC postseason picture. The Gators have done enough to stay in the middle of the conference’s bowl hierarchy, but the final month will determine whether they climb into a more prestigious slot—with the ultimate goal of the College Football Playoff—or slide further down the pecking order.

Florida gets its first chance to change that outlook Saturday against Georgia.

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