Florida will look to get back in the win column Saturday when the Gators host FCS foe Samford at The Swamp (noon, SEC Network Plus). Florida has lost 3 straight games after a 4-2 start, including blowout defeats to No. 1 Georgia and at South Carolina last weekend.

Defensive coordinator Todd Grantham was fired after the South Carolina loss, and questions linger as to whether head coach Dan Mullen will survive to coach the Gators in 2022.

In the end, Mullen has no one to blame but himself for Florida’s current position. Had he made a change last winter, as needed, Florida might have a better record and a better recruiting class and be building for the future. Instead, it is hoping for a victory over Samford to get a win closer to bowl eligibility.

Here are 5 bold predictions for Saturday’s game.

100 yards rushing for Dameon Pierce

Pierce has been one of Florida’s steadiest performers, which makes it all the more surprising that Mullen has shied away from giving him a heavier workload. Pierce had 69 yards on just 9 carries against Georgia, raising the question: Why didn’t he get more carries? The 4th-year running back averages 6.1 yards per carry and leads the Gators with 8 rushing touchdowns, but he has yet to carry the ball 10 times in a game. That will change Saturday.

Mullen needs 2 wins to get bowl-eligible, and he’ll ride his most reliable players. That includes Pierce, who will break the 100-yard mark for the 1st time this season.

100 yards rushing for Samford running back Jay Stanton

Maybe the bolder pick would be 150 yards.

After all, the Gators have given up 798 yards rushing to their last 3 opponents, and I’m sure Samford watched video and figured out that Florida can’t stop a simple counter play.

Stanton, coming off a season-high 134 yards against The Citadel, is a 2wo-time All-SoCon selection at running back with outstanding speed on the 2nd level. He’ll have a nice game against a Florida defense lacking any confidence.

3 sacks for Zachary Carter

Carter ranks among the SEC leaders in sacks (6) and quarterback pressures (25) this season. Samford quarterback Liam Welch is mobile, and the Bulldogs have surrendered only 11 sacks all season as a result, but Carter will break  through Saturday and post a huge game in his penultimate appearance at The Swamp.

Carter has been one of Florida’s few consistent performers on defense, and his leadership is a big reason the Florida locker room has stayed together despite a program and coaching staff under fire.

0 turnovers for the Gators

This is easily the boldest of the bold predictions.

Florida has been woeful with ball security this season. The Gators rank 125th nationally in turnover margin (-9), a number that is the 3rd worst in the Power 5 (ahead of just Arizona and Kentucky). The Gators also lead the SEC and rank 2nd nationally in interceptions thrown with 15.

Florida has had at least 1 turnover in every game this season, and even 1-turnover performances have been rare (Alabama, Tennessee). Avoiding a turnover against a 4-5 FCS opponent isn’t much to write home about, but the Gators will take care of the ball and finally play turnover-free football.

100 yards receiving and a touchdown for Kemore Gamble

The senior tight end ranks 5th on the Gators with 18 receptions, but he has been forgotten too often in the Florida offense. That’s a shame, because when he has been included in Mullen’s game plan, he has produced. Against Alabama and Georgia, the No. 1 teams Florida has played, Gamble had 9 receptions for 58 yards, proving himself to be a reliable possession receiver capable of moving the sticks. Gamble has also had 4 games in which he hasn’t caught a ball at all, and in 3 of those games, he wasn’t even targeted.

Florida needs to change that. Jacob Copeland is open all the time, but he has had tough drops in the last 2 games. Xzavier Henderson still isn’t open enough. Trent Whittemore has disappeared from Florida’s offense of late.

As with Pierce, Gamble is a senior who has been reliable all season, grading out as one of Florida’s best blockers and playing his best football in big games. He’ll produce Saturday in a big way to help Florida avoid an embarrassing upset.