Florida vs. Auburn: GatorMaven staff picks and predictions!

The biggest game of the Florida Gators’ season-to-date is here, with the No. 7 Auburn Tigers preparing to challenge Dan Mullen and company in the first Top 10 matchup Ben Hill Griffin Stadium has hosted in seven years.

How does the GatorMaven staff predict the game will go? Make sure to leave your prediction in the comments!

Zach Goodall: Florida 24, Auburn 21

I've gone back and forth on my prediction throughout the week, but ultimately decided to bet on the Florida Gators and their ferocious pass rush, at home, against a true freshman quarterback in Bo Nix.

Look, Florida has some issues that are going to be exposed today. I don't expect the run game to work in their favor whatsoever unless production comes via trick plays or quarterback Emory Jones being used in certain option packages. And if Florida can't fix their issues with missing tackles, Auburn will have no problem running the ball.

But Bo Nix has never played in an environment like The Swamp, with 90,000 people cheering against him. And Nix has proven through five games that pressure flusters him - combining the crowd noise with Florida's edge-rushing tandem of Jonathan Greenard and Jabari Zuniga will put more pressure on him than he has ever faced.

Kyle Trask should have a productive day targeting wide receiver Josh Hammond and tight end Kyle Pitts, and both squads will provide exciting moments on defense. But today, Florida will prove they belong in the single-digit rankings.

Graham Marsh: Florida 21. Auburn 18.

Until the bitter end. I like a back-and-forth affair in this game. Both teams are among the best in college football, and both teams have incredible talent on defense. I think the Gators grind out a hard-fought win and find themselves with a game-winning field goal late. I have Evan McPherson nailing a chip-shot to give Florida something to celebrate all weekend long.

Donavon Keiser: Florida 24, Auburn 20

Considering the rankings, this game will turn out to be a classic one in The Swamp, with Florida edging out a victory in the 4th quarter.

I see this game coming down to the wire, but I give UF a slight advantage due to their defense. I think Bo Nix struggles all day and in a similar fashion to last year's LSU game, I see him giving up the game for his team. Florida will have pressure on him all day and he’ll be getting hit while throwing on two of the best cornerbacks in the country - that won’t bode well for him.

On offense, Kyle Trask should do enough to keep UF in it, by driving down the field and taking care of the ball. We’ll see at least three turnovers in this game, as both defenses will create pressure and both quarterbacks are very inexperienced. I think UF holds a lead going into the 4th, and the Gator defense ends it with some vital stops in the last minutes to seal the game. The UF crowd will be insane - I believe it will crack the Top 10 all-time attendance list in the Swamp, somewhere around 90K+.

Ainslie Lee: Florida 24, Auburn 17

Typically, I look forward to writing these game predictions. This one? Not so much.

I’m struggling with this one. It’s frustrating. I see a lot to love from both teams. Auburn’s performance against Mississippi State last week was impressive -- yet, then again, the Bulldogs defense is porous. Malzahn’s Tigers have yet to see a defensive threat similar to the one Florida poses. I was able to meet with Florida’s DT Kyree Campbell in one of the most entertaining interviews ever on Monday. Nonetheless, I learned one thing: the defense is jacked on this game. I think they will be ready -- and for that reason, I give the Gators a shot.

Between the noise in The Swamp and an energized defense, Bo Nix is in trouble. To get the job done, the Gators’ defense will have to play 60 minutes of great football. That means forcing turnovers, staying in gaps and not missing tackles. If they do that, they win the football game. If they win the football game, the entire country will be talking about the Gators. I’ve got Florida traveling to Death Valley with six wins in their pocket.

Victor Prieto: Florida 20, Auburn 17

The Swamp will be rocking. Florida will be hyped. Auburn is going to be good.

I think this contest will be a rollercoaster match, with a lot of highs and a lot of lows in the first half. Bo Nix and the Tigers will come out hot taking a slight lead into the half. The Gators’ defensive line will be the catalyst of the comeback, though, pressuring Nix and forcing a turnover in the 4th quarter which leads to another come-from-behind Florida victory.

Ethan Budowsky: Florida 28, Auburn 20

I don't Bo Nix is as perfect as the media says, and is bound to make a mistake sooner than later. This game is the exact recipe that usually forces freshman QBs to do just that. The Gators defense will step up, and I think we will see the running game find something this game. I’m also looking for wide receivers Trevon Grimes and Van Jefferson to have big games. It’s going to be a hard-fought game until the end, but I think Florida puts one on top at the end, like the LSU game last season.