Florida Football: Gators battle Georgia with SEC, playoff implications
Florida football travels to Jacksonville for its annual meeting with the Georgia Bulldogs in a game that has huge implications in the SEC East and the playoff.
Dan Mullen’s first season in the Swamp has gone better than even the most optimistic of prognosticators could have imagined as Florida, on the strength of a 6-1 record, have climbed into the AP Top 10 just a year removed from a deflating 4-7 overall mark.
The Gators took last week off, but are in the midst of a five game winning streak that includes handing No. 4 LSU its lone blemish of the season. An aggressive defense, a strong running game, and the improvement from sophomore QB Feleipe Franks has spurred the Gainesville resurgence, and has the Gators right in the thick of the SEC, and College Football Playoff, race.
Dan Mullen should be on every coach of the year shortlist, and his Gators can take another massive step forward if they can knock off Georgia in Jacksonville in the annual World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party rivalry.
Georgia also had the week off, but spent the bye week licking their wounds following a thorough demolition at the hands of LSU in Baton Rouge. The Bulldogs were dominated on both lines of scrimmage, and sophomore QB Jake Fromm turned in his worst passing efficiency game since taking the reins as the starting QB.
It will be interesting to see what Kirby Smart did during the bye week to provide a spark for his team, and if that will be enough for them to take down a Florida team that will present many of the same challenges they faced against LSU.
Here’s how you can watch Saturday’s rivalry match-up between the Gators and the Bulldogs:
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Date: Saturday, Oct. 27
Time: 3:30 p.m. ET
Location: Jacksonville, Fla.
Venue: TIAA Bank Field
TV: CBS
Live Stream: CBS Sports Live | FuboTV
Keys to Victory
Florida will hope to run the ball as effectively as LSU was able to two weeks ago against the Georgia front; the Tigers racked up 275 yards on the ground, which allowed them to not have to take risky shots down field with a shaky quarterback. Led by Lamical Perine and Jordan Scarlett, the Florida rushing attack will look to keep the Gators ahead of the chains, and prevent the Georgia defense from being able to pin its ears back and get after Franks.
The bye week would have been a perfect opportunity for Kirby Smart to get some packages together for freshman quarterback Justin Fields, who could be a difference maker in this game with his ability as a runner and a passer. Florida will be selling out to take away D’Andre Swift and Georgia’s traditional running game, which will put a lot of pressure on Fromm to make plays down the field against a tough Florida secondary. A way to keep the Florida defense off balance, and to take advantage of a blitz happy Todd Grantham scheme, could be to take the training wheels off of Fields and give him some RPO opportunities. Trust the freshman to make a few throws out of RPO concepts, and that could loosen up the Florida front to allow for some open running lanes.
Betting Odds
Odds courtesy of OddsShark.com
Point Spread: Georgia -6.5
Over/Under: 52
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Prediction
In a game that is sure to be close, special teams play could very well be the difference. Florida’s special teams have been strong this season, with three blocked kicks, and Freddie Swain has been one of the most dangerous punt returners in all of college football. Look for Swain to bust a big return or for the Gators to block a punt that swings the game in their favor, lifting them directly into the College Football Playoff picture with a second signature win.
Final Score: Florida 23, Georgia 20