Taking out the trash – Florida preview

Posted on by

The game that matters … Georgia-Florida. The Cocktail Party. Dawgs vs. Handbags. Good Taste vs. Jorts. Different parts of the state hate certain other schools with a burning intensity, but the entire Dawg Nation truly hates the Gators with the fire of a 1,000 suns. It doesn’t matter what happens the rest of the season … a loss in Jacksonville is a black cloud over any season for a true Dawg fan. Let’s get to the preview.

When Florida Has the Ball

I mentioned in my first look post that DJ Lagway has the potential to be a wild card in this game. Florida has to get a big game from the young dual-threat quarterback to have any shot to win later today. If he can stay away from the big mistake and keep the chains moving, Sun Belt Billy likely get the kind of game he wants – a shortened game in the 20s where Florida has a chance to steal one in the 4th quarter. In Florida’s 3 games against ranked opponents, the offense has scored 17 (twice) and 20 in their 3 losses. That point production is not going to be enough to get it done against a Georgia offense that has scored 30 or more in every game but one this season. Badger and Dike are two deep threats averaging 20 yards per catch. The big question is whether the Gator offensive line can hold up over 60 minutes against the Georgia front 7. Over the last 3 years, that hasn’t been the case. I expect Saturday to be similar.

When Georgia Has the Ball

I mentioned the Gators’ challenges stopping the run earlier in the week especially in their game against Texas A&M. They also gave up 240 yards rushing to Mississippi State. If the Dawgs can establish a consistent running game, I expect the Dawgs will get it done. The Gators have been pretty good against the pass other than in the game against Miami. This afternoon would be a great time for Carson Beck to find his mojo and have a big game as he did last year in Jacksonville in front of the hometown fans. Florida got 3 sacks against Tennessee, but only 1 total between Miami and Texas A&M. Once again, the game on offense comes down to whether the offensive line can control the Gator defensive line.

What Will Happen

This game really does come down to who wins the lines of scrimmage. I like both Georgia lines of scrimmage against the Florida lines. In particular, as the Georgia defense continues to get healthy, the likely pressure the defense can put on the Florida offense goes up. I wouldn’t be surprised to see this game start as last year did with the Gators scoring early on a scripted drive, but then the Georgia defense becomes the boa constrictor and takes over the game. Dawgs win in a taking care of business kind of fashion.

Final Score: Georgia 38, Florida 17

What do you think? Feel free to comment below.

This entry was posted in Gators, Gators …, UGA and tagged , , , by eethomaswfnc. Bookmark the permalink.

About eethomaswfnc

I've been a Dawg my entire life. UGA was always my dream school where I received 2 Terry College degrees and met my DGD wife. I've been a season ticket holder for over 30 years and love the in-stadium experience over anything from Section HD. My first game in Sanford Stadium was the 1981 Auburn game where we clinched the SEC championship. The best game I've attended in person was the Midnight Miss against Ohio State (nite, nite!). The best home games I've attended were the 1984 Clemson game (the Butler did it) and the 2013 LSU game (that 4th down is still the loudest single moment I've experienced between the hedges). The game I love to win is against the Handbags (FTMF), and the game I hate to lose is the NATS (Tuck Fech).

13 thoughts on “Taking out the trash – Florida preview”

  1. Think it’s a good day to beat the ever lovin’ dogshit out of Floriduh. Make them regret taking the field. Hunt, hunt, and hunt those slimy Sumbitches some more. Run it up and shut them out. Break those bitches!!!
    (Hope that would make RangerRuss as happy as it does me) FTMF’S

    HBTMFD

  6. Nothing gets the blood boiling like the Cocktail Party. I hate that we’ve got 2 guys out in the secondary in the first half (and no Evans), but that’s mitigated by Florida’s best WR being out and another RB out. Wasn’t sure on the cover but I do think that line is a good one. 31-14 Dawgs. FTMF.

  7. I’m not sure we cover. Gators will be fighting to save their season and limit Etienne. I’m going Dawgs 30-17. I’d love a beat down, but if Gators play close enough, maybe they’ll keep Sunbelt Billy for another season.

  9. Agreed line of scrimmage is critical. Beck and the receivers catching the ball is the other key. If UGA doesn’t turn the ball, UGA can run away with it. If they turn the ball over, this game can get much closer than it needs to be.

  10. Man, I’d love to see 60 minutes of aggressive, mistake-free football from the Dawgs. Not expecting it, but a guy can dream, can’t he?

  11. Pingback: Tale of the stats – Georgia 34, Florida 20 | GTP Refugees

Comments are closed.