Saturday, November 2, 2019 | Football, Chris Harry
Share:
By: Chris Harry, Senior Writer
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Interesting how things work out.
When Florida flailed about with turnovers and missed tackles in Orlando to barely survive its 2019 opener against Miami, fingers pointed at the Gators' seemingly multiple flaws. A bigger-picture blanket statement accompanied some assessments.
They can't beat Georgia.
It was more of the same after the escape-act at Kentucky, what with circumstances promoting a quarterback that had not started a game since he was a ninth-grader on the junior varsity at his Texas high school to starter.
Ah, but football seasons are long and full of ebbs and flows. And as poorly as the Florida defense played in a 42-28 loss at LSU on Oct. 12, the totality of the UF performance paled to the egg laid earlier that same day by Georgia, which was stunned in double-overtime, 20-17, at home by middling South Carolina (minus its starting quarterback, to boot). As if to further balance the ledger, the Gators went on the road and beat the Gamecocks by double-digits the following week.
Now, here they are. In Jacksonville. On the banks of the St. John's River.
Still think Florida can't beat Georgia?
The sixth-ranked Gators (7-1, 4-1) will go into Saturday's annual grudge-match and rivalry showdown against the No. 8 Bulldogs (6-1, 3-1) at TIAA Bank Field as a touchdown underdog, yet with an air of confidence and the feeling that canyon-like gap in talent between the two programs may not matter — or doesn't exist. This is Florida-Georgia as it should be, the 97th rendition of the series, with the winner assuming control of the Southeastern Conference East Division and subsequent path to a berth in the league championship game.
Both teams coming off open dates means some key banged up bodies will be on the field. For Florida, that means defensive line standouts Jon Greenard (ankle) and Jabari Zuniga (ankle), plus game-breaking flanker Kadarius Toney (shoulder), who's been out since Week 2. Georgia will have back wide receiver Lawrence Cager (shoulder), who left the South Carolina loss in the second half.
The anticipated return of defensive end and pass-rush specialist Jabari Zuniga (92), who has been sidelined with an ankle injury for all the but a few series since the Week 3 game at Kentucky, will be key for the Gators thus weekend and will pair nicely with the return of outside linebacker Jon Greenard, also plagued the last few several weeks with an ankle sprain.
This will be quarterback Kyle Trask's first taste of UF-UGA, but there's no reason to think he won't handle the moment with poise and aplomb considering what he's done to date. Trask has completed 67.5 percent of his passes for 1,391 yards, 14 touchdowns and four interceptions. He tossed a career-best four scores in the win over South Carolina.
Note: Georgia counterpart Jake Fromm threw a career-worst three interceptions against the same defense.
Note II: Fromm also was near-perfect in hitting 17 of 24 throws for 240 yards, three TDs and no picks in the Bulldogs' 36-17 victory over the Gators last season, compared to 105 yards and an interception from UF counterpart Feleipe Franks.
This UF offense (419.6 yards per game/6th in the SEC) is more efficient and consistent than it was in Dan Mullen's first season. The Georgia defense is ranked first in the league in yards (266.7 per game) and points (10.6) surrendered, and has yet to give up a rushing touchdown. The Bulldogs gave up just 177 yards in a 21-0 shutout of Kentucky two weeks ago, though the Wildcats were an injury-riddled mess, including a wideout playing quarterback.
It's worth noting that folded into Georgia's defensive numbers are three wins over SEC opponents (Kentucky, Tennessee and Vanderbilt) that began the week ranked 10th or worse in total offense and scoring offense in league statistics. In fact, only one of Georgia's first seven opponents ranked in the nation's top 45 in scoring (Notre Dame at 45th) and Arkansas State is the only top-35 passing offense to go up against the Dogs thus far.
Of course, the same game can be played with Florida's stats, as two UF victories have come against FCS opponents outscored by a combined 83-0. The Gators, though, hung around in the loss at LSU, now No. 2 in the nation, and beat a very good Auburn team along the way, as well.
Georgia figures to be the second or third best team Florida has come against thus far.
Georgia tailback D'Andre Swift leads the SEC in rushing and is averaging 6.9 yards per carry.
For UGA on offense, Fromm (71 percent, 1,406 yards, 9 TDs, 3 INTs) has been a top-three SEC quarterback the last two seasons, but hasn't been at his best the last two games in hitting just shy of 59 percent of his throws for 230 yards, one touchdown and the three interceptions in that South Carolina loss. Fromm, though, has a weapon the Gators do not have — an excellent running game — in tailback D'Andre Swift (754 yards, 6.9 per carry, 7 TDs), which may not be great news for a UF defense that has surrendered a combined 435 rushing yards (that's 217.5 per) the last two games (LSU and South Carolina).
Kickoff is set for 3:30 on CBS, with network's A-team crew of Brad Nessler on play-by-play, Gary Danielson providing analysis and Jamie Erdahl working the sidelines. The game will be rebroadcast three times on the SEC Network: Wednesday at noon; Thursday at 1 a.m.; Friday at 4 a.m.
Also, check out the "First & 10 Pre-Game Show," hosted by GatorVision's Shelby Granath, coming from the field via Facebook Live on the Florida Gators page at 2:10 p.m. This week's lineup includes chats with Mullen, Gator Radio Network sidelines reporter and former UF tight Tate Casey and hopeful appearances from the Gators' two Florida-Georgia Hall of Fame inductees, Brad Culpepper and Brandon Spikes.
Finally, follow senior staff writers Scott Carter and Chris Harry on Twitter (@GatorsScott and @GatorsChris) for commentary and analysis throughout the game. FloridaGators.com will have complete coverage content from the game Saturday night and fresh content Sunday, as well.
