Florida vs. Georgia: 10 Things To Keep An Eye On
Friday, October 28, 2011 | Football, Scott Carter
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – It's not like the Florida-Georgia game needed any more thump. The game remains one of college football's great rivalry games.
You have a packed stadium on the banks of the St. Johns River in Jacksonville split down the middle – Florida fans on one side and Georgia faithful on the other. You have one of the best pre-game environments in all of sports. And you have a true feistiness between the two Deep South border states.
“It's still Florida-Georgia,'' said Gators defensive tackle Omar Hunter, a Georgia native who has former high school teammates on the Bulldogs' roster. “Guys hate me and I feel the same.''
That's enough, but this year's game added some punch when Will Muschamp was hired to replace Urban Meyer in December. Yes, that Will Muschamp, the former Georgia safety. Muschamp's injection into the rivalry only added to the pre-game hype for this year's matchup.
Muschamp has never been on the winning side in a Florida-Georgia game, going 0-4 as a player for the Bulldogs from 1991-94. He'd like to see nothing more on Saturday at EverBank Field than the Gators' recent dominance over the Bulldogs continue.
Florida has won 18 of the past 21 meetings, including the last three.
Here are 10 things to keep an eye on Saturday as the Gators try to make it four in a row:
BRANTLEY'S IMPACT
Gators starting quarterback John Brantley is expected to play for the first time since he suffered a right ankle injury in the loss to Alabama on Oct. 1. Brantley has missed the past two games and it has not been pretty for the Gators.
Florida has managed only 17 points in 10 quarters during Brantley's absence. While Brantley is expected to play, true freshman quarterback Jacoby Brissett, who has started the past two games, and fellow freshman Jeff Driskel continued to get snaps at practice and could also play depending on how well Brantley's ankle holds up.
The Gators are looking for a psychological boost with Brantley's return as well as a boost on the scoreboard. Brantley had the best half of his career (190 yards) against the Crimson Tide before getting hurt right before halftime.
MURRAY'S IMPACT
One of Florida's top concerns on Saturday will be containing Georgia quarterback Aaron Murray, who leads the SEC with 16 touchdown passes and can also beat you with his feet. Murray is coming off a career-best 326-yard passing performance against Vanderbilt.
Murray averages more than 28 passes per game, so the Gators know the ball will be in the air often. Murray has thrown only seven interceptions in seven games, but the Gators hope they can force him into mistakes like they did in last year's 34-31 win when Murray threw three interceptions and lost a fumble.
ROLE OF TURNOVERS
It's well-documented that the Gators have not forced a turnover during their three-game losing streak. The Gators have been unable to come up with an interception or fumble in losses to Alabama, LSU and Auburn.
However, that has not been a problem against Georgia recently. In Florida's three-game win streak over the Bulldogs, the Gators have forced 12 turnovers and committed only one. In Urban Meyer's six seasons – Florida was 5-1 against Georgia – the Gators were plus-16 in turnover margin.
They will likely need that trend to continue to leave Jacksonville with a victory.
SEC IMPLICATIONS
While the Gators are unranked and Georgia enters in the lower portion of the polls at No. 22 in the AP Top 25 and No. 23 in the USA Today/ESPN Coaches Poll, this game has plenty riding on it.
The Bulldogs seek to remain tied with South Carolina atop the SEC East standings and extend their winning streak to six games. The Gators have more modest goals. They want to avoid their first four-game losing streak since 1988, but more than that, with a win, Florida can keep alive its hopes of an SEC East title.
Florida is eliminated from a potential spot in the title game in Atlanta with a loss.
GEORGIA'S PASS RUSH
The Bulldogs will be without reserve defensive players Kwame Geathers and Shawn Williams for the first half for their involvement in a scrum with Vanderbilt, but they get back a pair of key linebackers: Cornelius Washington and Alec Ogletree.
Ogletree plays on the inside. The return of Washington on the outside should boost Georgia's pass rush. Washington, who is back from a two-game suspension, leads Georgia with four sacks.
Brantley suffered his injury against Alabama on a sack by Crimson Tide outside linebacker Courtney Upshaw, so keeping an eye on Washington will be crucial.
MOMENTUM SWINGS
If nothing else, the Gators certainly have history on their side. With 18 wins in the last 21 meetings against Georgia, the Gators have shaped an entire generation of Florida-Georgia fans' view of the rivalry with their dominance.
In many of those games the Bulldogs had their chances but Florida made a play or got a break that turned the tide. If it's a close game and the Gators get a late break, it will be interesting to see if they can capitalize and how the Bulldogs react in a rivalry that has not been kind to them of late.
MUSCHAMP'S FIRE
He tried to deflect talk of his Georgia roots, but there's no quieting the interesting backdrop for Saturday's game with Muschamp coaching his first Florida-Georgia game.
Muschamp is correct in that his time at Georgia has nothing to do with the outcome. But as fiery as he is on the field regardless of the opponent, it will be interesting to see how he handles the emotions of the day in facing his alma mater and how the Gators respond on the field.
Since Ray Graves took over the program in 1960, only Charley Pell in 1979 lost his first meeting with Georgia as Florida's head coach.
GATORS' RUNNING ATTACK
Florida's running game led the SEC after four games. However, the Gators were slowed against the big and strong Alabama and LSU defenses.
The return of Jeff Demps could help their cause. Demps missed most of the LSU game and all of Florida's 17-6 loss at Auburn two weeks ago due to an injured foot/ankle. Muschamp said Demps is at top speed for the Georgia game and should provide Chris Rainey some help carrying the load.
Rainey has become fatigued in the second half of the past two games with Demps unavailable. Also, Trey Burton, who rushed for a career-high 110 yards in last year's win, could be a factor either out of the wildcat or at fullback.
TRENCH BATTLE
Georgia's offensive line is one of the biggest in the nation, averaging more than 326 pounds at each position. The Bulldogs' size up front will be a key challenge for Florida.
The Gators are hoping speed rusher Ronald Powell, who left the Auburn game with an undisclosed injury, picks up the pace. Powell is reportedly healthy and ready to provide a spark. He is 14th on the team in tackles and the coaches have pushed him for more production.
Meanwhile, Florida's interior linemen must clog the running lanes so Bulldogs tailback Isaiah Crowell doesn't have a big day.
SPECIAL TEAMS
The Gators won last year's game on Chas Henry's 37-yard field goal in overtime. Henry is no longer around, but Caleb Sturgis has been perhaps the best kicker in the country making 15 of 16 field-goal attempts.
Perhaps more importantly will be how the Gators' punt returners fare. Rainey and recently departed Robert Clark muffed a combined four punts at Auburn. The Tigers recovered two, leading to 10 of their 17 points.
Georgia ranks 101st in net punting at 34.2 yards per kick, so Florida appears to have an edge in the punting game.
GATOR GAMEBOX
Florida vs. No. 22 Georgia
Kickoff: Saturday, 3:30 p.m. (EverBank Field, Jacksonville)
Records: Florida 4-3 (2-3 SEC); Georgia 5-2 (4-1)
TV/Internet: CBS/CBSSports.com
Radio: Gator IMG Sports Network (click here for affiliates); Sirius 91/XM 91
Game notes: Florida notes; Georgia notes
Bottom line: The Gators have to win to keep their hopes of winning the SEC East alive. Georgia needs a win to stay atop the SEC East. If that's not enough, it's Florida-Georgia in Jacksonville.
