MIAMI — OK, so maybe it's not the sexiest matchup one could imagine for a game as illustrious and tradition-rich as the Orange Bowl.
One team has won its last three games by nearly a hundred points combined, with its lone two defeats of 2019 coming in competitive battles against opponents currently ranked in the top five of the Associated Press poll. The other has four losses, including a couple ugly ones, and last time out surrendered 62 points in its conference title game.
As such, ninth-ranked Florida (10-2) is a 14-point favorite in its Sunday night New Year's Six showdown with Atlantic Coast Conference runner-up and 24th-ranked Virginia (9-4) at Hard Rock Stadium.
The Gators, of course, would rather had been in one of those two playoff games Saturday night. Depending on who you talk to, they might rather have been in the Sugar Bowl against a marquee, top-10 foe like Baylor. Instead, the Gators are here, in their home state, with a chance to make the best of an enviable predicament; one that has put them in place to continue the upward trend under second-year Coach Dan Mullen.
Pretty good consolation prize, actually.
And terrific opportunity, too.
[Read senior writer Scott Carter's comprehensive "Opening Kickoff" setup here]
Eleven wins. In UF football history, it's been achieved just seven times in a season, and not since 2012. Yes, that was the year the Gators, under Coach Will Muschamp, went 11-1 during the regular season, losing only to rival Georgia, and were rewarded with a Sugar Bowl berth against Louisville, also a double-digit underdog. UF had a chance to become just the sixth team in program history to post a 12-win season, but instead the Cardinals — with a rare major bowl trip against a marquee brand name — were the more excited team. And fan base. Played like it too.
Louisville took it to Florida from the opening play (a pick-6) and won 33-23 inside a Superdome the was maybe two-thirds full.
Anyone remember what happened to Muschamp and the program after that? Or how difficult it's been to get where the Gators are now?
Virginia quarterback Bryce Perkins (3) was one of the nation's leaders in total offense during 2019.
The Cavaliers, meanwhile, are also on an upward trajectory under Coach Bronco Mendenhall, now in his second season. UVA had not won a bowl game since 2005 when the team smashed South Carolina, 28-0, in the Belk Bowl last year, sending the Cavs into the offseason on a postseason high. They built on it. The Cavs used that win to springboard into 2019 and roll to their first ACC Coastal Division crown and berth in the league championship game.
Besides the Belk, some of UVA's recent bowl excursions have included the Military, Music City, MPC Computer, Continental Tire and Chick-fil-A (before its NY6 affiliation). The Cavs are going to be more than happy just to be here. They have a chance to win 10 games for only the second time in their history and thus make a statement with regard to their direction.
UVA quarterback Bryce Perkins was one of the league's most explosive players during his second-team All-ACC season of 2019. In passing for 3,215 yards and rushing for a team-best 745 yards, Perkins accounted for 78 percent of the team's total offense — along with 29 touchdowns (18 passing, 11 rushing). While UF will send one of the nation's best defenses (No. 10 overall at 299.0 yards allowed per game) and pass rushes (3.83 per, fifth-best nationally) in his direction, the 6-foot-3, 215-pound Perkins has tremendous speed and escapeabilty that can turn negative-looking plays into big ones.
The UF offense, led by second-team All-Southeastern Conference quarterback Kyle Trask (2,636 yards, 24 TDs, 6 INTs), will go up against a UVA defense that ranked 40th nationally (358.2 yards per), but 70th against the pass (228.2). The Cavs, though, had a pass rush nearly equal to the Gators, with 45 total sacks (to UF's 46) at nearly 3.5 per game.
Come game time, maybe it all feel a lot sexier.
Kickoff is set for 8 p.m. on the ESPN, with crew of Steve Levy on play-by-play, Brian Griese and Todd McShay providing analysis, and Molly McGrath working the sidelines. The game will re-air seven times on various ESPN Networks, as listed here.
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 7 p.m. This week's lineup includes chats with Mullen, wideout Van Jefferson punter Tommy Townsend, as well as former UF tight end and Gator Radio Network sidelines reporter Tate Casey.
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 late Monday night and fresh content Tuesday, as well.
