The Opening Kickoff: Gators vs. No. 1 Georgia (at Jacksonville)

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — For the past two weeks, Dan Mullen and his Gators probably feel a little like homeowners whose neighbors' dogs won't stop barking.

They close the windows, draw the blinds and turn up the calming music in the house, but those dogs just keep piercing any chance at silence.

The Gators (4-3, 2-3) will try to shut them up on Saturday the only way they can: with a victory over No. 1-ranked Georgia (7-0, 5-0) here at TIAA Bank Field. Florida has lost two of its last three games to fall out of the race for the SEC East title. Meanwhile, the Bulldogs have bulldozed their opponents and appear to be a real threat to claim their first national championships in 41 years.

Following the Gators' 49-42 loss at LSU, Mullen and his program faced the kind of scrutiny that only comes when a promising season goes sideways — and fast. While a victory over Georgia is always on Florida's to-do list, it would provide extra benefits in 2021.

"It would mean everything," Gators fifth-year senior defensive lineman Zachary Carter said this week. "It's just one of those games as a Gator you want to win every year. I just want to get that win real bad. I ain't going to lie; I've been talking about this game for about two weeks now through the bye week.

"So I'm really pumped up for this game."

24 hours! #GoGators pic.twitter.com/ZvT5OEnwDM
— Gators Football (@GatorsFB) October 29, 2021

Since losing to LSU, Mullen has faced constant questions whether he will stick with starting quarterback Emory Jones or turn the keys over to dynamic redshirt freshman Anthony Richardson to set the tone for the future. He has responded to concerns about the program's recruiting and whether the Gators are even in the same neighborhood as the top-ranked Bulldogs.

Of course, some wondered the same thing a year ago when Florida beat the Bulldogs 44-28. Afterward, Mullen celebrated with fans and the program's future looked bright.

However, Florida is 8-6 in 14 games since and Georgia is 11-0.

Mullen reiterated his faith in the direction of the program this week despite the outside criticism.

"Well first off, I don't know that there's anybody more motivated to win than me,'' he said. "I know the Gator fans everywhere will sit there, and probably every person on this [Zoom] screen is like, 'well oh boy, I want the Gators to win way more than he does'. I don't think that's the case. I'll tell you what, the coaches, players, people within the program that put in the work every single day year-round want to win football games."

The Gators' next chance comes Saturday. A victory that would go a long way in quieting the barks.

For more on the Florida-Georgia game, here is the latest installment of The Opening Kickoff:

THREE STORYLINES

Both teams come off a bye week with questions about who will start at quarterback. For Florida, will it continue to be Emory Jones or will fan favorite Anthony Richardson make his first start? For Georgia, will Stetson Bennett continue to get the call or will JT Daniels reclaim the job? Neither coach had much to say on the topic this week. The guess here is that we probably see all four quarterbacks in a matchup that often features the unexpected and unusual.
These are two programs that have gone in different directions since Florida's 44-28 win a season ago. The Gators are 8-6 since that game, and the Bulldogs are 11-0. The Gators' recent struggles — they have lost three games by a combined 16 points this season — have been amplified by Georgia's ascension to No. 1. Florida finally appeared to creep ahead of the Bulldogs in the SEC East 12 months ago. However, now the perception, fair or unfair, is that Georgia is significantly ahead.
Can the Gators crack the code against Georgia's dominant defense? The Bulldogs lead the nation in scoring defense, surrendering just 6.6 points a game. Florida scored six touchdowns against LSU but lost 49-42 in Baton Rouge two weeks ago. For perspective, Georgia's defense has allowed only four touchdowns through seven games. Watch the matchup between master play-caller Dan Mullen and defensive guru Kirby Smart.

THREE PLAYERS TO WATCH

UF redshirt freshman quarterback Anthony Richardson had a breakout game in the loss to LSU. Richardson took over for starter Emory Jones in the second half and directed the Gators on four touchdown drives. He wasn't perfect, throwing a pair of interceptions in his 10-for-19, 167-yard, three-touchdown performance. Still, the offense responded with Richardson at the controls and what had been a "quarterback issue" all season turned into a full-blown "quarterback controversy" that has occupied fan and media attention the past two weeks.
The Gators offensive line played perhaps its best game of the season against then-No. 1 Alabama. Georgia's defensive front is the best Florida has seen since the Crimson Tide. If the Gators have a chance to pull the upset, this banged-up group has to perform at a high level and open some running lanes and give the quarterback time to throw. It must be a group effort, led by center Kingsley Eguakun's communication.
Georgia defensive tackle Jordan Davis is 6-foot-6 and 340 pounds. Oh, and he moves like a cat. Davis anchors the defense up front and has modest stats: 18 tackles, 3 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks. However, he is such a difference-maker that Davis is starting to garner attention for the Heisman Trophy. The Gators must go around Davis to move the ball because no one has gone through him.

SIX DIGITS

99 – Number of times the schools have played after Saturday's game according to Florida.
100 – Number of times the schools have played after Saturday's game according to Georgia, which counts a 52-0 win over Florida in 1904.
17 — Number of games in program history the Gators have faced the No. 1-ranked team in the AP Top 25.
5 – Defensive categories Georgia leads the SEC in (total defense, rushing defense, passing defense, scoring defense and passing efficiency defense).
208.3 – Yards per game Georgia's defense has allowed through seven games.
501.7 – Yards per game Florida's offense is averaging through seven games.

NOTABLES

The Gators trail the all-time series against Georgia 44-52-2 but are 22-9 vs. the Bulldogs since 1990.
This marks the first time in program history Florida has faced the No. 1-ranked team twice during the same season. The Gators lost 31-29 to then-No. 1 Alabama on Sept. 18.
SEC Nation is in Jacksonville for the game, marking the 20th time the Gators have played with the SEC Network's flagship show on-site. Florida is 9-10 in the previous 19 games.
Gators quarterback Emory Jones surpassed 1,000 career rushing yards (1,008) in the loss at LSU.
The Gators are averaging 6.3 yards per rush, which is on pace to eclipse the school-record 5.9-yard average of 2008 and 1976.

Former Gators head coach Will Muschamp is in his first season on Georgia's internal staff and his oldest son, Jackson Muschamp, is a redshirt freshman quarterback for the Bulldogs.

The Gators are minus-7 in turnover ratio with 13 turnovers and six takeaways. Florida's 13 turnovers have led to 45 points (six touchdowns, one field goal).

Nine of Gators quarterback Anthony Richardson's 28 rushes this season have gone for 10 or more yards.
Bulldogs quarterbacks Stetson Bennett (8-2) and JT Daniels (7-0) are a combined 15-2 as starters in their careers.
Georgia has outscored opponents 161-16 in the first half this season.

INJURY REPORT

FLORIDA — OUT: CB Jaydon Hill (knee, out for season), S Kamar Wilcoxson (knee, out for season); LB Ventrell Miller (arm surgery, out for season); DOUBTFUL: WR Trent Whittemore (knee); PROBABLE: WR Ja'Markis Weston (undisclosed). GEORGIA — OUT: WR Dominick Blaylock (hamstring), RB Kendall Milton (knee), WR George Pickens (knee), OL Tate Ratledge (foot), DB Tykee Smith (knee), CB Jalen Kimber (shoulder), LB Rian Davis (quad); DOUBTFUL: WR Justin Robinson (hamstring); QUESTIONABLE: WR Jermaine Burton (groin); CB Ameer Speed (ankle), DB Christopher Smith (shoulder), WR Arian Smith (shin); PROBABLE: QB JT Daniels (lat), WR Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint (ankle), RB Kenny McIntosh (hamstring).

BOTTOM LINE

The season has not turned out as the Gators hoped, as they have lost two of their last three games to fall from contention in the SEC East. Meanwhile, Georgia is the nation's top-ranked team and playing like this could be the year the Bulldogs win their first national championship since the Herschel Walker-led 1980 team. The Gators could derail all of that with an upset of their border rivals. At this point, a victory over the Bulldogs would be the highlight of Florida's season. Can it happen? Sure, we've seen the higher-ranked team lose many times in this annual showdown. The Gators are a 14.5-point underdog and not many are giving them a chance. Look for Florida to make this one a better game than people expect, but Georgia's defense has an answer in the end.

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