The Gators and Georgia meet on Saturday afternoon at TIAA Bank Field. (Photo: Anissa Dimilta/UAA Communications)
Charting The Gators: Florida-Georgia Games With a No. 1
Wednesday, October 26, 2022 | Football, Scott Carter
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — There has been a lot of chatter this week about the point spread in Saturday's Florida-Georgia game in Jacksonville.
When Gators quarterback Anthony Richardson was informed that No. 1-ranked Georgia (7-0) is a 22.5-point favorite over the 4-3 Gators, Richardson's eyes widened.
"That's crazy,'' he said.
It is certainly rare, that much we know.
There's no surprise Florida is a heavy underdog to the defending national champions. The Bulldogs have won 22 consecutive regular-season games and 15 consecutive SEC regular-season games. Georgia's last regular-season loss was to the Gators in 2020.
The rivalry opens another new chapter on Saturday when first-year Gators coach Billy Napier takes a turn against Georgia head coach Kirby Smart. The Bulldogs are ranked No. 1 for the second year in a row when they face the Gators.
That has never happened in the rivalry. Here is a look at the Florida-Georgia games in which one of the schools was ranked No. 1 at the time of their meeting:
WE'RE NO. 1
When Gators quarterback Anthony Richardson was informed that No. 1-ranked Georgia (7-0) is a 22.5-point favorite over the 4-3 Gators, Richardson's eyes widened.
"That's crazy,'' he said.
It is certainly rare, that much we know.
There's no surprise Florida is a heavy underdog to the defending national champions. The Bulldogs have won 22 consecutive regular-season games and 15 consecutive SEC regular-season games. Georgia's last regular-season loss was to the Gators in 2020.
The rivalry opens another new chapter on Saturday when first-year Gators coach Billy Napier takes a turn against Georgia head coach Kirby Smart. The Bulldogs are ranked No. 1 for the second year in a row when they face the Gators.
That has never happened in the rivalry. Here is a look at the Florida-Georgia games in which one of the schools was ranked No. 1 at the time of their meeting:
| YEAR | NO. 1 | NOT NO. 1 | RESULT |
| 1942 | Georgia | Florida (unranked) | Bulldogs romped 75-0 over depleted Gators (World War II), who lost players to war efforts while ROTC-stocked Georgia featured Heisman winner Frank Sinkwich |
| 1985 | Florida | Georgia (No. 17) | QB Kerwin Bell passed for 408 yards, but UF kept out of end zone in 24-3 defeat; Georgia DL Greg "Muddy" Waters starred with seven tackles and a sack |
| 1996 | Florida | Georgia (unranked) | Gators win seventh in a row over Bulldogs, 47-7, stomping Georgia in first game of series at new Jacksonville Municipal Stadium (now TIAA Bank Field); Danny Wuerffel tossed 4 TD passes |
| 2009 | Florida | Georgia (unranked) | Tim Tebow passed for 164 yards, rushed for 85 and his 50th career rushing TD, breaking SEC record held by Georgia's Herschel Walker in top-ranked UF's 41-17 win, its 18th in a row overall |
| 2021 | Georgia | Florida (unranked) | Gators were in game until late first half with QB Anthony Richardson, making first career start, fumbled and tossed a pair of interceptions in 34-7 loss to eventual national champs |
| 2022 | Georgia | Florida (unranked) | TBD — Bulldogs a 22-point favorite as Richardson gets another shot in rivalry; first time in history of series that one of the schools is ranked No. 1 in back-to-back seasons at time of meeting |
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