Game Day: Florida vs No. 1 Georgia (CBS, 3:30)

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — It’s been two weeks because the Florida Gators’ final outing and it has been a yr since their final crack on the Georgia Bulldogs. If you are a UF fan, the place that is going. 

Basically, there will probably be very two very distinct measuring sticks in play when Florida (4-3, 1-3) and No. 1 Georgia (7-0, 4-0) sq. off for the one centesimal time of their storied Southeastern Conference rivalry Saturday at TIAA Bank Field. 

They are: 

1) What, if any, changes have been or may be made to deal with the defensive points that allowed LSU to roll for 528 yards and convert 10 of 14 third- or fourth-down conditions within the 45-35 house loss to the Tigers on Oct. 15?

2) How a lot has UF quarterback Anthony Richardson grown since making his first profession begin in opposition to the top-ranked (and eventual nationwide champion) Bulldogs on Oct. 30, 2021, when his three turnovers over simply 88 seconds inside three minutes to go within the first half turned an anybody’s sport right into a 24-0 halftime deficit within the blink of a red-and-black eye? 

(*1*)

To be honest, the Gators might present important progress on each fronts Saturday and nonetheless find yourself on the improper finish of the scoreboard. That’s how good the Bulldogs are. That’s why UGA, with wins in 4 of the earlier 5 within the sequence, will go into the sport as a whopping 22.5-point favourite, placing UF in its largest underdog function in additional than 40 years. 

Both groups are coming off bye weeks, which is commonly the time struggling groups make modifications. The Gators, who want to keep away from their worst five-game Southeastern Conference begin because the 0-10-1 debut 1979 season beneath Charley Pell, qualify as a “struggling” bunch, however that is school soccer and there’s solely a lot that may be finished relative to personnel. Scheme is one other matter, and it is secure to imagine Coach Billy Napier and his workers will do one thing completely different on the defensive facet, given UF is surrendering 429.3 yards per sport (that is twelfth within the 14-team league and 108th out of 131 FBS-classified groups) and has allowed opponents to transform on third down at 52.6-percent effectivity. That’s a hundred and thirtieth nationally (solely Colorado, at 52.8 p.c, is worse), which ought to make Georgia quarterback Stetson Bennett (2,033 yards, 7 TD, 1 INT), tailback Dajuan Edwards (334 yards, 5 TD) and tight finish Brock Bowers (26 catches, 393 yards, 2 TD) fairly assured. 

For context: Georgia’s protection is permitting simply 247.1 yards per sport (first within the SEC, fourth within the nation) and is getting off the sphere on third down at a 29.5-percent clip (thirteenth in FBS). Oh, and the Bulldogs additionally permit simply 9.1 factors per sport (first SEC, second FBS) and simply 83.4 yards dashing (first SEC, fourth FBS), which is smartest thing the Gators do. They’re doing this after having 5 gamers taken within the first spherical of the 2022 NFL Draft off a protection that was thought of generational. They changed nice gamers with extra nice ones.

Now, about Richardson. 

To evaluate, Richardson got his first career start against Georgia last season and issues had been going OK (not nice, however actually not poorly) with 2:24 to play within the first half and the Gators trailing simply 3-0 after intercepting Bennett within the crimson zone. The subsequent three UF sequence appeared like this: fumble, interception, interception, with every transformed to Bulldogs touchdowns. 

Richardson completed 12 of 20 for 82 yards and three turnovers (plus 12 carries for 26 yards) earlier than giving solution to Emory Jones. Georgia received 34-7.

Was it honest to trot a redshirt freshman (even an athlete as gifted as “AR”) on the market in opposition to the nation’s finest protection? Of course not. Whatever. 

A yr later, Richardson has seven extra begins beneath his belt and is additional on within the growth course of. He’s accomplished 56.5 p.c of his passes, thrown for 1,367 and 6 touchdowns to go along with 395 dashing yards (second on the crew) and 6 extra TD. He nonetheless has turnover points (7 INT, 2 fumbles), however the Bulldogs additionally will probably be weary of the sort of play-making skill that allowed Richardson to tally 515 yards of whole offense and 4 touchdowns (plus two turnovers) within the 38-33 shootout loss final month at Tennessee. 

That UT protection doesn’t examine to this UGA protection. That Volunteers crew, nonetheless, stays unbeaten, is ranked third within the nation and involves Georgia subsequent weekend for a showdown that probably will decide the SEC East. No doubt, that sport is looming at the back of the Bulldogs’ collective heads.

First, although, there is a rival to cope with. And bizarre issues are likely to occur in rivalry video games.

The Gators are hoping that is the case in Florida/Georgia No. 100.  

Kickoff is ready for 3:30 p.m. on CBS, with Brad Nessler on play-by-play, Gary Danielson offering evaluation and Jerry Dell working the sidelines. For radio and tv broadcast data, click here. The sport will probably be replayed Wednesday at 11:30 a.m., Thursday at 2 a.m. and Friday at 5 a.m., all on the SEC Network. The Learfield Gator IMG Sports Network protection, with Sean Kelly and Shane Matthews within the sales space, and Tate Casey on the sidelines, will start at 12:30 p.m. You may additionally occur upon a nationwide broadcast with the crew of Marc Kestecher, Kelly Stoufer and Ian Fitzsimmons. 

Finally, observe FloridaGators.com senior author Scott Carter (@GatorsScott) on Twitter for commentary and evaluation all through the sport. FloridaGators.com may have full protection content material from the sport late Saturday night time and recent follow-up content material Sunday, additionally.