Florida (4-3, 3-2) vs. Georgia (4-3, 3-2)
These evenly matched teams sound similar to a popular country band, but I can assure you, if there was a need for background music, it would not be a laid back country/pop single. The Bulldogs will make their way down south to the swamp to take on the Gators Saturday.
This year, the Bulldogs and Gators are unranked. The last time that the two met unranked was 2010 and Florida took a 34-31 win in overtime. In fact, that was the first year since 1979 that both teams were unranked.
Georgia is coming off two losses from Missouri (7-1, 3-1) and Vanderbilt (4-4, 1-4). They’ve had a bye week to re-charge for this game against the Gators. Like the Bulldogs, Florida has been on a two game losing streak and coming off a bye.
The Bulldogs lead the series with a 49-40-2 advantage, and come off wins the past two years.
Ironically, Florida coach Will Muschamp played football at the University of Georgia from 1991 to 1994 and has served on the coaching staff for other SEC teams like LSU and Auburn. Muschamp is currently 0-2 in the match-up and will be in the hot seat on Saturday.
“I don’t approach this one any different from the other ones, it’s a critical game for us, obviously being a great rival of the University of Florida, and…it’s one of the best college football games year in and year out to be a part of,” stated Muschamp.
Georgia coach, Mark Richt, says that the Bulldogs will be doing what they do every week.
“We don’t try to do anything special…we don’t try and do anything different…other than getting the best playing we possibly can.”
Richt says Florida’s defense is number one or two in just about every category. In seven games, Florida’s defense have become one of the top in the country. They have forced 26 three-and-outs in 81 opponent drives which means that over 30 percent of opponent drives have not gained a single first down. The Gators rank no. 9 in the country on their rush defense and have allowed only 100.7 yards per game in the first seven games.
However, on the other side of the field, Georgia’s QB Aaron Murray is looking to set another SEC record on Saturday. The all-star has already set the SEC’s all-time mark in Total Offense (12, 327) and Passing Yards (12,029) and currently ranks second on TD passes. Ironically, this FL/GA rivalry does not stop. The current holder for the most Career TD passes is 114 by Danny Wuerffel, who played at Florida from 1993 to 1996. Murray enters this match with 112.
Whether it’s a third win, loss, or SEC record set, these teams will fight it out on Saturday in Jacksonville. Kick-off will be at 2:30 p.m. at EverBank Field and televised on CBS.
Here is what your other SEC teams are up to this week:
–Tennessee (4-4, 1-3) will be traveling north this week after a tough 45-10 loss against the Crimson Tide last weekend to take on the Missouri (7-1, 3-1) Tigers at Faurot Field. Last week, the Tigers fell in 2 OTs to the Gamecocks for their first loss of the season. The tenth-ranked team will be a tough opponent for the Vols. However, if you recall, Tennessee defeated SC two weeks ago at Neyland, and some say that poses as a shot for the Volunteers on Saturday. The two will kick-off at 6 p.m. on ESPN.
–South Carolina (6-2, 4-2) will kick-off a four-game series at home Saturday against Mississippi State (4-3, 1-2). Last week, the Gamecocks gave Mizzou its first loss of the season in two OTs, 27-24. Coming off the high, the Bulldogs will have to amp it up to have a chance at taking this SEC victory. After a win over the Wildcats last week, State will be hungry for another win. The two will kick-off in Columbia at 11:21 a.m. on SEC TV.
–Auburn (7-1, 3-1) takes on the Razorbacks Saturday at 5 p.m. in Fayetteville. The Tigers are coming off of a win from Florida Atlantic (2-6) at home last week, and Arkansas (3-8, 0-4) took a bye after a tough 0-52 loss against the Crimson Tide. This will be the fifth SEC match-up for both teams, and they will be on the hunt for a “W” for the record books. The game will be televised on ESPN2.
-It’s the battle of the ‘States’ as University of Kentucky (1-6, 0-4) plays Alabama State. The Wildcats will travel back up the Mississippi, after a hard fought 28-22 fall to State last week, and take on Alabama State (6-2) at home Saturday. The game will kick-off 6:30 p.m. on CSS.
-After a big win over Vandy at home last week, Texas A&M (6-2, 3-2) will take on UTEP (1-6) at 8 p.m. from Kyle Field on ESPN2.
-Your Alabama Crimson Tide (8-0, 5-0) will have a bye this week after a big 45-10 win over the Vols last weekend and get some much needed TLC before the big match-up against LSU.
–LSU (7-2, 3-2) will take a bye before next week’s visit to Tuscaloosa. They will need every bit of their strength in order to pull out a “W”.
–Ole Miss (5-3, 2-3) will have a bye, after a big win over Idaho (1-7) for Homecoming last week in Oxford. The Rebels will return on their home field to take on Arkansas next week.
-Also on your bye-week list this weekend, Vanderbilt (4-4, 1-4) will take a week to re-coop from a 24-56 loss in College Station last weekend and head back up to Nashville, before the Commodores head down south to the swamp to pay a visit to Gator-country.
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