Finally, Georgia football will take on the Florida Gators next Saturday, so we get another week of Florida hate, but let’s be honest — this hate churns 24 hours a day and 365 days a year.
For almost a year, Dawg fans have heard about how great Dan Mullen is and how Florida is on their way back to the dominance they haven’t seen since Urban Meyer in the mid-2000s.
Now here we are a year later. Georgia is 7-0 and the No.1 team in the country heading to Jacksonville. Florida is 4-3 after losing to Kentucky in Lexington for the first time in over 30 years and losing to an LSU team who let their coach go the day after their game.
They fell to Alabama earlier in the year, but then again, not many teams beat the Tide.
I feel Dan Mullen is entirely overrated. He has a 1-3 record against Kirby Smart, which shows he’s not on the same level. He does not recruit well, his players have no discipline, and he is not the great quarterback whisperer most claim.
Mullen’s antics scream of immaturity, and it is not the behavior of a head coach in the SEC. Remember, he did show up to a post-game press conference in a Darth Vader costume, so that should tell you everything you need to know about him.
Georgia and its fan base have waited for this game for a year now, and it’s the one revenge matchup Smart and this staff want — outside Alabama, of course.
Since it’s one we’ve waited on, not only will Georgia football win in Jacksonville, but here are the reasons how the Dawgs will stun the Gators.
Georgia football head coach Kirby Smart
Obviously, Kirby Smart is a better coach than Dan Mullen at being more successful as a head coach. If you look at the success of each coach at their programs, on the field, and on recruiting trail, it’s pretty clear Mullen rode the coattails of Urban Meyer while he was a coordinator at Florida.
Smart will outcoach Mullen in Jacksonville.
He will have his team hungry and seeking revenge for last season. Since being at Georgia, the revenge angle has worked pretty often for Smart, including losing to Florida in 2016 and coming back to bludgeon Florida 42-7 in 2017. That tail whipping in 2017 ultimately led to Florida head coach Jim McElwain’s demise.
One of the things Georgia fans adore about our head coach is his absolute disdain for rivals, especially the trio of Auburn, Georgia Tech and 100% he hates Florida as well.
Just think back to 1995, Florida came into Athens and won 52-17. The Gators were up 45-17 with 1:10 remaining, and Florida head coach Steve Spurrier wanted to be the first team to “hang half a hundred” on Georgia in Athens. When Florida scored that last touchdown, a little known defensive back was on the field — Kirby Smart.
I am sure that Mullen’s antics and comments throughout the last couple of seasons have stuck with Smart.
Like a shark smelling blood in the water, Smart wants Georgia to attack Florida and not let off the throttle.
Georgia Football monster nose tackle Jordan Davis will have himself a day
In 2020 Georgia played one of the best Florida teams they have had in a decade.
Georgia was without senior safety Richard LeCounte and defensive tackle Devonte Wyatt. They were also without nose tackle Jordan Davis. The loss of Davis was tremendous.
In 2019 Davis had a great game against the Gators, as it was his coming out party. Without Davis and Wyatt up the middle the Gators were able to play their game on offense.
Fast forward to this season, and this defense is the most elite unit in all of college football. Stopping the run is a priority, and Florida’s offense is limited to only being a threat on the ground. Throwing four interceptions against LSU, Florida does not want to throw the ball around.
However, they will have to because Davis will not allow Florida to get the run game going.
Davis being in the lineup is such a boost — on the field and off. That day in January when he announced he was returning to Georgia was a red-letter day. Multiple players announced and have contributed to the Dawgs, but Davis coming back elevated the defense to the level it’s at now.
On the season, the Dawgs allow just 64.29 on the ground each game. Last week Georgia held Kentucky to 51 yards rushing. The Wildcats rushed for 330 yards the week before against LSU. The Dawgs’ rush defense starts up the middle with Davis eating blocks and allowing other players to open lanes to rush into the backfield and attack the ball carrier.
Even if he is doing that, his performance this season has started a Davis for Heisman campaign, which if he does well, this game will explode into a movement.
Having an elite player in the middle of this elite defense is a problem for Florida. With Davis back in the lineup, this season will ultimately help Georgia contain the Gators rushing attack and force Florida to play the game the way they would not want to.
Georgia Football’s ability to recruit is lightyears better than the Gators
People lie. Even animals lie, but one thing that doesn’t lie is numbers. If you look at recruiting numbers for Georgia compared to Florida, it’ll show the Dawgs are head and shoulders above the Gators.
According to 247Sports, from 2017-2020, Georgia has finished No. 3 in 2017, No. 1 in 2018, No.2 in 2019, No. 1 in 2020, and No. 4 in 2021. Florida had finished No.11, No.14, No. 9, No. 9, and No.12. While they aren’t bad finishes for recruiting, it does not show Florida closing the talent gap.
Florida is basically doing what Kentucky is doing now — not competing for the SEC East title every year but every few years. They’ll have players stick around until they are seniors and then hope that team makes a run.
Last year was that kind of run for Florida. So considering the Gators went 8-4 with what has been their best team over the previous five years, it shows something isn’t adding up for them.
I have always been told the NFL is x’s and o’s and college is Jimmy’s and Joe’s. This match-up in Jacksonville on October 30th, Georgia, will have both.
Thanks to the culture change Smart implemented, Georgia will have better coaching and players. This year has been a special one through seven games, so be ready to celebrate a Bulldogs victory next weekend at the World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party, and you can expect to start that celebration early.