Georgia Football: Prediction and thoughts on Georgia vs. Florida

Georgia football takes on the hated Florida Gators this Saturday at 3:30 in Jacksonville. This game is always important for both schools and fan bases. Even though the Dawgs are 14.5-point favorites, Florida thinks they can pull off the year’s biggest upset. We all have to believe in something.

The media all this week has done the same thing they always do when the Dawgs take on a team with a heartbeat. “Is Georgia on upset alert?” “Could the Gators pull this off?” On we go on the merry-go-round. They do this every time; they will be right one day, just not this weekend. I am so tired of the media doing this and trying to create interest in a game for the national audience. If the “World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party” doesn’t get your blood pumping as a college football fan, something is wrong with your heart.

Almost every outlet I have seen talk about the game thinks this is going to be a close one, and some are even considering the Gators are going to pull off the upset. I just do not see it happening. I could be wrong; I have been wrong. My gut usually is right on these types of things; rarely do I get led astray by my gut. Usually, when Georgia is going to be in a dogfight or lose a game, I know it is coming. All week, I worry about it. On the other side, when Georgia is going to win, I do not have any anxiety and rarely think about the game until I need to. There is a sense of calm when I talk about this game.

But if you do not trust my gut, probably because I am a stranger, consider this. Everything Florida does well, Georgia does better. Florida wants to throw sideline to sideline; what does Georgia’s defense do well? Run sideline to sideline. You can do this all day, but here is the vital thing we should all remember. To beat a Kirby Smart team, your QB has to be mobile. Graham Mertz is not mobile; he is a statue in the pocket.

Georgia’s defense is the best at stopping teams on third down. Georgia ranks number one in the country in stopping offenses on the most critical down in football. Florida’s offense is one of the worst offenses in converting third downs. Again, this is a stat that many ignore when trying to sell the game as a close one.

I also saw what almost every offense has been able to do against the Gator’s defense. That is, run the ball. The Gators have one of the worst run fits I have ever seen at this level of college football. I mean, it is atrocious! I expect Kendall Milton and Daijun Edwards to have huge days running the ball. Both might go over 100 yards each; they will be close to that 100-yard rushing mark.

The defensive backs have given up massive yards in every game I have watched. Carson Beck should be able to dice up a young defensive backfield for the Gators. I would also think Ladd McConkey and Dominic Lovett to have big games.

Everything points in the favor of the Dawgs in this one. Furthermore, Florida is a little inflated by their record. Much like Georiga’s schedule, the Gators’ schedule is backloaded. More than likely, this Gators team is going 5-7 or 6-6. Simply put, Florida is not a good football team. So, for the Georgia fans worried because the better team loses in Jacksonville, stop! This is not the 90s or 00s. The Dawgs are back-to-back national champions, and the Florida program is reeling.

I can see this game going two ways. Georgia pulls away in the third quarter, and Florida is left hopeless. The other way is Georgia comes out there and handles business and crushes Florida for four quarters. My gut tells me Georgia will come out hot and win this game 42-17.