For the first time in almost 30 years Georgia and Florida will not play their annual rivalry game in Jacksonville. Their usual stadium is under renovation for the next two years, so these teams had to find a new place to play this year and next year.
This season the two teams will play in Atlanta which marks the first time this century this game will be played in the state of Georgia. That gives the Bulldogs a few distinct advantages over Florida that they will hopefully be able to use to their advantage.
Georgia gets to play closer to home
Florida has a location advantage every time these teams meet in Jacksonville. Sure it is a neutral site game for both teams with the crowd being split 50/50 between Georgia and Florida fans, but the Gators have far less traveling to do to get to Jacksonville.
Forida’s campus is only about 70 miles from Jacksonville, meanwhile Georgia has to travel over 330 miles to get to Jacksonville. So for the first time in three decades Georgia has far less traveling to do as Atlanta is only about 70 miles away but Florida has to travel over 300 miles.
Georgia has played multiple games in Atlanta in recent years
Georgia also has far more experience playing in Mercedes-Benz Stadium than Florida. The Bulldogs have played in the SEC Championship game five years in a row, so every player who’s been at Georgia for at least one year has played in Atlanta before.
Meanwhile Florida hasn’t played in Atlanta since 2020 when they last made the SEC Championship game. So no member of Florida’s team has stepped foot in this stadium before.
Florida does have some unique advantages on their side though. The Gators still haven’t announced who will start for them at quarterback this weekend, and that unknown could impact Georgia’s preparations on defense. Playing in Atlanta though should slightly benefit Georgia even if this is still a neutral site game.
Florida will get back to having their yearly location advantage next year when the game returns to Florida and is played in Tampa in 2027. Then in 2028 this game will go back to Jacksonville for the foreseeable future.
Don’t let Florida fans use the location as an excuse if Georgia does win though because UGA has been able to dominate Florida under Kirby Smart even though they’ve had the location advantage every season.
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