SEC REPORT - WEEK 9 Preview
by David Waters
Posted October 28, 2009
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Florida-Georgia Perspective and Week 9 Preview
There is no better game and atmosphere in college football than the game that takes place in Jacksonville late October or early November. "The World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party" is just that. A party that revolves around a game. A game that brings orange and blue together with the red and black.
The stadium seats 84,000 for this game, but 150,000 people come anyway. It all starts Wednesday when RV City opens up. The RVs come down on Monday and wait in line on the street until the gates open on Wednesday just to have that spot to sit, hang the school colors, and grill and/or drink until it can't possibly be done anymore.
Want to party well before the game? No problem. Hit the Jacksonville Landing starting on Thursday night, and the "pre-party" atmosphere of The Landing will still be too much for people to handle. Remember pace yourself, it's only the first night. On Friday if you want to go back to a party where you can't move and have to wait in the longest lines just for a drink or to use the restroom, go back to The Landing. My advice? Experience the craziness of The Landing on a Friday night at least once, you might like sitting in line and not being able to move.
Gameday… there is nothing better. Get to the stadium early, set-up a tailgate, find one, or just enjoy everything that the game throws at you. There are bars set up, fan fests, and oh yeah, more tailgating.
Once inside the stadium, take a mental snapshot. Half the stadium orange and blue, the other half red and black. Half the stadium barking like a dog, the other half gator chomping. Every play there is a cheer and a boo, half the stadium is happy while the other is disappointed.
I grew up a Gator fan in south Georgia and this is "the game" in my eyes. All my best friends and not so best friends are UGA grads and fans and this game means more to me than any other. I'm 26 and I was lucky to be around the Dawgs when Florida was winning, so I didn't have it as bad as my father who cannot take a loss to UGA very well, as he has seen too many.
There is no other game on the schedule I want the Gators to win more than this one so I can have my bragging rights for another year, but either way it is still the best week/game to have fun. All of my UGA friends come down and we act like we haven't seen each other in 10 years all because of this game. This game brings us together, this game means more than any other, this game… is just a game, but at the same time, so much more. Have fun there are plenty of opportunities.
SEC STANDINGS
EAST
- Florida 7-0 (5-0)
- Georgia 4-3 (3-2)
- South Carolina 6-2 (3-2)
- Kentucky 4-3 (1-3)
- Tennessee 3-4 (1-3)
- Vanderbilt 2-6 (0-5)
WEST
- Alabama 8-0 (5-0)
- LSU 6-1 (4-1)
- Ole Miss 5-2 (2-2)
- Auburn 5-3 (2-3)
- Mississippi State 3-5 (1-3)
- Arkansas 3-4 (1-4)
Florida vs Georgia (Jacksonville, FL)
The last two times Florida has come into this game as National Champions they have went back to Gainesville with a loss. No one knows what team foe either team will show up. Georgia had a bye week to prepare and get some things figured out about their own team and the Gators. Florida has struggled on offense the last three games and are looking to get more production from that side of the ball against UGA.
If both teams play up to their potential, Florida will win this game as they have the better defense and quarterback, but that is too simple. Tim Tebow is not playing like Tim Tebow. Whether he's holding on to the ball too long, deciding to keep the ball instead of pitching it or throwing it away, something is not right. If he continues to do those things in this game, something is really wrong.
The Georgia defense has struggled all season to stop teams with a pulse of an offense and then made Tennessee look like a top 10 team. Remember though in 2007 Georgia had a week off to prepare for Florida and came up with some blitz packages that held Tebow in check and led to a Gators loss. Look for Florida to continue to move the ball between the 20s and change the red zone play calling from the last couple of weeks.
Florida needs to start using their running backs more and maybe from the I-formation. The Georgia defense has had trouble stopping the pass, but Florida has faced pretty bad pass defenses the last two weeks and have not be able to do much. It will be a Florida rushing attack that is the main focus.
All season the Georgia offense has been A.J. Green and not much else. Georgia is not going to beat Florida if the running game doesn't come around. Rumors out of Athens are that various players are getting direct snaps out of the backfield to help kickstart the offense. If Florida can hold A.J. Green in check and take away the running game and force Joe Cox to beth them, the gators have to like those odds. Don't discount the bye week though. There have been plays installed to protect Cox from making too many mistakes.
Turnovers will be the story in this game. If Florida turns the ball over the game will be close, if UGA can't protect the ball… it might get ugly.
South Carolina at Tennessee
Which quarterback for either team will show up. Can Jonathan Crompton continue his better play? Can South Carolina head coach Steve Spurrier get the play out Stephen Garcia that he needs against a tough defense?
The Volunteers are coming off a very tough loss to Alabama and is playing great defense to carry the rest of the season. Tennessee hasn't given up a touchdown in eight quarters and South Carolina probably doesn't scare them. The South Carolina offense was shut down against Alabama's defense a couple of weeks ago, and Tennessee's defense is playing just as good as 'Bama's right now. But Tennessee doesn't have two weeks to prepare for South Carolina and Kiffin has done enough to get Spurrier's attention for Spurrrier to have something ready… it may not be enough.
I can't believe I am saying this right now, but Tennessee quarterback Jonathan Crompton has looked really good the last couple of games. After a dismal start to the season Crompton has lit up Georgia and somehow managed to pass for 265 yards against Alabama in a loss. Along with the Tennessee running game, the Volunteers' offense looks to be pretty formidable right now.
Tennessee's defense will shut down Stephen Garcia and force him into a game breaking turnover and Jonathan Crompton will continue his progressing play.
Mississippi State at Kentucky
Mississippi State comes into this game knowing they need to win this one as they have Alabama, Arkansas, and Ole Miss to go this season. The Bulldogs will win this game because there is no way Kentucky can continue to play great with a patch work offense. The Wildcats have been using three different quarterbacks since starter Mike Hartline went down and it has pretty much worked all because of all-around offensive threat Randall Cobb. The Bulldogs will contain Cobb and get enough production from running back Anthony Dixon to pull this one out late.
Georgia Tech at Vanderbilt
Vanderbilt always plays South Carolina tough and losing to the Gamecocks last week is enough to put Vanderbilt back in past year's light. This is our daddy's Vandy. The Commodores have no offense what-so-ever and the defense can't carry this team game after game. The Yellow Jackets of Georgia Tech go to Nashville and will have a little bit of a problem early against Vanderbilt's disciplined defense. As the game wears on, Georgia Tech quarterback Josh Nesbitt will hit one deep pass to open the flood gates and pull away.
Eastern Michigan at Arkansas
Arkansas finally gets a break and a much needed opponent to let out some frustration. A winless Eastern Michigan visits Arkansas and will get pounded early and often.
Ole Miss at Auburn
A game where the teams are going in opposite directions. Auburn needs a break in these tough opponents and Ole Miss will not provide that comfort. The Ole Miss defensive line will give struggling Auburn quarterback Chris Todd all he can handle and more and that will be the difference in the game. Auburn can match Ole Miss on offense if Todd has time to throw, but that will likely not be the case.
Jevan Snead maybe turning the corner this season and becoming the quarterback we though he would be. It seems that has also coincided with Dexter McCluster finally getting enough touches to break games away. Note to Houston Nutt, Use McCluster and you will win. Don't over gameplan, the Auburn defense has no depth so throw McCluster at them until they can handle no more.
Tulane at LSU
This will not be close and will be a great tuneup game for LSU before they travel to take on Alabama next week. This can be another confidence booster game for Tigers quarterback Jordan Jefferson before the big showdown. Get up quick, maybe work some of the Alabama gameplan in, and get your players out of there healthy.
Questions or Comments? dwaters@wjxt.com
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