Read that the line on this game began at Bammer - 6 and then quickly dropped to - 4 1/2 ....... a sign of money dropping down on the Gators. I don't truly know just yet how I view this game. I will say that the Gators have one very physical defense and a quick DL. If the front 7 can tackle well I saw Arkansas with surprising penetration into Bama's backfield numerous times during the game on Sat. so UF should get some TFLs and sacks/Qb hurries. Tackling well is the key because if TR breaks tackles like he did vs. the Hogs then long gainers are very possible. If Florida can make Bama one-dimensional I don't think McCarron can defeat UF through the air. However......the Bama defense is still the Bama defense and JB is still JB in many aspects at QB for the Gators. I see a very low scoring, physical game...... Bama 17 - 14...
I think this is where the Gators not having a physical running game will hurt them. Rainey and company are fast, but so is the BAma defense and I think they will negate the Gator speed with Rainey and Demps. Plus in the past Charlie has not been a patient guy when it comes to the running game. I think your predicted game score is right on. Defensive Slugfest. Bet it turns on some big special teams play.
I agree and I'm hoping for a punt block by the good guys... Re: Demps and Rainey......keep in mind that last year UF had the services of neither one vs. Bama and the kicker Sturgis was out as well. Three very big losses on offense so UF presents a whole different threat this year vs. last.
Hmmm... Alabama vs Florida I'm havin trouble picking the "good guys" out of this line up.... :lol: :wink:
Cindy it's obvious who the good guys are, the Gators of course. However your comment reminds me of a Spurrier classic. One time when Miami and FSU were going to play that weekend, and both were still very good, a reporter asked Spurrier who he wanted to win. His reply was, can I root for both of them to lose?
Our run defense is stifling and our secondary is pretty tough. McCarron is doing okay so if you load the box he can burn you. He's completed 66% of his passes and only 2 INT's. He does hold the ball too long sometimes though and that gets him sacked. That and our inability to consistently open holes in the running game are two of our weaknesses. The other is the kicking game. Short punts and no TB's on kickoffs can hurt us in the field position jockeying. Florida's speed at running back is a major concern for me. That and the fact that they have so many talented players. I guess we will just have to see. 1st team to 20 wins. :wink:
No... and I have a shirt to prove it. Tennessee is the "good" Bama and Florida fight over the "Bad" and the "Ugly" 8) 8) 8) 8) 8)
I should know what "TB's" means but I can associate it only with tailbacks. What is the meaning here? I'm sure I'll be saying "Duh!" after you explain.
KP, I agree 20 points should be enough to win this game. UF's kicking game has been pretty good except for average punting. The return game with Rainey and Debose is more than decent and as I said Sturgis our FG kicker is healthy and is 10 for 10 on FGs this year....which could be very important in a game like this. To me the wildcard for UF is John Brantley and how he protects the pigskin. If JB limits his mistakes to maybe one TO......I think UF has a damned good chance. The other factor that is huge is the tackling ability of Florida. I do think UF will get penetration into the offensive backfield of Bama and have tackling opportunities.....they just have to make it count.
Some stats: UF and Alabama are #1 and #2 in rushing offense in the SEC....UF is 7th nationally. UF is tops in the SEC in total offense and tops in FG kicking with 11 made out of 11. UF is tops in the SEC with 9 sacks and is third behind Bama and LSU in rush defense per game. This shapes up to be a hotly contested game.......and I have more hope for an upset than I did 2-3 weeks ago by far.
Alabama has played a tougher schedule, having a road trip to a very hostile environment at Penn State and then Ark which I think is a better team (right now) than Tenn. I think that gives Alabama an edge. Since both teams can't lose! :twisted: I'm pulling for Chollies boys Sat! Will Bill be getting his balls drilled again for good luck?
I wouldn't put Penn State in Tennesee's class offensively but certainly the Vols are comparable to Arky offensively. All in all because KY is definitely not as good as Penn St you're right...Bama's stats may mean slightly more but it is LSU whose comparable stats are the most impressive given the schedule thay have played so far. We'll know more about Bammer and UF after Saturday and what those stats mean. I suspect both's team's rushing offense and defense stats will take a hit. The key in the game may be can UF pad it's sack total while keeping Bama's in check.
Question for Kp: Do you think most Bama fans expect the same sort of resistance as UF put up last year or do they view UF as much improved and different? For me.....having both Rainey and Demps available as opposed to last year ahould make a whopping difference.....especially for Brantley. Believe it or not UF led Bama in total offense in last year's debacle by 281 yds. to 273 and also in TOP 32:50 to 27:10. That encourages me as I think we are in better shape all the way around this year.
MCG, I expect more out of Florida this year because I think y'all finally figured out that Tebow is not coming back. Seriously, I think that with the talent UF has they underachieved big time last year. Now are y'all ready to use that talent to its potential this year? I guess we shall see. Our defense is very much better than last year so it should be interesting.
Floyd, Easley and Powell are all probable future high NFL draft picks on the DL and last year vs. Bama they were out of place...wide eyed true freshmen. They have been coming on week by week...developing a certain physical style of play and this week I think they begin to build their resumes for the NFL. Jaye Howard is another one who is playing big. I saw UF play three times last year but the Tenn game game I saw coupled with the Ky game last week showed me this is a different team than the one that went in to Tuscaloosa last year. That's my take.......we'll see how it plays out on Sat.