Florida Gators: Will Muschamp to Deliver November to Remember?

After the thrilling win on Saturday, fans of the Florida Gators may be surprised to learn that the season isn’t over for us. In fact, the Gators still have a shot to take the SEC East title. And while it could be called an “outside” shot, the scenario isn’t that far fetched. Will this be the “November to Remember” for Gator Nation? Quite possibly, yes.

Put it all together and the Gator team that wakes up on Dec. 1 could be in a place that they couldn’t have imagined on Nov. 1.

First, obviously, the Gators need to win their final two SEC games, but both of those teams are in decline, and the toughest of those opponents — South Carolina — is looking worse each week and will be coming to the Swamp.

But before the key Nov. 15  test against the Gamecocks, Florida will make a road trip to Nashville to face a 3-6 Vanderbilt team that last season defeated the Gators in the Swamp, an embarrassing homecoming loss that hero head coach Will Muschamp said his team has not forgotten. Consider this Saturday’s game a chance for payback.

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The Gators enter the game at Vandy at 14 point favorite. And while a one-point win is sufficient to advance Florida’s goals, but it may not be enough to erase doubts about Muschamp as coach or the team’s strengths.

Vanderbilt’s team this year isn’t the breakout team of the past few years. It’s having trouble at the quarterback position. And the Gators have been pretty good at pressuring QBs this year. Also, the rape trial of two former players will be grabbing headlines in Nashville, so that could be another distraction for what appears to be a program that’s returning to its former self.

Sep 13, 2014; Gainesville, FL, USA; Florida Gators defensive back Keanu Neal (42) and teammates run out of the tunnel before the game against the Kentucky Wildcats at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

South Carolina is playing so poorly right now that coach Steve Spurrier refused to answer questions after the team’s meltdown loss at home to Tennessee on Saturday. The Gamecocks had a two touchdown lead late in the game, only to play tight and let a fired up Volunteer team rally behind its backup quarterback to even the score at the end of regulation. After scoring first in overtime, the Vols sacked the Gamecocks out of realistic field goal range and sealed the game.

However, South Carolina is on a bye week, giving them time to heal and possibly letting Spurrier finish out his retirement plans. The Gators can beat this Gamecock team.

On Nov. 22, The Gators will face Eastern Kentucky, an 8-1 team in the FCS Ohio Valley Conference. If Muschamp fails in this one, I’ll join the mob calling for his job. I don’t expect that to happen.

At that point in the season, much of what has to happen to get the Gators into the SEC Championship game will have happened… or it won’t have. First, the Gators need two losses for current SEC East leader Missouri, who hold the tiebreaker against Florida due to their win two weeks ago.

After a bye this week, the Tigers are on the road Nov. 15 at Texas A&M, a team that is dreadfully underperforming and needing a win. Then, they go to Tennessee on Nov. 22. After that, they host Arkansas, a power running team that is playing good teams very close, narrowly losing last week at No. 1 Miss St. 17-10. Missouri was dominated at home by Georgia. They beat the Gators with their special teams and by capitalizing on mistakes. The Tigers could lose two of these games. They could lose all three.

Nov 1, 2014; Jacksonville, FL, USA; Florida Gators head coach Will Muschamp hugs Florida Gators quarterback Treon Harris (3) after they beat the Georgia Bulldogs at EverBank Field. Florida Gators defeated the Georgia Bulldogs 38-20. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Next, the Gators will need another SEC loss for Georgia, and there are two chances for that to happen. The Dawgs will travel to Lexington to face an improved Kentucky team on Nov. 8. If the Wildcats can’t help us there, then the very powerful Auburn Tigers could by beating the Bulldogs in Athens on Nov. 15. A demoralized Georgia — suddenly out of the national title hopes — could foreseeably lose both of those games. We only need them to lose one.

And before pessimistic Gator fans write off the game at Florida State on Nov. 29 to close the season, know that the Seminoles just gave up back-to-back 100-plus yard rushing performances to Notre Dame and Louisville. They are weak against the run and in protecting the quarterback. And the Gators power running game is just starting to get rolling.

The Noles aren’t the dominant team of last year. And if fortunes turn and the Gators come into that game as the SEC East Champion, they will be a highly-motivated squad. Put it all together and the Gator team that wakes up on Dec. 1 could be in a place that they couldn’t have imagined on Nov. 1.