Week 11 Prediction: Florida Gators vs. South Carolina Gamecocks
By Shannon Seal
Week 11 Prediction:
Florida Gators vs. South Carolina Gamecocks
Ben Hill Griffin Stadium
Steve Spurrier- Florida Field
Gainesville, FL
After being blown off the field last week against Missouri, how do the Florida Gators respond with yet another dangerous offense invading Ben Hill Griffin?
Over the last two outings, this UF defense has been torched by Jake Fromm and Drew Lock. Now enter another veteran savvy QB in Jake Bentley, and furthermore electric duo receivers Deebo Samuel and Bryan Edwards, who have each had a tremendous season in Columbia. Florida could not slow down Georgia’s Jeremiah Holloman or Isaac Nauta, and likewise had no answer for Mizzou’s Albert Okwuegbunam or Emanuel Hall, and this duo presents a similar set of deadly skills that Florida yet again has to deal with.
Samuel and Edwards have been electric this season so far, and over the last few games seem to be really hitting their stride and have built chemistry with Bentley. The combo has hauled in 74 receptions for just shy of 1,000 yards along with 11 of Bentley’s 13 TD’s. It’s safe to say that’s where the football is going when USC has the football this weekend in the Swamp.
After combining for an SEC-leading 21 sacks over the first 7 games of the season, this Florida defense has had one in each of the last two games. And simultaneously has been shredded down the field each time around. This shows me that this banged up UF secondary has problems right now, and it’s vital that the Gators can find ways to create pressure even when oppositions game plans counter-act that. In this game against South Carolina, the bottom line on stopping this highly explosive passing offense is going to be dictated on if UF can find ways to get pressure, whether it’s from their explosive defensive ends, who have been neutralized over the last two weeks, or by Todd Grantham bringing blitzes. Florida’s personnel will have to deliver and pressure Bentley, otherwise Samuel and Edwards will have monster afternoons.
Samuel is also a dynamic threat in the return game for the Gamecocks, and his services will have to be accounted for throughout.
The Gamecocks leading rushers Rico Dowdle and Ty’Son Williams were both injured last week against Ole Miss and were unable to finish. Will Muschamp announced this week each should be available on Saturday against Florida. Dowdle, Williams, Mon Denson, along with A.J. Turner conduct this South Carolina backfield. Muschamp and South Carolina OC Bryan McClendon will go with the hot hand and that’s who will get the majority of the looks against the Gators on Saturday. Notably last week, Denson was the answer for the Gamecocks, as he rushed for 100 yards against the Rebels. If Florida’s defense doesn’t come to play, any and all of this group can provide big days on the ground to be honest, especially for what’s been a suspect defense against the run all season, even when Florida was balling.
I think this game ultimately comes down to UF’s ability to rush the passer, that’s where everything will start and end. Any success that the Gamecocks will have depends on that, and ultimately where this Gator defense’s mindset is as they head into the final stretch. The Gators vow that they’re seeking to regain their edge from earlier this season. We’ll find out on Saturday.
Smartly, Dan Mullen said that the QB decision will likely be determined right around game time. This doesn’t give South Carolina any early opportunities to know what’s coming, not that it’s entirely that important anyway, at least not with the way Feleipe Franks is playing right now. Franks woeful last two weeks have been a big reason behind UF’s demise and why this offense cannot round into form. Mullen says that he’s working on a game plan to put his QB’s in the best position for success and to help the team win, but he’s not going to share that just yet.
“I’m not going to share what our strategy is just of which of the three quarterbacks, or how much of the three are going to play. I haven’t done that all year, so I don’t plan on sharing that strategy just yet.” Mullen announced on Wednesday.
Well, South Carolina surely knows what they’re getting out of Franks, and I can’t see anything really changing with him at this point.
According to a few reports, Kyle Trask went down with an undisclosed lower-body injury yesterday in practice and apparently was carted off of the field. The extent of the injury is not yet known, but if this holds to be true, Trask likely will not be available on Saturday.
Perhaps Mullen will decide to burn the redshirt on the freshman Emory Jones. Assuming Trask isn’t available, I believe that Mullen should go back with Franks and give him another opportunity, I guess. And if that doesn’t work out then yes you learn the hard way one more time, but at least you can hand the keys over to Jones for FSU and the bowl game and can still maintain the redshirt year, thus having four years still left with Jones.
Now obviously, Mullen should be able to find his QB within that time frame and hopefully yearly in recruiting. But at the same time, I think Trask deserves a shot at some point when he can return. At the end of the day, I trust Mullen in this regard to find the right guy, and I know that he knows what he’s doing. I want to see a creative game plan by Mullen and for this offense to not leave plays on the field.
Mullen knows this I’m sure, but Florida has to run the football to be effective. With the trio of Jordan Scarlet, Lamical Perine, and the freshman Dameon Pierce, this is clearly one of the strengths of this team. And for those guys not to be fed enough over the last two games is merely unacceptable. Mullen has to implement this to put whichever QB he goes with into the best position possible, and that starts with a vaunted running game. None of these guys have gotten the football nearly enough as of late, and Florida’s offense has sputtered as a result.
Prediction:
I want to see what the Gators have in them. These words—mental toughness— have been tossed around all season, and Florida hasn’t shown any of that over the last two games. Since the second half of the Georgia game, something happened to this team in every dimension at every level. This is just not the same team right now. Mullen says that the Gators are good and can play with anyone if they execute in all phases, and I completely agree. But this team has been a shell of that lately and nothing shows me that anything has really changed in that locker room. I think (and hope) that the Gators will show some pride this week and bounce back in an effort to salvage the season. I look for Franks to start and certainly play assuming that Trask’s injury isn’t as severe as first assumed. Mullen trusts his running backs and the QB (or QB’s) to muster up a few passes to potential open receivers. But even more importantly, the UF defense comes back to life, even if only to a certain extent. This is certainly a lose-able game if Florida doesn’t play well, and I’m not saying we see the Florida Gators from earlier this season or anything, but they’ll do enough to at least escape the Swamp back in the win column.
Florida 24
South Carolina 16