Florida football: All you need to know for today’s game with Towson
It could be considered the calm before the storm for Florida football as they host FCS-ranked Towson this afternoon.
With any luck, Florida football fans can save the antacids for the coming weeks and not have to use any today.
No. 9 Florida will host No. 10 (FCS) Towson today at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.
However, after this week, the Gators’ schedule just gets tougher with the likes of No. 7 Auburn, No. 4 LSU and No. 3 Georgia all coming up in the immediate future.
So, if there’s no complete meltdown, we can all enjoy today before breaking out the Pepto in the coming weeks.
With that said, here’s all you need to know for today’s game with the Towson Tigers:
Storylines
Florida: The Gators are coming off an impressive 34-3 dismantling of Tennessee last week and can use this game as a tune-up for the gauntlet ahead. But, Florida football can’t look past the Tigers, who have proven to be able to put up points, pass the football and stop opponents.
Trending. Gators' injury report against Towson. light
It will be key for the Gators to get off on the right foot on both sides of the ball. Kyle Trask returns under center and should have his pick of targets to throw to. However, this could be a game where Lamical Perine breaks out as Towson’s defensive line has some trouble stopping the run.
On the defensive side, Florida will have some work to stop Towson quarterback Tom Flacco, who can both pass and run the football, almost at will.
Towson: For the Tigers, this is their Appalachian State game. Do you remember when the Mountaineers went to Ann Arbor and beat nationally-ranked Michigan? This is what they are looking at in their trip to Gainesville today.
As mentioned before, Flacco is a legitimate threat with the football as he can throw as well as run, when given space. However, he has yet to face a defense like Florida, who leads the nation in sacks and the SEC in interceptions.
The Tigers’ defense is a bit of a question mark. They gave up a ton of points and yardage last week in an overtime loss to Villanova and the Wildcats’ offense isn’t even on the same level as the Gators.
Connections
Towson head coach Rob Ambrose and Florida football cornerbacks coach Torrian Gray worked together at UConn in 2002 and 2003. Gray coached the defensive backs while Ambrose coached the quarterbacks.
Gray worked with two Towson assistants as well. He worked with safeties coach Lyndon Johnson (not the former president) at UConn from 2002-2003, and with wide receivers’ coach Justin Harper at Virginia Tech from 2006 to 2008.
How to watch
- Time and date: 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 28.
- Where: Ben Hill Griffin Stadium — Gainesville, Florida.
- TV: SEC Network with Taylor Zarzour, Matt Stinchcomb and Alyssa Lang.
- Radio: Gator IMG Sports Network with Mick Hubert, Lee McGriff and Tate Casey.
- Satellite: Sirius Ch. 137/XM Ch. 190.
The Line
Florida football is currently a 35.5-point favorite. Our resident gambling expert Derek Taylor said to bet the Gators at -35.5. He feels confident the Gators will cover the spread. You can read his tutorial on gambling today’s game here.
The Weather
According to The Weather Channel, it is going to be a great football day in Gainesville. The temperature today is expected to reach around 90 degrees with a slight wind out of the north-northeast. Tonight should be relatively cool, with the low reaching down to 68 degrees.
The Last Line
It is easy for people to suggest Florida football will be looking past Towson with No. 7 Auburn looming next week, but I don’t think that’s going to happen.
I believe head coach Dan Mullen will have the Gators focused and anxious to put this game away in the first half. It does have all the makings of a trap game for the Gators, but even with the HBO film crew in the middle of everything, I think the Gators will be focused and ready to take care of things.
The Gators' defense against Towson's offense. dark. Next
No. 9 Florida will kick off with Towson at 4 p.m. at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.