Florida football: 3 overreactions from Saturday’s loss to LSU

It’s that time of the week where Florida football fans armchair quarterback Saturday’s loss to LSU — as if we weren’t already doing that Saturday night.

Welp, it was a loss. But, really, was it a bad loss for Florida football?

LSU dominated us from the midway point of the third quarter to the end of the game and there really wasn’t anything we could do about it.

That said, it wasn’t that Florida football played a poor game or was just run over by LSU because that certainly wasn’t the case.

However, it doesn’t stop Florida football fans and critics from overreacting to the fact that the Gators suffered their first loss of the season.

With that, here are three potential overreactions and our take on whether you should buy or sell it.

Florida football is out of the East hunt

Because it is difficult to reach the SEC title game with a defeat on your record, it is plausible to think the Gators have no hope of winning the East Division.

Because the Southeastern Conference is so competitive, it could also be sensible that even with one loss midway through the season, aiming for the championship game is playing above your depth.

The SEC races are always horse races, won by those who survive at the right time.

Buy or sell: I think you have to sell this. Not only did Georgia lose at home to South Carolina, but it’s still only halfway through the season.

Now, the next two games are critical for Florida football. They have to beat South Carolina at Columbia then beat Georgia in Jacksonville. Any loss there, and it could be more realistic to think the hunt for the SEC championship is over.

Let’s also not forget a wildcard in Missouri. The Tigers are also unbeaten in league play and currently sit atop the East. But, they have Georgia and Florida still to play.

The bottom line: The season is far from over.

The Florida defense met its match

LSU wound up with 511 yards of total offense against the Gators Saturday night, including 218 of it on the ground.

It’s a tally we had yet to see against one of the best defensive units in the country.

Especially, when you consider the fact that Florida football had not given up more than 100 yards on the ground all season long.

I mean, LSU averaged 9.1 yards per rush against Florida — a figure few of us ever thought we would see.

Buy or sell: I think you have to sell this as well.

Take into account the Gators’ best line rushers — Jonathan Greenard and Jabari Zuniga were both out, forcing the defense to attempt its same magic without two of its magicians.

It’s not that the Gators did a bad job. After all, they did neutralize Joe Burrow to under 300 yards — something he had not done all season.

The Florida football offense still needs a lot of work

The Gators ended Saturday with 457 total yards of offense — of which 146 of that was on the ground.

It was yet another game where the Gators failed to have a 100-yard rusher and only tight end Kyle Pitts had more than 100 yards receiving.

Quarterback Kyle Trask was intercepted once and Emory Jones was less-than-effective in the short instance he was on the field.

Buy or sell: This is a tough call.

On the one hand, the fact that we can’t establish a run, in any way, shape or form, it concerning. The fact that our offensive line still can’t seem to create holes big enough for our running backs to make work is also concerning.

However, Trask (sans the interception) was solid in his first complete road start of the season. He was 23-for-39 with three touchdowns and 311 yards passing.

Pitts continued to show why he is a force to be reckoned with as he pulled down 108 yards on five catches. He will continue to provide Florida a lot of mismatching for the games to come.

In the end, this is a push. On one hand, you would hope the offensive line would have its act together enough to give Lamical Perine, Josh Hammond, Malik Davis or Dameon Pierce a hole to work with.

However, Trask continues to be solid under center and has shown the poise of a veteran, no matter how many times the national media wants to point out how little he’s started.

Next up for No. 9 Florida football is a trip to Columbia to face South Carolina at 12 p.m. on ESPN.