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Florida football: Five ways the Gators can tame the Kentucky Wildcats

By Benjamin Henderson

GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA - NOVEMBER 27: Gervon Dexter #9 of the Florida Gators takes the field before the start of a game against the Florida State Seminoles at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on November 27, 2021 in Gainesville, Florida. (Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images)
GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA - NOVEMBER 27: Gervon Dexter #9 of the Florida Gators takes the field before the start of a game against the Florida State Seminoles at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on November 27, 2021 in Gainesville, Florida. (Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images) /
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On Saturday inside The Swamp, the Kentucky Wildcats will be coming to town seeking to win back-to-back games against Florida football for the first time since 1976 and 1977. The Gators are six-point favorites and should have the edge in several areas.

Florida is higher ranked (12th vs 20th), has the better talent composite according to 247 Sports (12th vs 27th), and has a home-field advantage in front of a sold-out crowd in a place Kentucky has only won once since 1980.

For all the advantages the Gators should have though, here are five things that need to go right for Florida to emerge victorious on Saturday night.

Florida football
Florida Gators outside linebacker Brenton Cox Jr. (1) puts on his helmet during warm-ups. The Florida Gators scrimmaged in the first quarter during the annual Orange and Blue spring game at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, FL, Thursday afternoon, April 14, 2022. [Doug Engle/Ocala Star Banner]2022 /

Florida football: Brenton Cox and Gervon Dexter sack party

After last Saturday’s game against Utah, Brenton Cox took to Twitter to let everyone know that he had a great game and that we should give him our respect. Cox had 10 total tackles (three solos, seven assisted) and was named SEC co-defensive lineman of the week.

If we are being honest though, Cox didn’t have as great of a game as he or his stats would claim. In the second half, in particular, Cox resorted to being a one-man show rather than keeping his edge assignments. As a result, Cox was burned on multiple plays where QB Cam Rising simply kept the ball on a read-option and ran right by Cox.

Gervon Dexter wasn’t quite as vocal after the game. He finished with five total tackles (two solo and three assisted). Dexter had some decent pressure at times but didn’t live in Utah’s backfield like Gator fans would have hoped.

To be fair, Utah has a respectable offensive line. Kentucky? Not so much.

Kentucky is replacing several starters along the offensive line and they looked abysmal against Miami (OH). The Redhawks constantly found themselves in Kentucky’s backfield and managed to sack Wildcats’ QB Will Levis four times.

Cox and Dexter should both be capable of getting to Levis and should walk away disappointed if Saturday’s game ends without at least one sack for each guy.

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