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Florida Football: Ready or not, Gators are about to take on Georgia

By Benjamin Henderson

The Florida Gators went into the half trailing the Georgia Bulldogs 24 to 0. The Florida Gators were the home team for this year's annual Florida vs Georgia college football rivalry game at TIAA Bank Field in Jacksonville, Florida Saturday, October 30, 2021.Jki 103021 Bsfloridageorgia 15
The Florida Gators went into the half trailing the Georgia Bulldogs 24 to 0. The Florida Gators were the home team for this year's annual Florida vs Georgia college football rivalry game at TIAA Bank Field in Jacksonville, Florida Saturday, October 30, 2021.Jki 103021 Bsfloridageorgia 15 /
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Maybe it’s the 22.5 point spread. Maybe it’s the fact that the Florida Gators are unranked and Georgia is number one. Maybe it’s Florida football’s 4-3 record. Maybe it’s because Billy Napier didn’t fire Patrick Toney during the bye week. Maybe it was the fact we were on Cormani McClain watch all week.

Whatever the case, the buzz for Florida vs Georgia feels like it has been very low this week. For better or for worse, the lack of a buzz is not going to cause a lack of a game this afternoon in Jacksonville.

Florida Football: This is still a rivalry game

In 2017, the Gators had a terrible season and it led to Jim McElwain being let go. The season ended with a home game against the neighbors to the west. It was a noon kickoff and my wife and I drove up to the game in a morning fog.

There was very minimal buzz in The Swamp despite it being Florida-Florida State. Florida football lost that day 38-22 and that was that.

The buildup to the annual Florida-Georgia game has felt a lot like that. The 22.5 point spread is the largest in this game’s history.

And given Florida’s defense it might not be enough. 

So while it’s unfortunate we haven’t had our normal levels of hope and trash talk heading into today because Florida has about a 5-10% chance of winning, there is a bright spot heading into today.

The Florida Gators have very little to lose today.

Outside of a historic blowout and/or Florida getting shutout out today to end its long running streak of always scoring at least three points, this game will be largely forgotten about should Georgia win today.

But…

Can you imagine if Florida does win today? All the lack of pregame buzz and people who had tickets not going will be forgotten as 20 years from now everyone will claim they were at the game watching McClain run back a pick-six to win the game as Gator fans stormed the field and threw the goalpost into the St. Johns river.

Is it likely?

No.

But sports are fun when one can dream.

Someone tonight might win over 800 million dollars with the Powerball jackpot.

Why can’t Florida football cash in its lottery ticket too?

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Next. Florida's defense doesn't have a great answer for Georgia's tight ends. dark

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