I don’t think this will be a very sweet game for Louisville, but you never know.
8:30 p.m. EST, Jan. 2
From: New Orleans
On: ESPN
When The Gators Have The Ball: The Florida offense runs through running back Mike Gillislee. He has 10 rushing touchdowns on the year, as well as one receiving, and became the Gators’ first 1,000-yard rusher since 2004. It’s a good thing Florida has Gillislee, because they’ve had major struggles in the passing game this year. That’s partly due to the fact that quarterback Jeff Driskel is extremely mobile and can make plays with his legs as well as (and at times, better than) his arm. Driskel has also been sacked 25 times. Sophomore wide receiver Quinton Dunbar leads the team with just four receiving touchdowns. Another major issue for Florida? Penalties. According to www.teamrankings.com, the Gators are averaging 69.3 penalty yards per game against FBS opponents. They’ve had more than one big play erased by a penalty this year. The Gators need to be smart and disciplined in New Orleans, or they’ll end up handing Louisville big chunks of yardage.
The Cardinals, for their part, need to stop Gillislee. Period. If they can’t do that, this game could get ugly. Linebacker Preston Brown leads the team with 96 tackles and will have a chance to add to that with multiple chances to bring down the 5’11”, 209-lb. senior. This will be a tall task for a unit allowing over 150 yards per game on the ground. Louisville will also have to try to keep Driskel in the pocket and throwing the ball from there, rather than allowing him to scramble for yards. The Cards have limited opponents to completing just under 58% of their passes, but they only have 9 interceptions to show for it. The pass rush, with 19 sacks this season, is average.
When The Cardinals Have The Ball: Teddy Bridgewater is a very good, and very unheralded, quarterback. He threw for 3,452 yards and 25 touchdowns, with an impressive completion percentage of 69% and just 7 interceptions. He’s compiled those numbers playing through injury and a offensive line that has struggled at times. DeVante Parker is the leading receiver, with 712 yards and 9 touchdowns. The Cards’ run game was good early on, but struggled of late. Their average of just 127 yards per game is skewed by some very poor performances toward the end of their schedule. Junior Senorise Perry was having a strong season, with 705 yards and 11 touchdowns, but he suffered a season-ending injury in early November. Leading rusher Jeremy Wright finished the season with 740 yards and 9 touchdowns.
If ever there was a defense that can stop Teddy Bridgewater, it’s Florida. Even with injured linebacker Jelani Jenkins unlikely to play, this defense has enough future NFL players to stop almost anybody. They rank 3rd in the nation in points allowed, so they can clearly stop both the run and the pass. The Gators have 19 interceptions this year, best in the SEC, and allow just 186.7 passing yards per game. They also have 36 sacks, so expect to see Bridgewater on his backside a time or two. Jaylen Watkins and Loucheiz Purifoy are outstanding corners, and safeties Matt Elam and Josh Evans give the Gators one of the best backfields in the country. Linebacker Jon Bostic and defensive tackle Sharrif Floyd are the leaders of a tough and physical front seven.
Prediction: I really enjoy watching Teddy Bridgewater play, and will be pulling for him in this game. I don’t think Louisville has much of a chance, but who knows? Isn’t that why we like sports? Florida 47, Louisville 20.
