The Florida Gators had a couple of very formidable foes in the first half of the schedule, drawing both LSU and Alabama as cross-divisional rivals, in addition to traveling to traditional opponent Tennessee. However, it can be argued that their second half schedule is even more difficult.
The Gators will host defending SEC East division champion Missouri before facing off against Georgia in Jacksonville. If they are still in the race going into the second half, those two games could very well decide if they will have a meaningful November.
2014 Florida Gators Schedule Analysis: Games 7-12
In November the Gators will travel to Vanderbilt, before hosting South Carolina and Eastern Kentucky and ending the season at in-state rival and defending national champion Florida State. It’s a tremendously difficult task, but let’s break it down game by game.
October 18th, vs. Missouri, Time & TV Coverage TBD
The Gators will stay home after defeating LSU and welcome defending division champion, Missouri. Last year the Tigers took the division by surprise, overcoming an injury to starting quarterback James Franklin by relying heavily on their defense to get them to Atlanta. This year, teams in the SEC will be ready for them and Will Muschamp will have a game-plan to stop them.
Maty Mauk will be leading a Missouri offense that lost all of its weapons at the skill position. They will really miss Dorial Green-Beckham, as the strong Gator secondary will blanket the receivers and make it a long day for the offense. I believe they will look to get a running game going, however that will be stuffed by a strong Gator defensive line. It could be a very long day for the Missouri offense.
The Gators will be clicking at this point and should be able to move the ball against an average Missouri defense. They gave up 265 yards a game in the air in 2013, and even with a half of season under their belt at this point, the secondary is almost entirely new and will be exposed in the electric atmosphere that will fill the swamp. The Gators will be able to get out to an early lead and as Missouri becomes one dimensional in the second half, the Florida defense will impose its will yet again.
Prediction: Florida 35, Missouri 17
Record: 6-1 (4-1)
November 1st, vs. GEORGIA BULLDOGS Jacksonville, Florida, Time & Coverage TBD
This will be the big revenge game that the Florida Gators have had circled since they began spring practice. They have lost three straight games to Will Muschamp’s alma mater and want nothing more than to finally get over the hump and flex their muscles in this rivalry game. They came close a season ago, ultimately falling late 23-20, but this could be the year Muschamp finally leads his team to victory.
Georgia is loaded on defense, where they’ll have one of the best units in the country. It’s a very good thing that the Gator offense has had seven games under its belt at this point, because they are going to need every rep. It will be a low scoring, smash mouth, old-school SEC football game. The Georgia offense is inexperienced both at quarterback and on the offensive line. The Gator defense will have to key in on containing Todd Gurley and Keith Marshall at running back. If they can keep them in check and make Hutson Mason beat them with his arm, they could come away with the victory.
I think this is the season they finally do it. Both defenses play phenomenally in this game, but in the end, the Gators have the slightly more experienced offense. They will be able to handle the hostile environment and the intensity of this rivalry, and will make enough plays against the Georgia defense to come away with the close win.
Prediction: Florida 17, Georgia 16
Record: 7-1 (5-1)
November 8th, at Vanderbilt Commodores, Nashville, Tennessee Time & TV Coverage TBD
This will be the classic trap game when the Gators head to Vanderbilt. The only problem with that is this isn’t James Franklin’s Vanderbilt squad. His players remain, but they will be far outmatched athletically in this contest. The Gators will be riding serious momentum coming off of the Georgia win and may sleep walk through the first quarter and a half or so, but they will snap out of it before halftime. They will have too much riding on this game to take Vanderbilt lightly.
This may be another chance to get the backup quarterback some reps in the second half as Florida pulls away late. The Gators will head into their SEC finale with a “win and you’re in” scenario facing South Carolina.
Prediction: Florida 38, Vanderbilt 14
Record: 8-1 (6-1)
November 15th,vst SOUTH CAROLINA GAMECOCKS, Time & TV Coverage TBD
All the marbles will be on the line as the Gators host South Carolina to face the Ol’ Ball Coach’s squad in their SEC conference finale. The Gators will come in with a 6-1 conference record to face an equally as impressive 6-1 South Carolina squad. Both teams will be facing a “win and you punch your ticket to Atlanta” scenario. Florida will have the slight edge on defense, South Carolina will have a slightly better offense, and the special teams will be a wash. It will be an even-steven game and go back and forth for four quarters.
In the end, Dylan Thompson and South Carolina will have a slightly better and more polished offense. Even against a Gator defense that will rank in the top 10 nationally, they will put up 28 points thanks to a couple of key Florida turnovers. The home crowd will make a difference, but it won’t be enough to give the Gators the edge. South Carolina will punch their ticket to the SEC Championship and give Steve Spurrier another win against his former school.
Prediction: South Carolina 28, Florida 24
Record: 8-2 (6-2)
November 22nd, vs. Eastern Kentucky, Time & TV Coverage TBD
An angry Florida team will hit the field and take out their aggression over just missing the SEC Championship game by giving Eastern Kentucky a solid whipping. They will use this as a tune up for Florida State and run away from this early. This will be the final time to get the backups some reps until the bowl game and that will be one positive coming out of this. Other than that, this is a game where the Gators will try to stay healthy and get ready for the in-state showdown against Florida State.
Prediction: Florida 45, Eastern Kentucky 3
Record: 9-2 (6-2)
November 29th, at FLORIDA STATE SEMINOLES in Tallahassee, Florida, Time & TV Coverage TBD
Their trip to the ACC championship assured, Jameis Winston and the defending national champion Florida State Seminoles will welcome the Florida Gators for the season finale with high hopes for the college football playoff. The Gators will be looking to knock off Florida State and get to 10-2 to keep their long-shot odds at an at-large bid for the College Football Playoff alive.
The first half of this game will be the knock-down, drag-out fight you expect out of this rivalry. Watch for hard hits, big plays, and lots of trash talking. Florida will carry a 14-10 lead into halftime and half high hopes for the second half. FSU will return the second half kickoff for a touchdown and never look back. They will pull away in the second half and extend their winning steak in this rivalry.
Prediction: Florida State 30, Florida 21
Record: 9-3 (6-2)
2nd Half Analysis:
The Gators will take a slight step back with a 4-2 second half, but fans will have to be pleased with the overall outcome considering the difficulty of this schedule. After a 4-8 campaign, a 9-3 season will be a welcome sight. They will land in the Outback or Capitol One Bowl, facing a Wisconsin or Michigan, possibly even Urban Meyer and Ohio State. The fans will look at this season as a success. Will Muschamp will be able to save his job with a 10-3 season, pocketing that bowl win against the B1G. The Gators will have a tough decision to make next season at the quarterback position as the offense looks to take the next step.
10-3, I can chomp to that.
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