After a tightly contested defensive win against Charlotte, the Gators will head on the road to play the Kentucky Wildcats. This game has a lot of meaning for both teams. The Gators have a lot to prove after a shaky win against Charlotte, while Kentucky hopes to keep its undefeated record alive.
UF vs. Kentucky Preview
On the Road
When looking at this competitive rivalry, one thing that makes this game a hard one for the Gators is that it’s on the road. Even though the game is being played at noon, Florida will still have to travel to Lexington in hopes of leaving with a win. Kentucky has won all three of its home games already and will hope to add another win to that column this weekend.
The Gators know all about hostile environments after their game against Utah. Considering that, you could think Florida might be able to handle it better. On top of that, the fact that this game is at noon might also play into the Gators’ hands.
A Battle of the Defenses
For both teams, defense has been the main story. Florida and Kentucky have had great turnouts from their defenses every week thus far. There is still a lot to find out about each team, but this game could be a very defensively-minded affair.
Kentucky this season so far has gained eight turnovers, and three of those turnovers came against Vanderbilt last week. Even though they haven’t played the greatest opponents, forcing turnovers is huge for your squad. Looking at this game, Kentucky is going to come ready to play on the defensive side of the ball.
On the other sideline, Florida ranks among one of the best defenses in the country. The team altogether has been good at containing the run and not giving up the deep ball as much. The Gators are also only giving up 244.8 yards per game, which is very low considering how bad the team’s defense was last season.
Billy Napier has done an excellent job getting his guys prepared on the defensive side of things. Some big-name players are starting to step up in big ways. Guys like Jordan Castell, Shemar James, Princely Umanmielen, and Caleb Banks all have played very well since the season started. If these guys continue to stand out Florida will be a tough team to beat.
Keys to the Game
Coming into this game, The Gators are going to have to establish the run. Florida has a two-headed monster in its backfield with Trevor Etienne and Montrell Johnson. If the team can get those two guys going, it’ll be very hard to stop on offense. Establishing the run game will also open lanes for the passing game to shine as well.
Third-down efficiency is another big key to the game for Florida. The Gators have struggled this season to sustain drives because they haven’t been able to convert on third down. Against this Kentucky defense, the Gators will have to be able to maintain drives. Keeping the chains moving will help tire out the Kentucky defense.
Florida cannot turn the ball over. Last week against Vanderbilt, Kentucky forced three interceptions. Kentucky can easily make the Gators make mistakes. Graham Mertz will have to be smart in his decision-making to be sure no turnovers happen. If Florida can play a clean and safe game with no turnovers there’s a very good chance, they win the ball game.
Lastly, Florida must ensure they don’t give up the deep ball. The Gators have struggled at times this season with giving up the deep ball. Kentucky’s quarterback Devin Leary can make plays, so ensuring coverage down the field is good could potentially slow their offense down.
Prediction
Even though the game is being played in Lexington, this will be a close one. Both teams are playing at really high levels. On top of that, Florida and Kentucky have played some good defense, which also proves that this game should be a low-scoring one. This game will tell a lot about each team’s discipline as well. Yards might be hard to come by, so whoever can be less penalized will increase their chances of winning.
For both teams, this game will come down to who can finish out drives in the red zone. Considering both teams will get their perspective chances, who can come out with seven or three points with each opportunity you get down by the endzone?
