Following a hefty win against Vanderbilt, the Gators will head on the road to play South Carolina on Saturday. Even though the Gamecocks hold a record of 2-3 overall, they stand 2-0 at home. Coming off a big win at home the Gators will now hope to find their first road win in a huge Southeastern Conference showdown.
Total Defense
Coming into this game, a big stat line to look at is total defense. South Carolina ranks 118th in the nation among FBS teams. They are giving up about 6.17 yards per play and about 443 yards per game. On the contrary, the Gators rank 16th in the nation in total defense amongst FBS teams. They are giving up more than five yards per play, but only 286.8 yards per game.
When breaking down total defense for both teams there is an even clearer distinction between the defenses. The Gamecocks rank 126th in passing yards allowed. They give up about 301.4 yards per game. The Gators rank 14th in passing yards allowed. They give up roughly 166.7 yards per game.
If you turn your attention to rushing yards allowed per game, South Carolina ranks 73rd in the nation. They give up about 141.6 yards per game. The Gators rank 42nd in the nation and give up about 120.2 yards per game.
When looking at this game on paper from a defensive standpoint, the Gators have a clear edge. Furthermore, the Gators will not have it easy though considering this game is on the road. Florida has struggled immensely on the road in both of their road games.
A Quarterback Duel
Despite there being a wide gap in defensive performance, both programs will rely heavily on their quarterbacks. Graham Mertz who has shown signs of maturity throughout big games will need to play at a high level in a hostile environment. On the other sideline, Spencer Rattler will need to play a huge game against an impressive defense.
Mertz is going to need to sustain drives. Considering the South Carolina defense is struggling, sustaining drives will force them to stay out on the field. Mertz can make plays, but when he forces himself into long third downs he struggles.
Rattler who has had an up-and-down start to the season will need to show off his arm in this contest. Considering South Carolina’s run game has been absent to start the season, he will have to make big plays throwing the football. If Rattler is able to find time in the pocket, Florida’s defense may find itself in trouble.
Keys to the Game
For Florida, the first key to the game will be to not give up the big plays. Last week against Vanderbilt, the Gators gave up an 85-yard touchdown bomb that tied the game at seven. Even though the seven-to-seven tie didn’t last long, it gave Vanderbilt life. If the Gators are able to play discipline football and not give up the big plays, they could just walk out of South Carolina with a big win.
Another big key to the game will be establishing the run game. As already mentioned, the South Carolina defense has struggled a lot this season in both the pass and run game. Florida will need Montrell Johnson and Trevor Etienne to showcase their explosiveness early in this ballgame.
Lastly, the Gators will need to put pressure on Rattler. If they can Force him to throw the ball quickly it will also give up the ability for him to look for big plays. South Carolina’s offensive line has also been poor this season. They have given up 23 sacks in five games, including nine against North Carolina. If Florida can add more to that tally, they will be poised to walk out of this game with its first road win.
Outlook
Looking at this game in the bigger picture, the Gators hold the upper hand. Even though Florida has struggled on the road, everything points to this being its first road win. Currently, South Carolina is a two-point favorite according to ESPN. Florida should be able to cover this in a fashionable way with a big win. Furthermore, this game also proves to be a big one for SEC play. If the Gators were to win this, they would improve to 3-1 in the SEC East.
