- Oct 5, 2017
- 2,306
- 6,270
Two years ago, in October 2018, UF traveled to Vanderbilt for a noon kickoff, I scored free tickets just before kickoff, we got down 21-3 early, and had a fun comeback. Many people can joke about it being Gainesville north as it is usually more UF fans than Vandy fans. However, this year there will be next to no fans. Vandy is allowing players' parents and some graduate students to attend, that's it. For a game like college football where crowd atmosphere is so much a part of the game, this might be the most unique environment we have seen the Gators play in during my lifetime. Heck, I don't think an unusually early snow in two weeks in Knoxville would be more unique (I've never seen the Gators play in snow, but I bet some of you older guys may have seen it when we used to play Kentucky in November or something like that).
Not that the environment really matters. Though Vandy does probably 50% of the time play us close, even if they shouldn't. I looked at the last 15 and began counting the less than 14 point games, but then remembered how we won by 14 in 2017 because Malik Davis scored after getting a necessary first down (much to the unhappiness of Mac since he would rather him go down). Games where the final score didn't indicate how close it was, see also that 2018 game.
I don't believe any of that matters for Saturday, but something has to be said and there is always the "they always play us close" trope. This is a bad Vandy team near the bottom of the SEC in both offense and defense.
Offense
I have a few bold predictions here:
Really, I expect us to continue to play unstoppable despite the 11:00 am local kickoff.
Defense
Statistically, this is the worst offense in the SEC we have played so far. Maybe that's because they haven't played our defense yet, but they have played Ole Miss' defense. Don't worry, Kentucky and Tennessee are worse and guess who our next two games are against.
If our defense does not totally collapse, we should see the more talented secondary early in the second half.
The defensive line should continue to improve as they have only all played together for a combined two games now. You figure Kyree Campbell returned against Mizzou, Carter played only one half, missed half of UGA and then Arky. Still room to grow and improve together. Cox still continues to grow as he is a freshman.
I expect us to give up some points. Our defense is what it is thought our best d-line unit continues to grow.
This should be a fun one, though with the unique atmosphere.
Florida 52 Vandy 17
Go Gators!
Not that the environment really matters. Though Vandy does probably 50% of the time play us close, even if they shouldn't. I looked at the last 15 and began counting the less than 14 point games, but then remembered how we won by 14 in 2017 because Malik Davis scored after getting a necessary first down (much to the unhappiness of Mac since he would rather him go down). Games where the final score didn't indicate how close it was, see also that 2018 game.
I don't believe any of that matters for Saturday, but something has to be said and there is always the "they always play us close" trope. This is a bad Vandy team near the bottom of the SEC in both offense and defense.
Offense
I have a few bold predictions here:
- Trask doesn't get his 4 passing TD's in this game. He will be pulled too early and I believe we will see more rushing TD's.
- We run for at least 200 yards and at least one is an early long run.
- We see more AR than EJ.
Really, I expect us to continue to play unstoppable despite the 11:00 am local kickoff.
Defense
Statistically, this is the worst offense in the SEC we have played so far. Maybe that's because they haven't played our defense yet, but they have played Ole Miss' defense. Don't worry, Kentucky and Tennessee are worse and guess who our next two games are against.
If our defense does not totally collapse, we should see the more talented secondary early in the second half.
The defensive line should continue to improve as they have only all played together for a combined two games now. You figure Kyree Campbell returned against Mizzou, Carter played only one half, missed half of UGA and then Arky. Still room to grow and improve together. Cox still continues to grow as he is a freshman.
I expect us to give up some points. Our defense is what it is thought our best d-line unit continues to grow.
This should be a fun one, though with the unique atmosphere.
Florida 52 Vandy 17
Go Gators!
