Gameday forecast for Florida
Saturday should be fun.
Weather’s supposed to be nice. The No. 1 team in town. A military fly-over before the game, and USC wearing camo jerseys to raise awareness and dollars for the Wounded Warrior Project. (USC’s Steve Fink says fly-over is at halftime, not pre-game. My bad.)
What could be better?
Well, a close game would be nice.
The Gamecocks let things get away from them in a hurry last year in Gainesville, thanks to a couple of Chris Smelley picks and a poorly timed, poorly executed double pass on a kickoff return.
A scoreless game turned into a 21-0 rout in a matter of minutes, and you could see the fight go out of the Gamecocks’ defensive players.
What ensued was a 56-6 beatdown that was the worst loss of Steve Spurrier’s career – as an Ol’ Ball Player or Ball Coach. Florida apparently does not know how to treat its own.
But this year could be different. The Gators are merely beating teams soundly this season, not clamping down on opponents and squeezing the life out of them.
No Percy Harvin. No Louis Murphy.
But this Tebow kid is supposed to be pretty good.
Ellis Johnson, who runs the USC defense, said the Gamecocks are not going to throw a bunch of blitzes at Tebow. They hope to create pressure with their base, 4-man front, giving them ample defenders to drop back in coverage.
After watching the Gators rip off a number of big plays against his guys last year, you get the idea Johnson will be willing to concede the 12-yard out routes and have his safeties keep the play in front of them.
And while Tebow does not always throw the prettiest spirals, he can read a defense as well as anyone. And if the Gamecocks don’t do anything to disrupt him, Tebow will take the Gators down the field, via the read-option or whatever throws USC is giving him.
A healthy Cliff Matthews would add to the Gamecocks’ chaos quotient. And while Matthews might play in key situations, it’s hard to imagine him being effective at less than 100 percent and wearing a bulky brace under his shoulder pads.
So then it falls to Eric Norwood to try to get to Tebow. Norwood sacked him twice last year at the Swamp. But he might have to do more Saturday, namely strip him of the ball and end the defense’s three-week drought without a turnover.
Offensively, the Gamecocks don’t have to be perfect. But they do have to maximize their scoring chances – an Achilles heel for Spurrier and his team of play-callers all season.
Spurrier says he’s calling the plays, although his players said this week they had not seen any change in the system. It might not matter, anyway: Charlie Strong’s defense is giving up an NCAA-low 10 points a game, and Arkansas is the only team to score 20 on the Gators.
This won’t be a blowout. But it won’t be an upset, either.
Florida 28, USC 13
21 Comments to “Gameday forecast for Florida”
Leave a Reply
USC football beat writer Joe Person has covered the Gamecocks since the start of the 2002 season. He's been on the college football beat since 1993. 
Nice read. Thanks again.
28-13? That would be nice. I can’t see this team scoring 13, or holding florida under 40. i say 40-7. hate to do it, but theres always next year. and i think it looks brighter
pain
Take the money and run..the simple fact is that there is no way Carolina will keep the score within 15.5 points…I’m doing something I have never done before..bet against us, but this one is a gimmie…but if we somehow pull off an upset I will win either way…GO COCKS!!
Wow…way to “root, root, root for the Home Team” y’all. Joe…..Say it ain’t so. Think what you will. Post the nay saying and the one-liners. Gamecocks play inspired football Saturday….Defense comes to life with some key position shifts and a fire is ignited that sparks the Gamecocks to life after a Bryce Sherman Kickoff return for a TD. Defense forces 3 turnovers and Garcia hooks up with Alshon Jeffery and Gurley with the best timing of the season. Add a Spencer Lanning FG and a Short yardage redzone TD by Maddox. Close one, but Cocks find a way to make it 31-28 Carolina wins their best game in History at Williams Brice. GO COCKS!!
My heart says USC 24-20. My head says UF 42-13. My gut says drink heavily and enjoy the game! Gonna go with my gut on this one.
Real Sorry for a South Carolina reporter who is invited into practices and given interviews to pull against the Gamecocks. Spurrier should ban you. the end..
I’m with agmayer…Cocks WIN 31-27!
UF 3, SC 2
Florida playing for an undefeated season. Tebow will not let them lose.Long, sustained drives wear out the Gamecock defense. Garcia throws three int’s. Maddox and Miles each fumble. Final score: 35-9
My Gut no to florida BUT YES TO THE GAMECOCKS THIS SAT. and upset is coming leaving everyone speechless.
Even if USC plays the best possible game they can, Florida will still win unless USC gets at least 2 “pick 6″. Their defense is too good for our young offensive line. Fla 31 USC 13
My heart is with the cocks… but my brain says Tebow will be cartwheeling down the field by the end of the second quarter.
Why not USC and why not now?
It is time for something positive to happen at the WB and that starts today!
48-6 Gators roll in cooterville
I didn’t realize this was the FIRST sellout of the season. The Spurrier/Hymen era rolls on! (Yeah, I know, I spelled it that way on purpose.)
Carolina 28
Florida 23
Nothing else to say.
Is Eric Baker playing defense?
Patrick: It was Fla-24 Cocks-14
What else do you want me to say…
Joel: Did you say you are speechless? Thought so.
Optimistic : Re think your prediction.
agmayer: Please mail me whatever you are snort’n.
And that’s another Carolina……MORAL VICTORY!
mullet, your tigs get a reality check in two weeks.