Florida gets a real measuring-stick game this weekend, and the challenge comes with the kind of backdrop that tends to sharpen every mistake. After a bye week that gave the Gators extra time to get ready, they head into a showdown with Georgia at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
The setup is straightforward enough: Florida enters at 5-2 overall and 3-2 in SEC play, while Georgia comes in at 6-1 and 4-1 in conference games. The Bulldogs also had a bye week, so both teams arrive rested. Georgia is coming off a loss, and the Gators know they’re stepping into a game that could shape the race for the conference title and improve a team’s position for the College Football Playoff.
Still, Florida is not the favorite here by any stretch. The ESPN matchup predictor gives the Gators a 17.9 percent chance to pull off the upset.
That number reflects the size of the task ahead. Florida has already shown it can handle big moments this season, beating Ole Miss and Texas, but Georgia presents a different kind of problem. Kirby Smart’s team brings a physical style that wears on opponents, grinding them down as the game goes along.
For Florida, the opening minutes matter as much as anything. The Gators will need to match Georgia’s urgency and pace from the start if they want a shot at turning this into an upset. The Bulldogs, meanwhile, will be playing with the edge that comes after a loss and with redemption in mind.
One of the biggest questions for Florida is who will be under center. Head coach Jon Sumrall said he won’t name the starting quarterback between Aaron Philo and Tramell Jones Jr. until closer to game time.
Whoever gets the nod will have to deal with constant pressure from Georgia, and that makes Florida’s offensive line a major factor in the game. If the Gators are going to hang around, that unit may end up deciding how much time the offense gets to operate.
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Floridas Biggest Georgia Question Still Has Playoff Stakes
With Floridas trip to Georgia looming, Jon Sumrall still has a significant decision to make at quarterback. Freshman Tramell Jones Jr. and returning starter Philo are both available for the matchup, and Sumrall said he expects to have a starter in place by Wednesday, though he has not made anything official yet.
It is the kind of choice that reaches beyond one game, especially with playoff implications hanging over the stretch run. Both quarterbacks have posted similar completion percentages and each has been part of the offense this season, which makes the decision less about finding a clear emergency option and more about settling on the one that best fits the moment. [Read more 🡒]
Florida Still Has One Massive Question Heading Into Georgia
Florida still has its biggest offensive decision hanging over the buildup to Georgia, with Jon Sumrall declining to name a starting quarterback for the matchup with the No. 3 Bulldogs. Aaron Philo and Tramell Jones Jr. are both available, both practiced, and both remain in the mix as the Gators try to settle on the best option for one of the seasons most important games.
Sumrall said he needs both quarterbacks ready and may wait until after he reviews practice film before making the call. However the choice goes, Florida knows it will need steady play at the position and continued production from Jadan Baugh, who remains a key part of the offense heading into the showdown. [Read more 🡒]
Florida Is Hiding The One Decision Georgia Fans Care About
With Georgia week looming, the quarterback question is still the biggest storyline around Florida as the Gators get ready for one of the most watched games on their schedule. Aaron Philo and Tramell Jones Jr. are both available, and Jon Sumrall has kept the competition open after Jones stepped in to lead Florida back to a comeback win while Philo sat out with an injury.
Sumrall said he expects to settle on a starter by midweek, but he does not plan to stage a formal announcement, which only adds to the interest on the other side of this rivalry. Georgia fans will be watching closely to see whether Florida goes with the quarterback who returned from injury or sticks with the one who just steadied the offense when the Gators needed it most. [Read more 🡒]