Georgia and Florida are set for another chapter in their rivalry Saturday, and ESPN’s Kirk Herbstreit didn’t waste much time zeroing in on the two biggest questions hanging over the matchup.
The No. 3 Bulldogs enter the game in Atlanta at 6-1 after a 27-24 upset loss to Auburn in Athens, a defeat fueled by three turnovers from Georgia quarterback Gunner Stockton. Herbstreit said he expects Stockton to bounce back.
“Georgia has had two weeks to figure things out. Three turnovers - uncharacteristic by Gunner Stockton. I think he will play much better today,” Herbstreit suggested.
Florida comes in at 5-2 and has little room left if it wants to keep its postseason hopes on track. The Gators have been uneven all season, mixing two upset wins with two blowout losses. Herbstreit said their best path starts on the ground.
“Florida has to get their down-hill running back going to have a chance to win this game,” Herbstreit said of the Gators.
That puts the spotlight on Atlanta native Jadan Baugh, who figures to be central to Florida’s plans. Georgia coach Kirby Smart also singled him out earlier this week, praising both Baugh’s ability and the challenge he presents.
“They’ve got a great rushing attack, and they’ve got a great back to do it with,” Georgia football coach Kirby Smart said earlier this week. “So when you can run the ball and know that your back's going to make people miss in the open field or break tackles by running through them, over them around them it certainly gives you the confidence to give him touches and he's been incredible.
We've shown our guys clips of him since the start of the year to kind of say: ‘Are you practicing to tackle him? Are you practicing to tackle who you're playing against?’
We're driving the motivation that every day you're trying to prepare for the best. He's certainly done that, and he’s a talented young man."
ESPN’s Desmond Howard added his own take on what kind of game this could become.
“That is going to be a 15-round fight,” ESPN’s Desmond Howard injected into the TV conversation.
Herbstreit closed by framing the matchup in the simplest terms.
“Any time these two teams get together it is a war,” Herbstreit concluded.
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