Florida-Georgia: Dogs favored by 18.5 but stuff happens in Jax

DJ Lagway (2) can expect Georgia to attempt to daze and confuse him (Gator Bait Photo by Chris Spears)

Stuff happens in Jacksonville. Fourth and Dumb happened there. So did “Run Lindsey run!” Henry Davis, who hadn’t allowed a touchdown pass over him all season stepped in a puddle in 1975 and Georgia’s Gene Washington got behind him for the game winning touchdown. Anthone Lott called a timeout just ahead of the snap in 1993, nullifying a touchdown pass that would have given Georgia a win. Rex Grossman became the master of the 2-inch pass in 2002 when Florida cost Georgia an undefeated season and a shot at the national championship game. Georgia stormed the field after a first quarter touchdown in 2007 prompting Urban Meyer to call timeouts in the final seconds the next year, prolonging the agony of Florida stomping the Bulldogs by 39 points. With Georgia defensive coordinator Todd Grantham trying to distract by giving the choke sign, Chas Henry kicked the game-winning field goal in overtime in 2010.

The list goes on and on but it’s not difficult to conclude that stuff happens, often quite weird when the Gators and Georgia play in Jacksonville every year. That’s why you shouldn’t think the sky is falling simply because the early line on the 2024 Florida-Georgia game favors Georgia by 18.5 points.

Now, it’s true that Georgia could very well cover the spread and put a good old- fashioned whooping on the Gators. Georgia is really, really talented so when everybody gets focused and plays with attitude bad things happen to whoever the Bulldogs are playing.

Beating Georgia is a monumental task for Billy Napier and the Gators. For Napier it would be that signature win that has eluded him since he became Florida’s head coach. To beat Georgia he will go into battle with a true freshman quarterback who’s coming off a game in which he averaged 18.6 yards per pass attempt. What DJ Lagway has shown is a penchant for throwing it deep with astonishing accuracy

Lagway is Florida’s ace, a former 5-star guy who Napier cut loose on a most unsuspecting Kentucky team. Five of his passes covered 40 yards or more. He’s really, really good but Georgia has had a week to prepare for Lagway, who is the kind of freshman the Bulldogs chew up and spit out.

Remember 2022 and Anthony Richardson? The Georgia game was Richardson’s first start and in a disastrous first half Georgia made him look like a kid who hadn’t started a game since his high school days. Georgia disguised coverages and brought blitzes from all new angles, forcing then UF head coach Dan Mullen to sub in Emory Jones. Billy Napier doesn’t have an Emory Jones to rely on in the event Lagway is frustrated by Georgia’s defensive disguises.

So, the Gators are going into battle with a true freshman QB to go against what is arguably as talented a defensive unit as there is in college football. It is a recipe for a disaster but lest we forget, this is Jacksonville where the Gators will be facing Georgia and Jacksonville is a place where strange things happen.

SEC FOOTBALL

Saturday’s scores

No. 5 Texas (7-1, 3-1 SEC) 27, Vanderbilt (5-3, 2-2 SEC)

No. 14 Texas A&M (7-1, 5-0 SEC) 38, No. 8 LSU (6-2, 3-1 SEC) 23

No. 15 Alabama (6-2, 3-2 SEC) 34, No. 21 Missouri (6-2, 2-2 SEC) 0

No. 18 Ole Miss (6-2, 2-2 SEC) 26, Oklahoma (4-4, 1-4 SEC) 14

Arkansas (5-3, 3-2 SEC) 58, Mississippi State (1-7, 0-5 SEC) 25

Auburn (3-5, 1-4 SEC) 24, Kentucky (3-5, 1-5 SEC) 10

No. 15 Alabama (6-2, 3-2 SEC): The big story Saturday was Alabama’s much-maligned defense. The Tide intercepted three passes while holding Missouri to 239 yards, keeping alive their College Football Playoff hopes. Next: Open

Arkansas (5-3, 3-2 SEC): QB Taylen Green threw for 314 yards and five touchdowns while running for 79 yards and another TD. Arkansas piled up 673 yards, the third time this season the Razorbacks have eclipsed 600 yards in a game. Next: No. 18 Ole Miss (6-2, 2-2 SEC)

Auburn (3-5, 2-2 SEC): Jarquez Hunter shredded the Kentucky defense for 278 yards on 23 carries for two touchdowns as the Tigers won their first SEC game of the season. Auburn ran for 326 yards. Next: No. 25 Vanderbilt (5-3, 2-3 SEC)

No. 2 Georgia (6-2, 3-2 SEC): Georgia may have appealed the targeting penalties against defensive backs Dan Jackson and Joenel Aguero, who were flagged in the second half of the Texas game. If the appeals are not overturned Jackson and Aguero will have to sit the first half of the Florida game. Next: FLORIDA (4-3, 2-2) in Jacksonville

Kentucky (3-5, 1-5 SEC): The Wildcats’ string of eight consecutive seasons going to a bowl game is in jeopardy after losing to Auburn. The Wildcats need three wins to become bowl eligible. Among their four remaining games are road trips to Tennessee and Texas. Next: at No. 7 Tennessee (6-1, 3-1 SEC)

No. 8 LSU (6-2 3-1 SEC): With two losses, the Tigers almost certainly have to go 4-0 in November to have a shot at the College Football Playoff … Despite throwing for 405 yards, Garrett Nussmeier was intercepted three times and sacked three times. Next: Open

Mississippi State (1-7, 0-5 SEC): There’s not much wrong with the MSU offense, which gained 471 yards including three TDPs against Arkansas. The problem was the defense which gave up 314 passing yards and 359 on the ground. Next: UMass (2-6)

No. 21 Missouri (6-2, 2-2 SEC): You can stick a fork in Mizzou’s College Football Playoff hopes after its miserable performance against Alabama. Not only were the Tigers shut out, they couldn’t get off the field as Bama ran for 271 yards and threw for 215. Next: Open

Oklahoma (4-4, 1-4 SEC): Jackson Arnold returned to the starting QB role, throwing for 181 yards and two touchdowns against Ole Miss but the O-line was a sieve as he was harassed and sacked nine times. Next: Maine (4-4)

No. 18 Ole Miss (6-2, 2-2 SEC): The Rebels remain in the College Football Playoff hunt after the defense got to Oklahoma QB Jackson Arnold for nine sacks, four by Suntarine Perkins. They need a 4-0 November to have a shot at the playoff. Next: at Arkansas (5-3, 3-2 SEC)

South Carolina (4-3, 2-3 SEC): Wide receiver Jared Brown may be available against the Aggies next Saturday. There is an outside chance defensive tackle DeAndre Jules may also be available. Next: No. 14 Texas A&M (7-1, 5-0 SEC)

No. 7 Tennessee (6-1, 3-1 SEC): There are accusations that Tennessee pipes in recorded crowd noise to make their Neyland Stadium crowd louder and more intimidating. Tennessee, of course, denies the accusation. Next: Kentucky (3-5, 1-5 SEC)

No. 5 Texas (6-2, 2-2 SEC): The only thing that saved the Longhorns against Vanderbilt were two interceptions and a forced fumble by the defense. Vandy got to QB Quinn Ewers for four sacks, plus Ewers threw two interceptions. Next: Open

No. 14 Texas A&M (7-1, 5-0 SEC): When the Aggies made the switch at quarterback to Marcel Reed the game with LSU changed course. Reed ran for three touchdowns while leading the Aggies to 31 points and a real grip on first place in the SEC. Next: at South Carolina (4-3, 2-2 SEC)

No. 25 Vanderbilt (5-3, 2-3 SEC): The Commodores scored with 46 seconds left to cut the Texas lead to three but their onside kick failed and the Longhorns avoided the upset. Vandy can become bowl eligible with a win at Auburn next Saturday. Next: at Auburn (3-5, 1-4 SEC)

AROUND THE STATE

Saturday’s scores

No. 11 BYU (8-0, 5-0 Big 12) 37, UCF (3-5, 1-4 Big 12) 24

No. 6 Miami (8-0, 4-0 ACC) 36, Florida State (1-7, 1-6 ACC) 14

Next week

Florida Atlantic (2-5, 0-3 American): The Owls have struggled mightily against the pass in their last two games, giving up 776 yards and six TDPs in losses to North Texas and UT-San Antonio. Next: South Florida (3-4, 1-2 American)

Florida International (2-6, 1-3 Conference USA): The Panthers played their best defensive game of the year, but still dropped a 10-7 decision to Sam Houston. Next: New Mexico State (2-5, 1-3 Conference USA)

Florida State (1-7, 1-6 ACC): The Seminoles managed only 248 yards of offense, extending their streak of games with fewer than 300 yards to eight. Next: North Carolina (4-4, 1-3 ACC)

No. 6 Miami (8-0, 4-0 ACC): Cam Ward didn’t throw a touchdown pass nor did he throw for more than 300 yards for the first time all season. He didn’t need to because the Hurricanes pounded FSU for 230 rushing yards. Next: Duke (6-2, 2-2 ACC)

South Florida (3-4, 1-2 American): The Bulls have had a week off to further adjust the offense to fit the skill set of Bryce Archie, who has started the last two games after Byrum Brown went down with an injury in a loss to Tulane. Next: at Florida Atlantic (2-5, 0-3 American)

UCF (3-5, 1-4 Big 12): UCF made its loss to BYU competitive when the switch at quarterback was made to freshman Dylan Rizk, who threw for 102 yards and a TD and ran for 31.  Next: Arizona (3-5, 1-4 Big 12)