Young Stars Give Florida Gators Fighting Chance Against Georgia Bulldogs

The SEC’s annual rivalries are great, and this week pits two of the conference’s oldest battlers against each other. One is the prohibitive favorite, but maybe it shouldn’t be.

From this year Florida vs. Georgia game sees the Dawgs favored by 16.5 points, per FanDuel. Thanks to a few offensive trends in Florida, it could be a closer game than the pundits think.

With DJ Lagway Behind center, the Gators find ways to create big passing plays. Lagway’s first SEC start against Kentucky is a great place to provide evidence.

Lagway’s 7 of 14 completions go for 259 yards, 18.5 yards per completion. Only seven additions should not be considered ideal, but the overall results are excellent. That raises the big question when you face Georgia.

Will the Gators be able to? consistent run the football against UGA’s vaunted front? It is ranked 22 in the nation allowing just 107.1 yards per contest. If not, the Gators are unlikely to set up the play-action pass, and the Lagway run-option game thrives.

UF’s rushing average is 149.7, good for 77th in the country. More importantly, the Gators out-rushed the Kentucky defense for 197 yards and five scores, the latter stat all from freshman running back Jadan Baugh. This is a trend that all Gators fans would like to see more of. If UF can beat UK’s defensive front, maybe Baugh, Lagway and the Gators can run the Dawgs too.

That’s where this year’s UF versus UGA game gets even more interesting. The big-play passing attack mixed with Baugh’s running prowess provides more opportunities for Lagway’s dual-threat skills to shine in crunch moments.

Sometimes the biggest plays in a game are finding a way to break up a quarterback scramble or a designed run that gains a few yards on third down and two. It’s not a long term, but one that is critical to winning the ball game.

That rush may include dodging a defensive end and running over a cornerback, but the task must be completed to keep the drive alive. Lagway has the size, speed and moxie to make these plays happen. He’s already proving it with improved awareness and rushing for three first downs during third down opportunities this season.

The Gators will need to keep the Dawgs off balance to move the football and score, no doubt. The signs are there that it can happen. Additionally, while UGA’s defense is certainly ultra-talented and could cause UF’s offense more trouble throughout the contest, don’t discount the chances that the Gators will find ways to create big plays of their own.

Oddsmakers see this game becoming an outright Georgia win, but recent trends give Florida a chance to keep it close and maybe even win the football game.

Game odds are periodically updated and subject to change.

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