UGA Football: Game Notes – No. 1 Georgia Takes On Florida In Jacksonville

Game & Broadcast Info
  • Kickoff: Saturday, October 30 – 3:30 p.m. ET
  • Location: TIAA Bank Field (82,917) | Jacksonville, Fla.
  • 2021 Records: Georgia 7-0 (5-0 SEC), Kentucky 4-3 (2-3 SEC)
  • History: Georgia vs. Florida All-Time Series Results: UGA 53-44-2
  • Rankings: Georgia #1, Florida NR
  • TV: CBS – Brad Nessler (PxP), Gary Danielson (analyst), Jamie Erdahl (sideline)
  • Video Stream: CBSSports.com
  • Radio: WSB AM 750 – Bulldog Network | Affiliates | Scott Howard (PxP), Eric Zeier (Color), DJ Shockley (sideline)
  • Audio Stream: georgiadogs.com
  • Satellite: SiriusXM: 81/81/81
  • Web Stats: GameTracker
  • Twitter: #UGAvsUF
  • ReBroadcast: SEC Network: TBA

 

Georgia 2021 Averages Florida
38.4 Scoring Offense 34.4
6.6 Scoring Defense 21.1
+3 Turnover Margin -7
430.1 Total Offense 501.7
237.4 Rushing Offense 254.3
192.7 Passing Offense 247.4
5.9 Punt Returns 8.5
19.7 Kickoff Returns 14.7

Dogs Atop The Polls

For the third straight week, Georgia is ranked No. 1 in the AP/Coaches polls. This marks the first time since the 2008 preseason that the Bulldogs have carried the top ranking in both polls. During the 1982 regular season, the Bulldogs were ranked No. 1 for five straight weeks. The last time Georgia was No. 1 in the College Football Playoff poll was for two weeks during the 2017 season (Oct. 31, Nov. 7). The first 2021 CFP ranking will be released on Nov. 2.

Series History Vs. Florida

This is the first time since 2017 that Georgia-Florida will not be a top-10 matchup. The Bulldogs went 2-1 in that stretch. In the all-time series, Georgia holds a 53-44-2 advantage including 46-42-1 in Jacksonville. The annual rivalry will stay in Jacksonville until at least 2023. Florida has the series 52-44-2 in favor of Georgia because it does not count the Dogs’ 52-0 victory in 1904 that was played in Macon. Bulldog coach Kirby Smart is 3-2 against the Gators.

Dominating Defense & Offense Delivering Points

Georgia leads the nation in Scoring Defense giving up just 6.6 points per game. The Bulldogs are averaging 38.4 points/game, which is ranked 13th nationally. Georgia is 4-0 versus ranked teams, including a pair of top-10 wins.

The defense has allowed just four touchdowns. The first came in the fourth quarter versus USC with the Bulldogs leading 40-6. The second came at No. 18 AU with Georgia leading 24-3. UAB’s touchdown came on a pick-six. Most recently, No. 11 Kentucky had two scores, including the final one with :04 left.

Georgia leads the SEC and ranks fifth nationally in Red Zone defense. Opponents have advanced to the Red Zone only 11 times this season resulting in three touchdowns, four field goals and four times coming away with no points.

Georgia opponents have scored just 46 points in 2021. That seven-game tally is the lowest since 1971 when the Bulldogs had allowed the same total through seven contests.

The Bulldogs lead the country in Total Defense, giving up just 208.4 yards/game. In their last game, the Bulldogs held No. 11 Kentucky to 243 yards, including just 51 on the ground. The Wildcats came in averaging 214 yards rushing, including the SEC rushing leader in Chris Rodriguez Jr., who was held to seven yards on seven carries.

On The Mend

The open date provided another week for numerous Bulldogs who have missed time this year to get healthier. QB JT Daniels has not played since the Vanderbilt game on Sept. 26. Defensive backs Christopher Smith (missed last game) and Ameer Speed (missed last two games), running back Kenny McIntosh (missed last game) and receivers Arian Smith (missed last five games), Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint (missed the Arkansas/Auburn games, played sparingly versus Kentucky) and Jermaine Burton (missed the Auburn game, played sparingly versus Kentucky) have missed time while veteran receivers George Pickens and Dominick Blaylock have yet to play this year.

2020 Flashback

Georgia built an early 14-0 lead including Zamir White scampering 75 yards for a TD on the game’s first play from scrimmage. Then, the Gators used an aerial assault by Kyle Trask and a 24-point outburst in the second quarter to build a 38-21 advantage by halftime. Georgia was missing three defensive starters due to injury (NT Jordan Davis, DT Julian Rochester, S Richard LeCounte) and then starting FS Lewis Cine was ejected for targeting in the second quarter. Trask’s 474 passing yards ranked as the second most ever by a Bulldog opponent, trailing only Jared Lorenzen of Kentucky (528, 2000). Overall, Florida ran 80 plays and finished with 571 yards of total offense. The Gator running backs combined for 10 receptions and 212 receiving yards. The second half featured a Georgia score while Florida was limited to two field goals for a 44-28 final.

GA-FLA Hall Of Fame

Former Bulldog linebacker Thomas Davis (2002-04 UGA, 2005-20 NFL) and offensive lineman Jon Stinchcomb (1999-02 UGA, 2003-10 NFL) will be inducted into the Georgia-Florida Hall of Fame during ceremonies and a luncheon on Friday as part of the Georgia-Florida Weekend.

Read more

UGA Football: No. 1 Georgia Previews Florida

University of Georgia head football coach Kirby Smart and select Bulldog student-athletes offered the following comments on Monday.

The No. 1 Georgia Bulldogs will face Florida on Saturday for a 3:30p.m. ET kickoff against the Gators at TIAA Bank Field in Jacksonville, Florida.

Head Coach Kirby Smart 
Opening Statement…
“…Game plan, prep, try to get ahead. Today we will kind of do the same continuation. Players were off this weekend. It was good for them to get a break. I know most of them came back excited yesterday. We’re looking forward to an opportunity to play in what I think is one of the best games in all of college football, in terms of the pageantry, the 50/50 stand, the neutral site. It’s a really cool atmosphere that we get to play in, in Jacksonville, Fla. Looking forward to (playing) a really good football team.”

On who will play QB…
“It’s going to be based on practice. No decision has been made, whatsoever. He (JT Daniels) did practice Wednesday and did pretty good, and he practiced Thursday and did well, in terms of not having pain before, during, or after. That’s what we’re looking for. Is it bothering you today? No. Can you throw today? Yes. Did you throw today? Yes. How does it feel after? No pain. Again, we will continue down that same path today, and see how he feels. The good thing is he was able to get a good Friday, Saturday, and Sunday (off)… Really almost four days if you count from the last practice to this practice, all of the players have… In terms of that, it will be based on how practice goes. No determination has been made, nor will it be made. It’s based on performance on the field. It’s just like our guys that came back from ankle injuries. They were back. Everybody was asking about Darnell (Washington). Darnell was back and he was 100 percent of what he could be 100 percent, but he wasn’t really ready to play yet. I think it all depends on where JT (Daniels) is and where Stetson (Bennett) is, and who gives us the best chance to win. Stetson has done a good job since he’s been playing and JT has done a good job when he’s played. The good thing is we feel like we have really three-four good quarterbacks who are ready to play.”

Read more

UGA Football: Cine Named Paycom Jim Thorpe Award Semifinalist

ATHENS, Ga. — Georgia junior safety Lewis Cine has been named one of 12 semifinalists for the 2021 Paycom Jim Thorpe Award given to the best defensive back in college football, according to an announcement by the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame.

Cine, a native of Cedar Hill, Texas, is one of two semifinalists from the Southeastern Conference.  Three finalists will be announced on Nov. 23.

Junior Tykee Smith was a 2020 semifinalist with West Virginia before joining the Bulldogs in the offseason.  The Bulldogs’ last finalist was J.R. Reed in 2019 and the Georgia’s only winner of the award was Deandre Baker in 2018.

Cine has started all seven games for the undefeated Bulldogs and is third on the team with 28 tackles, including a tackle for loss.  He also has one interception this year and has helped Georgia boast the nation’s No. 2 pass defense, giving up just 144.9 yards per game.  Cine is on the backend of a defensive unit that is leading the country in scoring defense (6.6 points/game) and that has only allowed three opponents to reach double figures.

No. 1 Georgia (7-0, 4-0 SEC) travels to Jacksonville, Fla., for the annual showdown with Florida (4-3, 2-3) on Saturday.  CBS will televise the game at 3:30 p.m.

1 … 837 838 839 840 841 … 1,200