We’re at the halfway mark of the 2023 college football season, and there has been a lot of change taking place since Week 1. Teams adjust, players get injured, and upset wins can happen any time.
Florida football is no different. After taking a road loss to the Utah Utes in Salt Lake City, the world seemed to be crumbling beneath the feet of the Gator Nation. Head coach Billy Napier was having his job called for and confidence in the offense was lost quickly.
Fast forward seven weeks and now a few optimistic members of the Florida faithful are thinking about an upset over the almighty Georgia Bulldogs.
Sports Illustrated writer Pat Forde says the Gators are leading the way for teams who are turning their season around, and the win over South Carolina is bringing the prophecy to life.
“Florida needed a late rally on the road to pull out an SEC game and keep the season from derailment,” Forde said. “The Gators were down 10 points at South Carolina before mounting two 75-yard drives in the last half of the fourth quarter to take the game back. Florida converted three fourth downs on those drives, one of them a fourth-and-11 and another fourth-and-10. Quarterback Graham Mertz was big in those moments.”
Forde also said the Gators have a chance to wreak havoc this week if they take down the Bulldogs, but need to control how many points they give up away from the Swamp. So far, the Gators have averaged 32 points surrendered outside of Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.
The sports writer also mentions that the Gators may have an extra chance since Georgia tight end Brock Bowers is listed as out with an injury.
Kickoff for the showdown between the Florida Gators and Georgia Bulldogs is set for 3:30 p.m. EDT and will broadcast on CBS Sports.
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