The World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party is less than 24 hours away and fans are clamoring for the kickoff between the Florida Gators and No. 1 Georgia Bulldogs in Jacksonville.
It’s the annual meeting of two heated rivals and, just like always, the game has dire implications on the final standings in the SEC East.
This week, CBS Sports has the 2023 edition of the matchup as a “must-watch” game of the week. College Polls editor Eddie Timanus put the game at the top of his list and broke down the tale of the tape.
“This year’s Florida squad has shown sporadic signs of narrowing the gap,” Timanus said. “But taking down the Bulldogs will require a near-perfect performance. Georgia QB Carson Beck, however, will be without standout TE Brock Bowers for at least a few weeks following ankle surgery. But given how Florida was trucked by Kentucky a few weeks ago, the Bulldogs’ game plan will likely revolve around RBs Daijun Edwards and Kendall Milton.
“The Florida offense has been inconsistent, but QB Graham Mertz has had moments and RB Trevor Etienne is back at full speed,” Timanus continued. “LB Smael Mondon is the centerpiece of the Georgia defense that doesn’t allow many explosive plays.”
Timanus also says the game has the possibility of being a letdown if the score margin is substantially wider than expected.
“While the atmosphere is always festive, the action on the field might not generate much in the way of excitement,” Timanus noted. “The Gators’ best chance of pulling the upset is to turn the game into a grind, a scenario that would at least produce some fourth-quarter tension. A Florida comeback seems unlikely if the Bulldogs are able to build a significant advantage.”
Kickoff between the Gators and Bulldogs is set for 3:30 p.m. EDT at TIAA Bank Field in Jacksonville. The rivalry showdown will be broadcast on CBS Sports.
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