GEORGIA VS. FLORIDA
Where: TIAA Bank Field, Jacksonville, Fla.
When: 3:30 p.m., Nov. 2
TV; radio: CBS; News 95.5 and AM-750 WSB
Previous game: Kentucky | Next game: Missouri
Florida’s record can’t possibly show the same improvement in Dan Mullen’s second season as head coach as it did in his first. There aren’t enough games on the schedule.
A slight improvement could land the Gators in the College Football Playoff, but can they do it?
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Florida went from its 4-7 mark of 2017 to 10-3 in Mullen’s first season after he left Mississippi State to replace Jim McElwain. This season, the Gators’ schedule could get in the way of further improvement.
Auburn replaces Mississippi State as one of the Gators’ two SEC West foes. (Florida faces LSU annually.) Also, Miami looms in the season opener Aug. 24. The Hurricanes are trying to climb out of a hole, but they should provide a stiff early challenge.
Players to watch
Feleipe Franks. A little-known fact: Franks was drafted by the Boston Red Sox in this year's MLB draft (31st round) and signed a contract. His reported signing bonus was $40,000. Now back to football. The Gators quarterback isn't going anywhere, though freshman Emory Jones (Heard County HS) would like to nudge Franks off the field a bit more in the coming season. A 6-foot-6, 227-pound junior, Franks started all 13 games for Florida last season. He passed for 2,457 yards and 24 touchdowns, with only six interceptions. However, he also completed only 58.4 percent of his passes (188-for-322).
Lamical Perine. A senior from Mobile, Ala., Perine played in all 13 games last season, with one start. He's set to become the Gators' lead running back in 2019. He rushed for 826 yards last season, producing 6.2 yards per carry. In the season finale, he rushed for 129 yards as the Gators defeated FSU 41-14, and he rushed for 76 yards on six carries in the Gators' 41-15 victory against Michigan in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Florida's receivers. The Gators bring back their top six receivers from last season in terms of passes caught, and Perine ranked seventh. In order, the top six are Van Jefferson (35), Josh Hammond (28), Trevon Grimes (26), Kadarius Toney (25), Tyrie Cleveland (18) and Freddie Swain (14). All but Grimes and Toney are seniors.
David Reese II. Not to be confused with teammate David Reese, this Reese is Florida's starting middle linebacker. Reese II (6-foot-1, 239 pounds) is a senior who recorded 77 tackles in 10 games last season (22 solo). He ranked second on the team in tackles last season, and is the leader among returning players.
Before the Gators face the Bulldogs
Between the season opener against Miami and the game in Jacksonville, the Gators will play Tennessee-Martin and Towson – and five SEC games. Those five include Tennessee, Auburn and LSU, but only LSU away from the Swamp. Road games at Kentucky and South Carolina are the other two. Florida has a bye week before facing Georgia. The bye comes after the games at LSU and South Carolina.
The last time against Georgia
The Bulldogs won 34-17 last season, their second consecutive win against the Gators after a 42-7 victory in 2017. Last season, quarterback Jake Fromm passed for 240 yards and threw three touchdown passes. In the past 15 meetings, Florida holds an 8-7 advantage. The teams have been trading three-game win streaks, so it bears watching to see if Georgia matches that this year. Florida won from 2008-10, Georgia from 2011-13 and Florida from 2014-16.
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