Oft-criticized Florida coach Will Muschamp has lived to fight another day after the Gators’ 38-20 win over Georgia in the World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party.
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Here are the five biggest takeaways from Saturday’s game, a devastating loss for the Bulldogs and their College Football Playoff hopes:
- Here comes the onslaught of Mark Richt hate – Georgia’s first loss in four years to Florida isn’t going to help Richt’s reputation among Bulldogs fans, especially considering the Gators’ up-and-down season to date.
- Lack of playmakers after Chubb – The freshman tailback continued his recent explosiveness for the Bulldogs, but the rest of the offense lacked big plays. Much of Hutson Mason’s season-high 319 yards passing came with a sizable second-half deficit and Georgia proved its not equipped to play from behind. Florida had the second-most turnovers in the conference coming in, but Georgia’s defense never corralled Florida’s two-headed backfield.
- Georgia’s front seven? Owned. – As a double-digit underdog, the Gators had to win the battle at the line of scrimmage and out-muscle the Bulldogs and Muschamp’s team did just that, rushing for a season-best 418 yards. Kelvin Taylor (197) and Matt Jones (192) got to the edge often against the East’s top defense against the run. Only six percent of Florida’s offensive total came via Treon Harris’ arm as the Gators dominated in the trenches.
- Special teams gaffe hurts – Georgia never was the same after Florida’s fake field goal for a touchdown in the second quarter. After trailing by a score, the Gators scored 31 straight points before Mason’s 10-yard pass to Chubb in the final frame. Florida played loose and looked like a different team against its primary division nemesis.
- SEC East is up for grabs – Who saw this coming? We thought Georgia’s 34-0 win at Mizzou on Oct. 11 revealed the class of the East, a team with a clear edge over the rest of the competition on both sides of the ball. But Saturday’s loss to Florida opened the door for those same Tigers, a defending division champion who now controls their own destiny in getting back to Atlanta. Mizzou must beat Texas A&M, Arkansas and Tennessee to secure its second crown in three seasons.
