Kirk Herbstreit names biggest keys to victory for each team for Cocktail Party matchup
By Adam Spencer
Published:
The annual meeting between the Florida Gators and Georgia Bulldogs has often been a de facto SEC East title game, and it looks like it will be that once again in 2020.
Both teams are in the top 10 in the AP Poll, so the pressure is on for this year’s Cocktail Party.
On Saturday morning’s SportsCenter, ESPN analyst Kirk Herbstreit named each team’s biggest key to victory. For the Gators, he said it’ll come down to making plays on Georgia’s injury-riddled defense:
“Georgia’s defense, as good as they are, has a number of injuries,” Herbstreit said. “You lose Richard LeCounte on the back end, which is a significant loss because of the experience he’s had, the ability to communicate, make sure everybody’s lined up, and just his presence. When you lose that, that’s significant. I really look at this as (Kyle) Trask is going to make plays, unless you’re able to disrupt his timing. He’s got great playmakers. (Kadarius) Toney can get in space and make plays. We’ve talked all year about the big tight end (Kyle) Pitts who they flex out as a receiver, (Trevon) Grimes — they’ve got a ton of weapons. (Jacob) Copeland’s out there.”
But, Herbstreit said, the bigger story is about Stetson Bennett IV and the Georgia offense that has looked stagnant at times this year:
“I just really think this is more about Georgia’s offense. The Stetson Bennett we’ve watched this year, who’s played with a chip on his shoulder, lost a little bit of his mojo late in that Alabama game. Against Kentucky, they didn’t really have to throw the ball. In this game, they’re going to have to throw the ball. And, without George Pickens, who is going to be the guy? Who is going to win on the outside when you’ve got 2 freshmen on the outside? That, to me, is significant. Georgia obviously has to be able to run the ball, but if they’re going to win, they have to make plays in the passing game. Bennett is going to have to make more consistent decisions to do that.”
Which team will get the all-important win in Jacksonville? Tune in to CBS at 3:30 p.m. Eastern time this afternoon to find out.
Adam is a daily fantasy sports (DFS) and sports betting expert. A 2012 graduate of the University of Missouri, Adam now covers all 16 SEC football teams. He is the director of DFS, evergreen and newsletter content across all Saturday Football brands.
