Russell Report: Gators lose their annual matchup against the Georgia Bulldogs
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (WCJB) - Before the start of the Florida-Georgia game last weekend, I believed the game would be one of those line of scrimmage type games and it sure turned out that way. Simply said, Georgia manhandled Florida on both the offensive and defensive fronts. Dominated them. What Coach Kirby Smart has done at Georgia is truly remarkable, especially in a league like the SEC. And like it or not, the reality is that Georgia is better than Florida in almost every phase of football operations from coaching, talent, administration, money spent, and recruiting and it showed Saturday. After beating South Carolina, a team with only one SEC win, some Gator fans went a little nuts and started talking about how Florida was going to kick Georgia’s can on Saturday. After the reality pill was swallowed, what happens next?
First, let’s give Georgia a ton of credit. What Coach Kirby Smart has built there is truly remarkable. And while Gator fans have rightfully sang the praises of Quarterback Graham Mertz and his stellar play, I kept telling people on my Sportscene radio show that the Georgia quarterback, Carson Beck, was really good too and he showed it Saturday. Even without their best receiver and arguably their best player, tight end Brock Bowers, beck carved up the gators to the tune of 19 of 28 for 315 yards and two touchdowns. And that Georgia defense, even with all that talent from the last couple of years going to the NFL, is still pretty good...And well coached by some guy named Will Muschamp.
But if Georgia is to get a crack at winning a third straight national title, it won’t be easy for them. Left on their schedule is home to Missouri, and then games with ole miss and Tennessee, teams with a combined record of 20 and 4, not to mention a rivalry game with Georgia Tech and then the SEC title game. If they get a shot, they will have earned it.
And now, what about Florida? Their remaining schedule after Arkansas is brutal, with LSU, Missouri and Florida State having a combined record of 21 and 3, one of the toughest stretches around. It’s been an up and down roller coaster ride of a year for the Gators, with some highs and definitely some lows. But, as much as some fans cringe to hear this, the goal now for Florida is to beat Arkansas to get bowl eligible, try to pull an upset in one of those tough games left and then show up and play well in a bowl game for a change. I know some won’t be satisfied with that but at least right now, that’s where this program is, like it or not.
And at least right now, a lot of people don’t like it. You either trust the process, or you don’t. Frankly, that trust seems to ebb and flow week by week and result by result. I’m Steve Russell, that’s the Russell Report!
RELATED: Russell Report: Gators pick up their first road win of the season against the Gamecocks
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