Just saw K. Simon on the "Tailgate" special. . . .does he look ripped, or is it me? Out last year after an injury in the UF game. . . .I think he's gonna come out like a mad dog and put Chrissy in his place (which, for the interested, has a GREAT view of the clouds and the Florida moon).
Predicting a blowout on either side is a homer pick, and we all know it. It's been close most of the recent years, and the teams are both in very good shape. The question marks will be:
1. FIRST AND FOREMOST: The new coach. His "revolutionary" offense (not MY words) is untested in real, competitive NCAA play. Facing an SEC defense with the speed, talent, and raw energy of Tennessee will be a litmus test for Meyer. Maybe he's for real, maybe not. If not, Leak may end up in the hospital, and Gator fans might be leaving in the 3rd quarter. If so, it will be a struggle to the end, with turnovers, field position, and line play determining the winner.
2. The UT secondary. We've all seen the vulnerability to the deep ball. Will experience prove worthy? Can we make adjustments to early success? Perhaps most importantly: can the defensive line pressure Leak into "making" the UT secondary look great?
3. Line of scrimmage. UT holds the advantage with size. Can Florida outsmart or outwit Tennessee in the trenches? I doubt it. My thinking is that UF plays for a "draw" here -- tie goes to UF.
4. Quarterbacks. Huge questions here. Will Leak get "Gulf War Syndrome?" Can he keep composure running an offense that God didn't design him to fit? Can he avoid the game-changing mistakes? As for UT: how will the 2 QB rotation work out? Can Clausen dink-and-dunk to complement a run-heavy scheme enough to take the pressure off Riggs? And, if Clausen doesn't have immediate success, how will Ainge react if called upon in relief?
That's what's on my mind as I'm already pacing. The flag is up. The Gator is marinating. Anyone else pumped?