Gator Bites - Sugar Bowl: Florida vs Louisville

[Escambia94]

#3 Florida Gators (11-1, 7-1 SEC) versus #21 Louisville Cardinals (10-2, 5-2 Big East)
Allstate Sugar Bowl, Mercedes-Benz Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana
January 2, 2013 at 7:30 PM CST
Betting line: -13.5, Florida

The Gators look to assert their return to power. After their 24-17 Taxslayer.com Gator Bowl victory over "the team up North", Gator head coach Will Muschamp rallied his troops in the locker room and told them that he does not want them to forget the frustrations of losing games they should have won. Muschamp used that pain of losing to focus the Gators--"[the Florida Gators] are not a 7-6 program". Coach Muschamp reinvigorated the mighty Gators as they laid waste to four BCS top ten teams. All that stands before them and validation of their return to power are the Louisville Cardinals, led by former Gator coach Charlie Strong.

Gator scouting report: The mighty Gators have turned around from 3-5 in the SEC to 7-1 in year 2 of the Muschamp Era. The Gators were just one fumble away from playing for the SEC title and possibly the national title. Look for the Gators to come out fired up. The Gators will swamp the Cardinals with the nation's #3 defense, a defense that only yields 12.9 points per game. They also bring in the #35 rushing offense in the nation, with 194.1 yards per game. The Gator winning formula is simple: run left, run right, run middle... make field goals. with the #3 kicker in the nation... flip the field with #6 punter in the nation... stuff the run with the #6 run defense in the nation... and enforce the #1 "no fly zone" this side of the Middle Eastern war zones. Key players to watch: RB Mike Gillislee - the workhorse of the Gator rushing attack also has Matt Jones to back him up, DB Matt Elam - this All American hard hitter wants to put someone to sleep,

Gator bait scouting report: Former Gator defensive coordinator and head coach during the 2004 Peach Bowl, Charlie Strong, will have his work cut out for him. His number one offensive weapon, quarterback Teddy Bridgewater needs to heal from his ankle injury, or at least close enough to give his Cardinals a fighting chance against the Gators. The Cardinals have the nation's #19 pass defense, but that will not help much against the run-happy Gators who bring in the #119 pass offense. The Cardinals #52 run defense yields over 150 yards per game. The passing offense is a very respectable #24 in the nation, but it is going up against the Gator no fly zone. Key Gator bait to watch: QB Teddy Bridgewater and CB Adrian Bushell. Adrian was part of the vaunted 2008 Gator recruiting class before he transferred to Charleston Southern, then to Louisville to rejoin the coach that recruited him.

Escambia 94's prediction: This will be a first-half scoring game as both defenses will clamp down in the second half. If the Gators can beat down the Cardinals in the trenches on both sides of the ball, the Cardinals may not score in the second half. 21-10, Gators.

 

[Leakfan12]

I think they got this. Nothing against Charlie and company but he and his guys going to get an @$$ kicking. At least it would be for one game unlike a whole season if he accept the UT job.

 

[DRU2012]

Y'all know my thoughts on this already: It's all on US...Our guys pay attention and go into this with the same attitude they've brought to the big games all season (and provided, as I assume will be the case, that they DON'T get SO over-hyped that they start dropping everything in sight like the ONE game in Jacksonville), and we will steadily establish our dominance, then pull away in the 2nd half. They'll be well-coached so it shouldn't be a shock if they appear to play us close early, even getting a lead--but even THAT is something we've faced before (and if we start sloppy and slow, as is sometimes our tendency, especially against teams we don't believe are as good as us in the FIRST place), won't panic or lose focus...we KNOW how to comeback and win--and we ARE the more talented team, THAT much is true: We have the tools to take over and win this game, regardless. Gators: 27-13

 

[Escambia94]

Three more days until Gator football, Gator Envy members...all three of you... Let's get pumped up! Here is the ESPiN preview of the game, which virtually guarantees that anything Lou Holtz says is WRONG.

The Gators are 20-19 all-time in bowl games, and are on a 4-game bowl win streak. This is the Gators' first BCS bowl since 2010 (I was there!), and the Cardinals' first BCS bowl since 2007). The Gators are 3-5 in the Sugar Bowl.

Louisville's success in this game depends entirely on Teddy Bridgewater, who led the Cards to the Big East's #1 passing offense (25th best in NCAA FBS).

By the numbers:

• Gators rushing offense vs Cardinals rushing defense: 194 ypg (#35) vs 151 ypg (#50). +Gators
• Gators passing offense vs Cardinals passing defense: 144 ypg (#114) vs 127 ypg (#49). +Cardinals
• Gators scoring offense vs Cardinals scoring defense: 27 ppg (#74) vs 24 ppg (#36). +Cardinals
• Gators rushing defense vs Cardinals rushing offense: 97 ypg (#6) vs 127 ypg (#98). ++Gators
• Gators passing defense vs Cardinals passing offense: 92 ypg (#1) vs 298 ypg (#23). ++Gators
• Gators scoring defense vs Cardinals scoring offense: 13 ppg (#3) vs 31 ppg (#49). ++Gators
• Gators turnover margin vs Cardinals turnover margin: 1.42 TPG (#5) vs 0.75 TPG (#21). +Gators
• Gators X-factor vs Cardinals X-factor: Gators line of scrimmage vs Cardinals discipline. +push

On offense, the Cardinals look like Tennessee, at least in terms of statistical rankings. In terms of style of play, the Cardinals offense will look somewhat like a cross between FSU and TAMU. On defense, the Cardinals look like TAMU, at least in terms of statistical rankings. In terms of style of play, I would say that the Cardinals look like FSU on defense.
In summary: the Gators specialize in rushing AND passing defense, which makes them an elite scoring defense. The Gators have handled similar type teams. The X-factor will be who plays more disciplined ball, since it is a foregone conclusion that Florida will own the line of scrimmage.

 

[DRU2012]

(laughing) OK, I'm gonna let the "all three of you" comment (mostly) pass--I mean, arguing it only makes it sound worse: "Hey! We got at LEAST a dozen who 'check in', and then there're all those silent 'guests'..." I don't know--maybe we could brainstorm this, but really, let's cut to the chase: With all the other, umm, "distractions" on-the-net, if we're serious about REALLY "changing this trend", maybe we'd need to go with, I don't know, "The Naughty Gator Forum--No Need To 'ENVY' Anymore!" or, failing that, maybe just go all out with "The Gator Porn Lounge"(?!!) or, if we wanna do this "slow and steady", then how about "The Gator Nation Social Site @Gator Envy"? Or maybe we just "live with it" after all...Personally, I'm OK with the way we've done it up-'til-now: puttin' it out there and welcoming any bright and verbal Gators who stumble in from the "crazy weirdness" out there--and help to expand our "crazy weirdness" in HERE--and figure it's only a matter of folks being aware of and FINDING us...If there's some idea to spread THAT "word", I'm all for it...)
Where was I? Oh yeah--nowhere at all, just saying far too much about far too little...Liked your VERY logical, damn-near-mathematical equation that, on balance, tells us what I arrived at this time INTUITIVELY (which I proclaim proudly, since I am long-certain it is the best part of me BUT--I very seldom listen to it, or indeed even let it out): ie. "To the right of the 'equals'-sign is the BOTTOM LINE":
IF: The Gators show up, take the game seriously coming in and PLAY THEIR GAME, THEN: Louisville has no HOPE of beating them. (How 'bout THAT? MY "bottom line" is shorter than YOURS this time, E-...of course, I just WON'T be able to leave it there...)
Teddy Bridgewater makes it interesting--but the degree to which the above is true will dictate how badly a thrashing it will be--"interesting" or not. In other words, two completely different meanings of "discipline" are at work here, the largest portion of these differences centering on the fact that the Gators don't have to be "Perfect", only "ON", as in "on their game"--and then the story will be how close the other team can stay for how long, and THEN only because they are "disciplined" as in "near-PERFECT", AND their QB makes a few plays in BETWEEN being rushed, chased and sacked all over the field. Oh, and Btw, if our passing offense improves HALF as much as word out of practice indicates it is showing all signs of being, then this'll all come to pass that much EARLIER in the action no matter WHAT the other team's strengths, their "degree of 'perfection'", are that evening.
(I'm not saying Louisville CAN'T win this game...I AM saying that as long as this GATOR team realizes that they COULD, and did so pretty early on--I mean, really BELIEVED their coaches and took it to heart from the moment they returned to practice--then NOT beating them became less and less likely: ie. The earlier in their preparation that they began to take the game and the opponent seriously, the more certain their victory, and the larger the likely difference in the final score, became.)

 

[NaffGutts]

I'm not even going to grace this game with a breakdown. This will be like our Cincy game the last year Tebow played. We will dominate this game and Florida will win by ATLEAST 21 pts.

My prediction: 52-11

 

[DRU2012]

Happy New Year to all at GE. My phone is F*CKED/unreliable, so I'll be incommunicado much of next 2 or 3 days (doing this by laptop on-road)--for some that will be just one more reason to celebrate, no doubt...
Anyway, GO GATORS!

 

[totenkopf13]

Who are the commentators for the game ? I'm watching the Rose Bowl now, and I hope it's not Brent Doucheburger & "Herbie"

Please.

 

[Escambia94]

I have seen from two different sources that the announcers will be Todd Blackledge and Todd Nessler.

 

[totenkopf13]

The lesser of two evils.

 

[InkedAdrenaline]

41-14...in memory of our 06 championship.

 

[awebbf5]

im gonna say 35-17 GO GATORS!

 

[FrozenGator]

Barring some sort of calamity of a "We Are Marshall" severity, this game is going to be a massacre. 42-10

 

[InkedAdrenaline]

Hell ya CHOMP CHOMP! What's for dinner?... Cardinal with a little bit of sugar in a bowl... Lol

 

[NaffGutts]

anyone heard anything about players breaking curfew and not being played in 1st quarter?

 

[InkedAdrenaline]

anyone heard anything about players breaking curfew and not being played in 1st quarter?

A Google search produced nothing.... Where did you hear that?

 

[totenkopf13]

The orange pants and blue jerseys look tonight.

38-10 Gators

 

[awebbf5]

The orange pants and blue jerseys look tonight.

38-10 Gators

I usually don't like the orange pants as much as the white with the blue jersey, but for some reason tonight it looks great. Lets Go Gators!

 

[DRU2012]

Want to get this in while I have some reception (long story continues--see above)--THE G's DO look great in the O&B tonight! For some reason, just SEEING Tim and Emmit standing on the sidelines, talking and laughing while the Gators worked out a little while back brought it all home: It is GREAT to be a Florida Gator--and there are 2 examples of exactly why...Crowd turns out to be a GATOR CROWD after all, looks like...still only 2/3 full in Dome, but hopefully it'll fill out (mostly, anyway--brisk walk up, from what I see/hear) in next 20 minutes or so.
Only thing that worries me at ALL on their side of course is Bridgewater--make HIM run, and we DESTROY them. Anyway, enjoy the game, all (in case this is it 'til later for me--I'm NOT coming out here to connect again until this thing is WELL in hand, at the EARLIEST)--again, Happy New Year, talk to y'all soon, GE, and GO GATORS!!!

 

[InkedAdrenaline]

Game time, CHOMP CHOMP