Rivalry Week: Gators vs 'Noles at Ron Zook Field

[Escambia94]

The consistently inconsistent Gators travel two hours west to Ron Zook Field at Doak Campbell Stadium to visit also consistently inconsistent School Out West in their 55th meeting. Florida leads the all-time series 33-19-2, has won the previous six meetings, and is undefeated in this match-up under Urban Meyer. This is a rivalry game, so anything can happen.

I definitely think the Florida Gators can pull off an upset and protect their dominance over the 'Noles. The Gators should consider this their bowl game and play with just as much intensity as they did against Appalachian State, not that SOW is Appy State. I can easily see the Criminoles exacting revenge and beating the Gators by a TD, but I call this game 32-27 Gators. The ‘Noles are better than us this year, but not much better. The margin of disparity in talent, team chemistry, and athleticism can be overcome by the Gators.

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What do you ladies and gentlemen think?

 

[SEC_Supreme]

I'm definitely hoping for the W, but I just don't think it'll happen. I keep hoping after all these great wins that we've righted the ship in some sort of shape or manner and each time they let me down the following week. FSU is going to want this way to bad. If we were at home I'd be a lot more inclined to pick us.

Prediction: 17 - 13 FSU

 

[The Zooker]

We better win. I'm going to be at this game. My pops scored good tickets.

 

[DRU2012]

My response is on the full column, "up front"...as for SEC Supreme's comment about wishing we were at home, maybe not-so-much this time around? A circle-the-wagons-game in a circle-the-wagons-season demands a circle-the-wagons-hostile-venue, I'm thinking. We're underdogs, as we should be, and I LIKE the idea of going in there and enduring their phony guy-on-a-horse-with-a-flaming-spear and that damnable Tomahawk-Chop with the Atlanta Braves' accompaniment chanted over and over and over...they ARE going to be cranked, sure that this is their big opportunity to beat us, and beat us soundly.
With all of that, how good would it be to beat them ANYWAY? Escambia'94 is right: this is BIGGER than whatever Bowl Game we end up going to.

 

[GoGators01]

man i hope they can win this game, but nothing ive seen this year makes me feel very confident. FSU rushes the passer very well and brantley pretty much waits for the pass rush when he sees it coming towards him. PLEASE show up offense!! i dont think thats even possible but i can hope.

 

[The Zooker]

At least my tickets aren't in the student section. It's not in the single game section either though. I'll be surrounded by season ticket holders.

 

[DRU2012]

Yeah, I'm one of the two so far who is "Too afraid...." in the poll above--but given what we've gone through so far, going on the road is not only less of a drawback than other years (it's not like we've "owned the Swamp" THIS season), it actually would make our pulling out an "unlikely win" that much more satisfying.
As for how "unlikely" victory may or may not in fact be, the Coach has indicated in post-game discussion that "the players have not executed"; whatever we may think of that assessment, I propose that the difference THIS time will depend to a great extent on how HE AND THE COACHES prepare for and perform in this game.

 

[DunnellonDave]

My fear is Brantley starts and is sacked within the first 2 plays and then we go about 5 or 6 possesions of 3 and out before coach realizes our O-line can't pick up the blitz and when Brantleys not in at QB they stack the line and squash our run. Oh my blood pressure is going up already......

 

[Leakfan12]

I afraid that my sister will rub it in my face if the Gators lose (she goes the FSU).

 

[Escambia94]

I have decided to go off the deep end and assume the Gators are going to win. As I was pulling up to the military base here in Texas, the gate sentry gave me a tomahawk chop, and I Gator chomped him in return. We held up traffic for a few minutes debating about football. The Gators have to win, or else that gate guard will not let me back on base on Monday.

 

[GatorfanMustangowner]

my Gators will pull through

 

[DRU2012]

I HAD a silvered "Gators"-logo on the rear bumper of my Firebird. I came out of the supermarket today to find it smashed. There was also a note on my windshield that said, "You're done. Noles rule."
I might have expected this kind of thing in say, south Fla. somewhere, but the middle of Texas? AS if I needed MORE reason to care.
There are all kinds of questions and concerns going into this Saturday at Tallahassie, some reason for hope, more reason for pessimism--and now I'm throwing that all aside. Sometimes it goes beyond reason or thought or analysis, and this is one of those times for me.
I just want to see them go out an PLAY to WIN, from start to finish. No bullsh*t, no "slow start". No "panic" or "failure to execute"--and no excuses.
Coaches: Use what we all have seen and learned; put the playmakers out there, running the plays in an offense and game plan that they're best suited for. Give them and us the best chance to win.
Players: This is it. It is the last chance to salvage something proud from this season's bumpy ride, but it's also something more. For seniors it's a last hurrah, a chance to keep their record perfect against that SOW. For the rest, hey, NEXT season is already coming: this team is right now in the process of finding out who and what it is GOING to be.
I want to see these Gators win STRONG, against a team that everyone else is sure by now they aren't good enough to beat. (It would bum that anonymous coward who attacked my car, for one thing.)
Most of all, though, I JUST WANT TO SEE THEM WIN!