Cocktail Party Time!

No matter what happens over the next month, the 2013 season will be considered a disappointment. You can’t lose three or more games in a season where you had national title hopes and have the season be anything but a disappointment. There is nothing Georgia can do now to change what has happened over the past few weeks.

However, when the two teams step on the field this afternoon in Jacksonville, it is still Georgia/Florida and that always matters. Are the two teams playing for the SEC East title? No, not this year. This year, this game is about the most pure part of sports, simple pride. The pride of knowing that you stepped on the field with your biggest rival and walked off victorious.

There will be time in the coming weeks to analyze Georgia’s chances to get back to Atlanta for the SEC title game. About 10 things have to happen in order for the Dawgs to get back to that point, but the first thing that has to happen is that Georgia has to win out, so all that matters is that Georgia wins today’s game.

The fact that these two teams have been decimated by injuries offers more questions than answers as we get ready for the 2013 edition of the Cocktail Party. Georgia’s losses are well known, but don’t forget that Florida has lost their quarterback, the top running back, and their best defensive linemen.

Florida’s offense is the worst in the SEC. Georgia’s defense is the worst I can remember. Florida’s defense is pretty strong despite injuries. Georgia’s offense is getting the best running back in the country back for today’s game. Florida can punt and kick field goals, where Georgia cannot. I hope that is not the difference in the game.

First we will start with Gurley. The man-child returns today after missing more than a month with an ankle sprain suffered against LSU. While Gurley has been gone, Georgia has seen every offensive skill player of consequence go down with injury, Georgia’s defense has not improved, and Georgia’s special teams have become an embarrassment. Despite all of the problems that Georgia has had for the past month, do you really think Georgia losses to Vanderbilt if Gurley plays? For that matter, do you think Georgia losses to Missouri if Gurley plays?

We will never know the answer to those questions, but the point is, Georgia’s offense will be a different animal today with number three in the backfield. The question will be, is Gurley rusty or fresh?

Another key piece to the offense is back today as it looks like Michael Bennett will play for the first time since being hurt, like everyone else, in Knoxville in early October.

Georgia’s defensive and special teams’ problems have had an off week to try and be corrected. I’m not sure how much better we can expect the defense to play at this point. It does seem like all the starters will play, including Trey Matthews and Josh Harvey-Clemons who would not have played a week ago if Georgia had a game. It’s hard to tell if the problem is scheme or execution, but either way, against a terrible offense, 

Georgia needs to keep Florida under 20 points today.

One thing to keep an eye on today will be penalties. Last year, the two teams combined for 24 penalties with multiple calls for unsportsmanlike conduct. Of course, emotions were high last year because the two teams were vying for an SEC and national title, but I would bet emotions will be high again today despite the lowered stakes in the game.

This is the first time that both Georgia and Florida come into the game unranked since 2010, which ended up being a great game. Florida was victorious in overtime in 2010, the only time that the Cocktail Party has gone to overtime. For everyone’s sake, let’s hope Georgia can take care of business today in regulation and not need a heart-pounding overtime to get the job done.

I really believe that Georgia is the better team today, but nothing has been easy in 2013 and I don’t expect anything to come easy to the Dawgs today.

Georgia will play well offensively; both Gurley and Murray will play well. I think you can expect to see JJ Greene step up with a good effort as the number two tailback. It will be interesting to see if Jonathan Rumph, who hasn’t played all year, finally gets on the field today. Bennett will provide Murray with some comfort and familiarity, two things that he has obviously missed in the past few weeks.

However, Georgia’s defense will continue their putrid ways and along with another special team disaster will allow Florida to stay in a game they should be blown out of. The difference will be predictable: Gurley.

In the fourth quarter, with a lead, Georgia will rely on Gurley to run the ball and the clock securing their third consecutive win in Jacksonville, 34-26.

Since 1990, Jacksonville has been a house of horrors for Georgia. Georgia fans remember fondly years like 1997, 2004, and 2007 only because those are the only times Georgia beat Florida from 1990-2010. Even though this is a lost season, it is vital that Georgia regain some momentum in Jacksonville. Two in a row was a nice start, but know Georgia can really turn the tables on the Gators with a win today.

If Georgia can win today, then there will be seniors on Florida’s team next year that have never beaten Georgia. Think about that. David Pollack only beat Florida once. Knowshon Moreno and Matt Stafford only beat Florida once. Champ Bailey only beat Florida once. Eric Zeier never beat Florida in his career. 

Today, Aaron Murray is going for his third victory over the rival Gators, and Georgia could make it 4-3 in their last 7 against the Gators.

No, Georgia isn’t going to win the national title, but beating the Gators will never taken for granted.

Let’s Go Dawgs!