Friday prediction podcast for the Florida Gators vs. Missouri Tigers

The Friday prediction for Gator Country is back and this week the gang breaks down the Florida Gators football game vs. the Missouri Tigers on Saturday night in Columbia, Missouri.

Andrew Spivey and Nick de la Torre break down some key match-ups in the game and what you can expect when the Florida Gators are offense and on defense against Missouri.

Andrew and Nick as always gives you three players to watch to have breakout games for the Gators, plus they give their predictions for the Florida Gators game plus three other games on Saturday.

TRANSCRIPT:

ANDREW:​What’s up, Gator Country? Today is Thursday. You guys are listening to it on Friday. Nick and I get a little head start as my man is headed to Columbia, Missouri. Nick, I told you before this podcast, I just can’t get fired up for this game. I don’t know why, but some way, somehow, some shape or form, you’re going to have to piss me off to get me to bring some energy to this podcast.
NICK:​Florida is playing the back to back defending Eastern Division champions, Andrew. Jim McElwain would be chewing your ass out right now if he saw this kind of attitude you’re bringing to the podcast.
ANDREW:​I’m sorry.
NICK:​Andrew’s already looking ahead, trap game in full effect. He’s coming out flat this weekend.
ANDREW:​I’m flat. I got you. I’m flat. Here’s the deal though, this is what thing I can get behind. Missouri has ruined homecoming. Homecoming is supposed to be two things, a beat down of your opponent on your home field, going out with your pretty girl to the dance, and then going out afterwards. It’s not fun to go out after a beat down, and the Gators had a beat down last weekend. It’s time to go give a beat down back to the Missou Tigers up in Columbia this weekend. I can get behind that, brother.
NICK:​The players are getting behind it as well. This is definitely a team that when you talk to Alex McAllister he said, this Missouri game is one that I had circled on my calendar. Valdez Showers, who has been through some stuff at Florida, said it was the lowest moment of the season, and there have been some low moments the past two previous seasons. He said that was the lowest moment he could think of. It was a dark place in that locker room. Guys like McAllister and Valdez Showers who have been here for a while, Showers five years, McAllister four years, Florida was on top when they signed. They did not sign up to be a laughingstock, to be a joke at Florida. These guys have been through some stuff. They’ve seen stuff at Florida.

Now that they’re in the position to kind of exact some revenge, I think Florida in the 90s, and then when Urban was here, beat teams up so bad that you kind of make a mental checklist of when we get a chance we’re going to try to put it on them, and the last two years Florida was open to that. All the teams that Florida beat up on for the last 10 years, except Tennessee and Kentucky, all those teams got a chance to get one in on Florida, and Florida’s been making a checklist of their own. Next up, probably first up on that list, is Missouri, because Missouri has dominated, owned, and embarrassed Florida two years in a row.

ANDREW:​You did try to get me fired up there. You did talk about getting beat down by Tennessee.

NICK:​I know the quick trigger.

ANDREW:​You know the quick trigger, Tennessee still sucks, but I won’t get off track this early in the podcast.

NICK:​As a former coach, is that something that you can attest to that you take mental notes of I remember how this team beat us, and that gets you up for a game a little more in what could be a trap game for Florida sandwiched between Ole Miss and LSU?

ANDREW:​Yeah. There’s a school, Daphne High School, it’s kind of like you guys with St. Thomas. It’s a school that…

NICK:​Let’s make no bones about it, St. Thomas sets the standard for our rivals.

ANDREW:​Right. That’s how it is with Daphne, and that’s the school that beat up us a couple times, 34-0 one time. Ran us out of the playoffs one year. I remember we were going in 4-0 against a Daphne team a couple years ago, 2-2. I think it was my second to last year coaching, and that was something we remembered is these guys go in, they’re going to beat you up. They want to beat you up. They like to score 50 on you guys. They schedule you for homecoming. Remember that. You show the tape of the beat downs. You show that stuff, and it is a motivation, but at the same time you have to remember that it is that next game.

Don’t go in looking for a beat down, because then you turn around and it’s a beat down the other way. I kind of reverse it back to last week with LSU and Eastern Michigan. Everyone was asking, is Fournette only going to play a quarter? You turned around and he’s playing a whole game, because it’s a close game. I think that Florida has to go in looking to first get the win and then secondly go in for the kill shot. My question of this is does McElwain remember that? Does he think about that? If the game is 24-3 in the 3rd quarter does he continue to allow his starters to go out there and score points, or does he maybe bring in Treon and the backup and let them coast?

NICK:​I don’t see any kind of coasting going on with Jim McElwain at all. I think he would keep guys in until maybe the last drive to two drives, because you also have to remember that this is a young team, and every snap that Will Grier, every snap that Martez Ivey and David Sharpe and Fred Johnson can get against Missouri’s first team, against the good on good snaps that we talk about so often, that’s valuable for next year. You can’t worry about we have LSU next week, let’s take some guys out so no one gets hurt. While playing to win this year you’re also getting young guys who are going to be the foundation and the future of your program, getting them the experience they need to have for the future as well.

ANDREW:​Yeah. You look at last week. You’ve kind of been able to rotate guys in some, so maybe that’s the way they go again. The thing for me is Will Grier is still learning, so having him play a full game, even if it is a blowout, is still good. He’s still learning the game. He’s still learning the playbook. Maybe you run some different things with him. It should be interesting to see. I am not sold that it’s going to be a blowout. I can’t see that actually.

NICK:​Vegas isn’t sold on that either. The line’s staying at 4.5, and the over-under’s still at 40, so it’s Vegas is kind of predicting an ugly game. I think that is what Missou will try to create. In the past couple years we’ve talked about Florida if they were going to win this game they’d have to win it ugly. They’d have to make it a game where both teams are going 3 and out, there’s a bunch of punts, somebody gets a fumble in the red area, and let’s them score. I think Missouri tries to mud up this game and make it ugly to win, because if these two teams go out there and play to their capabilities right now I think Missouri can’t hang in there. They’re going to try to make it a low scoring, ugly game.

ANDREW:​That’s what I was about to say. It kind of has the feeling of a Will Muschamp game almost, that Missouri’s going to go in there. They’re going to throw their little dink and dunk passes that they always throw. They’re going to try to control tempo, and they’re going to just try to make the game as low scoring as possible, because that’s the game they can win. Nick, I know you’re going to go there, and I know you’re going to hate to hear this, but I really believe it will be a boring football game. I really believe it will be a boring football game. I don’t know the last four years since Missouri’s gotten into the conference, have you seen Missouri play an exciting game?

NICK:​That game, what was that? South Carolina last year.

ANDREW:​That’s true. You know what I’m saying? Even when they beat Florida down last year, did they do anything really exciting?

NICK:​The game last year was Florida vs. South Carolina 2012 with the Gators on the receiving end. There isn’t a Gator fan in the country that will tell you that they didn’t enjoy watching that South Carolina beat down in 2012 when Loucheiz Purifoy strips the ball from Connor Shaw in the very first play of the game. There was a fumble on the opening kickoff. Jeff Driskel has four touchdown passes and about 89 yards of passing.

ANDREW:​Right.

NICK:​Games on the receiving end of all those turnovers you enjoy the heck out of that game.

ANDREW:​Yeah. I’m just saying there’s nothing exciting about it. Again, I kind of get that feeling that it is. Let’s move on to a couple things then. Let’s move on to a couple of breakdowns, big matchups. You and I said it before ECU, and I think we’ll say it again. Don’t get pissed off, because Florida’s not going to set Drew Lock a ton. They’re just not. They’re going to get the ball away. This is going to be the same Florida defense you saw all year long, but it’s going to be an offense that is going to protect against the rush, protect against sacks, so don’t get mad about it. They’re going to get their yards. It is what it is. They’re going to get their yards. Just don’t allow them to catch the ball and have missed tackles or score. Missed tackles will kill Florida.

NICK:​Kind of what you saw against ECU where you said they’re going to get their yards, because it’s a system.

ANDREW:​Exactly. It’s going to be there. Just don’t have missed tackles to where they break it. Overall I think that Tabor playing the dime linebacker, in my opinion, is better than Marcus Maye playing there, because I like Maye playing safety. I don’t like Marcell or Nick Washington playing safety. I like Maye playing safety. I’m really hoping they continue to keep Tabor there in the dime. The one mismatch is that Missouri is going to go five wide some, so that means Tabor is not on a receiver, but we’ll see. I like that Tabor playing the dime a lot more. I just think that fans need to understand that don’t be mad when there’s not a ton of sacks. They’re going to get pressure. It’s just not going to be a sack party like it has been in the past.

NICK:​People were in my Twitter mentions the first two games thought this was a great defense. Where’s that defensive line? Haven’t seen a lot of that. I’m sure the crazies will creep back into my mentions this week, because it is the system. We talked to Coach Rumph yesterday. What he was saying is whether it’s Mauk or a true freshman it doesn’t matter, because they have a system that they can put somebody into. It’s not a difficult system for a quarterback, be it a freshman or a senior, to be successful in.

ANDREW:​Right. It’s exactly what it is. I hate to compare this, and I’m sorry. I’m going to compare this. It’s like Urban’s system. It’s an easy system for a quarterback to play in, because it’s not very many reads. It’s almost a one read offense. It’s an easy offense. It’s like ECU. ECU’s going to be able to do that every year, whether they have John Doe or Tom Brady as quarterback. They’re going to still run the same system. It’s going to be the same easy system they’re going to do. It’s going to be a couple of reads, and it’s going to be that. Again, it’s a boring offense, but it’s an offense that’s effective.

The key is Missouri doesn’t have the playmakers on offense. For maybe the first time all year Florida has maybe more playmakers on offense than Missouri does, and that’s not something Florida usually has the advantage the last few years. I think they do this year. Russell Hansbrough, he is going to run the ball some. I do like Florida’s chances to shut him down, as long as Florida is playing good gap integrity.

NICK:​That’s important. Some of the players also said this week that Florida leads the SEC in tackles for loss. We asked them, you’ve had bigger names, the Sharrif Floyds, Dominique Easley, Dante Fowlers, guys like that. You’ve had the bigger names on defense, but why is it that without those big names how is the defense still successful, especially at the level you were last week against an offense like Ole Miss? What they said is that the scheme that they’re running now is kind of freeing them up. Alex McAllister talked about being able to use his spin move inside, and then once you hit that a couple times it starts to open up other things, because you get into a tackle’s mind. He’s going to spin. Then you hit him with a rip or a club. You bull rush him. You can get around the side. It creates other things.

With that comes, now we have a little more freedom, somebody gets a sack. Now I want a sack. Keanu Neal wants a sack. Vernon Hargreaves wants a sack. You can kind of get out of the game plan quickly, because there is freedom. When you’re looking at a team like this that can kind of open things up with that short to intermediate passing game, then softens the defense up, hit a couple runs. You’ve got to stay assignment sound, gap sound, and stay to that scheme, not let other things around you affect you mentally during the game.

ANDREW:​I think another thing on the defensive line is Florida is stunning a lot. Will Muschamp did not like stunning on his defensive line. When I say that, that means for instance a defensive tackle could come off the edge while a defensive end could be stunning inside. That has been a big thing. You’ll see Cece Jefferson coming across the center space while he’s lined up on the tackle. That’s something that Nick Saban is a mastermind at doing is stunning with his defensive line. That’s something Will Muschamp was not big on, but I noticed Rumph and maybe it is Rumph or maybe it is Geoff Collins, but the Florida defense is doing that a lot more.

The other thing that I think that you have to remember with this defensive line is the defensive tackles, whether that’s Joey Ivie, Caleb Brantley, Taven Bryan, Bullard at times, whoever it is has dominated the inside to where it is one on one on the outside. There is no help on the outside, because you’re having to double team Brantley or Bryan or Ivie inside, and that’s just allowing. Like you said, playing gap integrity and keeping that there, staying in your gap, not coming out of your gap is big, because Missouri is going to run a ton of draws, because they’re in the shotgun. They’re going to run that stuff. All that is is hoping that that defensive line gets out of their gaps, runs up the field, and allows the open field. That’s going to be big.

I’ll be honest. I expect Missouri to get some good yards on the draw play, especially early on, because Florida has noticed these last couple games, and they are sack happy. Wouldn’t you be sack happy? You’re killing people. I do expect that to be a problem early on. The one thing I will say is this. Nick, I text you all the time about my Falcons and Dan Quinn being a mastermind at adjustments. That’s something Geoff Collins has done a hell of a job of doing as well, him and Randy Shannon and his staff, of half time adjustments. That could very well be a big key this weekend.

NICK:​Getting back to your first point about those guys on the inside really creating for everyone else. Pro Football Focus, those guys do a ton of breakdowns and grading of players in college and the pros. Jon Bullard right now is a +17.7. He’s second in the country at his position with 18 defensive stops. Even though he’s played a lot of tackle, he still has 4 sacks and 6 quarterback hurries. That’s creating things with Jon Bullard demanding a double team, and make no mistake about it, if you’re an offensive line coach, you are running into your offensive coordinator’s room and saying, we are putting two on 90, game plan around that.

That creates for Alex McAlllister. He’s a +9.9 this year, 5 sacks, 3 hits, 6 quarterback hurries of his own. Then creates for the linebackers. When Jon Bullard can take two guys, now that A gap is gigantic, and Antonio Morrison and Jarrad Davis can just stare down it, see a run play coming. That’s when the linebackers need to stay home on those plays to prevent that draw that you think is coming.

ANDREW:​Very good point on Jarrad Davis. The goal line situation last week was an excellent point of that. With Brantley making a double team block him that has allowed Jarrad Davis to have a free rein of going, Morrison as well. That is big for those guys up front. Morrison and Davis are not having, not career years, but they’re not having great years without that defensive line. Very good point on that, and something that I failed to bring up. Again, it will be interesting to see how Florida does this week, because when they run the draw it’s going to be against the dime a lot. How does Jalen Tabor, Marcus Maye, Quincy Wilson, those guys that are going to be in the middle, how do they do with recognizing the draw this week? That’s something they haven’t seen a ton this year.

NICK:​Recognizing is a big deal, and really we’ve only seen Jalen Tabor in that dime spot last week. Big test for him. Obviously there wasn’t a ton of draw plays from Ole Miss. You get behind early. You start having to pass a lot. Chad Kelly was forced to run a lot, because of the pressure Florida was able to create. Definitely a big test for Tabor, who is really working into a new role. I still think top to bottom that Florida kind of has the talent. I really think that this week is staying focused and disciplined, and by disciplined I mean this is a game, we’ve talked about last week, Florida can’t have penalties. They cannot overcome penalties and win. I think that Florida can overcome some penalties, but you don’t want to get into situations again where, you’ve got to remember, you still have a young quarterback.

Right now Will Grier in Pro Football Focus has a -.4 grade on the year, but he’s coming off of a career day completing 80% of his passes and 4 touchdowns. You want to be able to leave him in situations, that 3rd and 4 when the playbook’s open and it’s comfortable, that 2nd and 4, 2nd and 3, those short yardage situations. You don’t want to put Grier in a position where in the first couple of drives he’s having to complete the 3rd and California 15 plays. You just want to continue on the confidence he built last week. Penalties can hurt that and can bring that down.

ANDREW:​Staying in front of the change. That’s the biggest thing that Florida has done this year, and that’s the biggest thing they need to continue to do. They’ve got to stay in front of the change. Especially against Missouri, because Missouri does have a very fast defensive line. That’s something that Florida’s going to combat by throwing the short passes as well. The thing with them is they have two freshmen defensive linemen. I do expect some play action against these guys there and expect a lot more screens possibly against this team. Overall I do think that Florida’s offense should have a good game. It’s like I told you, I’m not ready to predict the Florida vs. LSU game just yet, because of this game. I feel like this game, while it’s not a trap game because Florida has a lot to play for, I just feel like Florida hasn’t had success. They just haven’t success. What do they do with the success?

I kind of caught myself in this. I was bragging to my buddies that are Alabama fans about Florida putting a shellacking on Ole Miss, and he’s like, I’m glad for you. I’m glad that they won, but where you guys been for four years? It’s like, put me back in my place. He cut my bragging off. It’s like where this team is, how do they respond this week? You and I are talking about a blowout. When’s the last time you and I talked about Florida blowing anybody out, let along an SEC team that is the two time defending champion?

NICK:​Other than the opening cream puff games we haven’t brought it up in a while.

ANDREW:​Exactly. As Mac says, what are they going to do when they get their bellies rubbed? Guys, your bellies have been rubbed. Your ego has been stroked. Go get your bellies rubbed some more after you dominate Missouri.

NICK:​Here’s something I want to bring up. Marcus Spears made a good point, and I mentioned it last podcast on Finebaum. Florida has a defense that plays really well with a lead. They’re very tough to come back on because of that. Every game this season Florida has scored first, outside of the ECU game, and every game this season Florida has scored on their second drive. Florida in every game has created this scenario where even if it’s only 7-0, 3-0, they’re creating this scenario where teams are playing from behind. Is that something that they can do this week against Missouri? What happens if Florida gets behind a team? We haven’t really seen them, they were behind Tennessee, but Tennessee is currently waiting on the copyright for 4th quarter and 2nd half meltdowns to come back in. I think it’s going to go through, and they’ll get it. Can Florida play behind against a team that doesn’t have a history of choking in the 2nd half? Could Florida get behind on the road at Missouri and still be able to regroup and come back?

ANDREW:​I think that this is a team in Florida that has new confidence, and it’s a confidence that now the offense can come from behind. They offense doesn’t get scared when they’re behind. I felt like even in the Ole Miss game you come out there, they almost were playing from behind at the beginning of the game, because nobody thought they could score. I feel like they can do well against that, but it interesting that Mac does like the football first. He knows that. He knows you go out, and you put a score on the board, and Missouri’s got to start throwing the ball all around that. He likes his defensive chances there overall. To answer your question though, I do think Florida can come from behind in the game, but I don’t think that they will be down by more than a touchdown in the game, because I don’t think Missouri’s offense can score enough points to really get a big lead on Florida, and this is not a Florida team that’s going to turn the ball over a ton like in past years.

NICK:​If you look at Missouri as a team, their offense has been pretty terrible. In all games they are dead last. In the SEC averaging just 322 yards a game. If you only look at their conference games, they are still dead last at 318 yards per game, and their conference games are Kentucky and South Carolina. Those are two of the worst conference teams in the SEC. They’re not moving the ball well. Now you’ve got a freshman quarterback in there. They don’t score a whole heck of a lot. They’re only averaging 21 points a game right now. That number drops to 18.5 to Florida’s 26 against conference opponents. Not a very good Missouri offense, and I think they’re in for a different kind of beast, a different kind of test that they might not be ready for this week with Florida’s defense coming in.

​I do want to touch on one thing. We’ve talked about cornerbacks a lot, and in that Pro Football Focus, in the story that I’ve referenced a couple times, Vernon Hargreaves is actually the lowest rated cornerback on Florida’s team right now of the three starter type players. Not saying that he’s having a bad season, because he’s got his interceptions, but he’s not having the same kind of year he was last year.

ANDREW:​It kind of goes back to what we always say. Teams are scared to pick on him. They are. They’re scared to pick on him and scared to throw his way. It is what it is. My thing is this. A cornerback can make a name for himself by being intimidating to where people don’t throw that way. You look at high school rankings as well. You look at guys like Chauncey Gardner, the big corners in high school. You’re like, these guys have no stats. It’s like, yeah they have no stats, because people are scared to throw their way. It is what it is. I think you and I have done a very good job of talking about the other guys. Quincy Wilson in my opinion is an elite cornerback. Jalen Tabor is an elite cornerback. I think these guys are very good football players, but they’re overshadowed by Vernon Hargreaves, who, in my opinion, is the best in the country.

NICK:​I think that, and we’ll get into our picks a little bit later, but I think that those other guys are being a little overshadowed by Vernon, but you look at somebody like Quincy, and Quincy was matched up against Laquon Treadwell for most of that game last week. Now you’re looking at Tabor, who’s being given more responsibilities playing dime, playing all over the field, so I think there’s a level of trust with those guys, a level of trust in those other guys that aren’t Vernon from the coaching staff that maybe the fans don’t even have yet, just because of how good Vernon Hargreaves was last year. Last season Pro Football Focus rated him as a +26.5, which was one of the best defensive players in all of college football, regardless of position. Vernon Hargreaves is a 1st round draft pick, a great player, but I would like the fans to start realizing that he’s not the only cornerback on the team.

ANDREW:​Here’s my thing. I’ll be the first one to admit. Had you told me at the beginning of the year Quincy and Tabor were going to matchup with Treadwell I would have said, not sure I like that. Honestly. Would have said that. I think that Quincy and Tabor have made a huge leap from their freshmen to sophomore years in their confidence. Both of them are very good players. Both of them were very good players last year. I just think they’re more confident in their game. You look at Quincy and you look at Tabor, at the line of scrimmage they’re getting their hands on guys. They’re more confident.

I don’t think they’re scared of getting beat anymore, and that in my opinion is one of the biggest things that most people will tell you as a cornerback you have to go out there with a mindset of play one play at a time, forget the play before, and do not worry about getting beat. You look at Quincy Wilson in the ECU game, first play of the game he gets beat for a touchdown, turns around the next play and has a great game. Confidence, in my opinion, is the biggest thing for these guys. They both made me believers. I tell people all the time. They’re like Florida’s defense is going to take a step back when Vernon leaves. I’m like, good luck. You’re just putting in the guys that don’t get to play in Quincy and Tabor. One of the guys that don’t get to start now both get to start. Good luck next year.

​I think that’s the biggest thing. Nick, I know that there had been some talk from you as well. You’re very big on Quincy, and have been big on Quincy. I guess, have you seen that as well? You’re around him more in the press conferences, that kind of stuff. Do you see that confidence oozing from him and Tabor?

NICK:​Yeah. I think some of that just comes from playing that position. Cornerback, it’s like you said with Vernon, teams just aren’t even throwing at him anymore. They’re not even testing him. Cornerback is a position, and they call it playing on an island, because if you’re an offensive linemen and you make a mistake it might not end up in a sack. If you’re a linebacker and you make a mistake you’ve got a safety there to clean up your mess maybe. A lot of times when a cornerback makes a mistake it results in a huge play. By nature those guys have to have confidence, like being a closer in baseball. They have to have a short memory. I think Jalen Tabor and Quincy Wilson, Jalen Tabor has a Superman logo tattooed on his chest. He has never lacked confidence, never lacked swag. I don’t think either of those guys have ever lacked confidence.

I think both of them might have a little chip on their shoulder because they feel like people are sleeping on them. It’s nothing against Vern. They have a great relationship, all of the cornerbacks on the team, but I feel like Tabor and Quincy are playing with a chip on their shoulder because they feel like they’re not getting the attention they deserve. We talked about it a couple weeks ago. If you’re going to be on national TV, do your homework. Quincy Wilson has started every game, and every time they come in it’s he’s starting in place of Vernon Hargreaves, who’s hurt. He’s starting in place of Jalen Tabor, who’s suspended. What about the first week when he started? Everyone was there. Everyone was available. I think these guys have always been confident, but they’re kind of playing with a chip on their shoulder that is I’m playing good too, why are you only talking about this other guy?

ANDREW:​Can you imagine me? I love Superman. Can you imagine me as a white boy bringing my Superman tattoo?

NICK:​No. Absolutely not.

ANDREW:​I may have to look into that. I’ve always wanted a little tattoo. I think I may tattoo on my fat chest. We’ll see. Good point though on those guys. Another thing that I have to say is this. I think a lot of people give T Rob credit for everything, but Kirk Callahan’s done a remarkable job with these guys. Don’t think it’s anything by luck that this secondary is still playing good, and maybe playing better than they did last year. Kirk Callahan’s done a great job. Janoris Jenkins, he’ll tell you to this day that the reason he’s in the NFL is because of Kirk Callahan, when Kirk Callahan, was a GA. I think that you have to give him props where credit is due.

NICK:​Yeah. Everyone. We lauded the game plan and the scheme that Florida ran last week. I think all the coaching staff, everyone has really done a good job with the team, playing to the strengths of the players. It is about time to wrap this up. We’ve got a big week coming up. As always, if you have suggestions for me the good guys over at SB Nation at Rock M Nation sent me a nice little travel guide, but if you have something off the beaten path for me. My dad and I, and my cousin and uncle will all be in St. Louis on Friday, and then in Columbia, CoMo, on Saturday and Sunday. Give me recommendations. I’m trying to get some barbecue. I’m trying to drink some alcohol.

ANDREW:​Nick, you’re going to see me in New Orleans in a couple of days. I expect some kind of gift from Busch Stadium. I expect a gift, Nicholas. I expect some love.

NICK:​I will bring you a Marlins hat.

ANDREW:​By the way, Marlins guy is back in the playoff this week. That is pretty cool. Marlins guy was back at the Cubs game.

NICK:​Marlins fan is everywhere.

ANDREW:​Let’s move into predictions. Let’s start off with some predictions real quick. It’s playoff baseball. People may not like this, but you and I love baseball. Real quick, who have you got in the playoffs?

NICK:​I’m really excited I’m going to be able to go to Busch Stadium to see Cubs Cards. My heart tells me I want to pick the Cubs. You look at the run, like the Royals made last year from being a wildcard team to getting into the World Series. I am going to go with the Royals to get back into the World Series, and I think I’m going to go with the Cubs riding hot off Jake Arrieta and the way that they’ve been playing to also sneak in. A Cubs vs. Royals World Series with the Royals finally getting on top.

ANDREW:​My head tells me to predict the Cards, because they are the best team in baseball.

NICK:​That is the smart move.

ANDREW:​It’s kind of like the Missouri offense. They have offense, and they have a game plan that they just kind of rotate guys in. My head tells me the Cardinals, but my heart says that it’s a magical run for the Cubbies. Nick, I told you before the on the on the air, I have a lot of mutual friends with Josh Donaldson with the Blue Jays, and my heart tells me to pick the Blue Jays, but I don’t think the Blue Jays, a home run hitting team, can make it. I’m going to go with the Royals and the Cubs as well. Neither one of us can disagree here. Then I’m going to go with the Royals to win the series.

NICK:​We’re both picking the Royals. I think we both went with our heart and picked the Cubbies, the poor suffering Cubs fan base, but my head would tell the same, that Cardinals will get back there. It’ll be interesting. I think that Toronto team, they’re just like a hodge podge of guys who haven’t been in that situation, and they’ve played well to get to this point, but October baseball is completely different than playing well to get to the playoffs.

ANDREW:​It’s a thing too, the home run ball is not going to be there. That’s kind of what Houston and Toronto live off of is Batista, Donaldson, Edwin Encarnacion, Troy Tulowitzki, those guys are just guys that like to hit the bombs, and they’re going to be out of the sky domes. One quick thing on the Cubs, this is pretty funny. The Cubs last won the World Series in 1908. They’d played last night 7:08, which was 19:08 military time, and the game was played on 10/7, 107 years ago since the last time the Cubs won the World Series.

NICK:​That is fun with numbers.

ANDREW:​Fun with numbers. Before these people turn us off and say we hate you, let’s go back to football. Football time. Who you got prediction wise? Never mind, it’s my time to pick first. I am going with Superman Jalen Tabor. I think he’s going to have a big game from that dime position this weekend. I’m calling a big game for 31, Jalen Tabor.

NICK:​Maybe he’ll wear #2 this week. I’m going with Keanu Neal.

ANDREW:​Kiki.

NICK:​Kiki brought the hit stick last week. We’ve talked a lot about this Missouri offense kind of dinking and diming their way down the field, which I think leads to your Tabor pick, him playing the dime. I also think that opens doors for Keanu and Marcus Maye. I flipped a coin, and I got Keanu.

ANDREW:​Okay. I’m going with the goat, Will Grier this week. Big games the last few weeks. No sense of it. On Sports Illustrated this week, pretty cool. Glad to have the Sports Illustrated back. Add another Sports Illustrated to the wall. I’m going with the goat, Will Grier to have a big game in Columbia.

NICK:​Fun fact, Missouri has the SEC best passing defense, only allowing 154 yards.

ANDREW:​What have they played? Get out of here.

NICK:​Only allowing 115 yards per game.

ANDREW:​Does South Carolina even throw the ball anymore? I feel like Steve Spurrier’s like a run the football…

NICK:​My second pick, I am going with Antonio Callaway on special teams and on offense. Last year Missouri returned a punt, returned a kick for a touchdown. I think Antonio Callaway this week ends the drought, gets a special teams touchdown on top of also being a key role for Florida’s passing game to get going.

ANDREW:​You and I pick these beforehand, but I’m going off the wall here. I’m going #4.

NICK:​He’s cheating already.

ANDREW:​I’m going #4, Brandon Pocket Rocket Powell to have the big game. You kind of pissed me off with that passing crap. You don’t even know. You know they played nobody.

NICK:​I blindsided you with that.

ANDREW:​They played nobody.

NICK:​There it is. I finally made you angry enough to bring energy to the podcast.

ANDREW:​Pocket Rocket’s coming, #4, Brandon Powell is pick number three for Andrew, Superman, Spivey.

NICK:​You haven’t even said your word of the week. My third player is, I kind of down talked him maybe a little bit, but I’m going with Vernon Hargreaves to get an interception. While I’ve talked about how Quincy and Tabor are bigger cornerbacks, which is why I thought that made them better matchups against Laquon Treadwell, Vernon Hargreaves as far as being a smart cornerback is second to none. The way that he can bait quarterbacks to throw to a spot because it looks like the guy is open. The way he reads quarterback’s eyes. I think Vernon Hargreaves has a big game and really gives Drew Lock a welcome to the SEC moment.

ANDREW:​Welcome to the SEC. Here we go. Let’s go on a couple picks outside of the Gators game this weekend. Let’s go first with the hatred bowl of UM, Miami, vs. Florida State. Keep Al Golden is alive for Florida State. Nicholas, I feel like you’re about to give me the U, but go ahead.

NICK:​I would love to give you the U, but they are a dumpster fire. They are an awful football team. They are awfully coached, with or without Dalvin, I can’t pick them. Miami is terri-awful. I’m going with FSU.

ANDREW:​That was pretty cool. Terri-awful.

NICK:​A mixture of terrible and awful. They are terri-awful.

ANDREW:​I may have to look that word up for next week. That may have to be the word of Andrew for next week. I’m about to drop the word in a minute. The Noles go wild against Miami, with or without Dalvin Cook Miami sucks. Noles win this game. Let’s move on real quick. Arkansa vs. Alabama, a game that I think will be much like Florida vs. Missouri. It’ll kind of be a slow boring football game. What do you got?

NICK:​I don’t know if it’ll be that way. I think given the opportunity Bret Bielema, Burt, will try to throw a pass to an offensive lineman if he can. Arkansas is kind of in a situation where, at least they beat Tennessee last week, but they’re in a situation where they don’t have a whole lot to lose. They’re out of it. Probably not going to win this week, so maybe you get some trickery. I think Ole Miss woke up a sleeping giant in Alabama, and I think the Tide rolls over the Hogs and Burt has some ‘splaining to do after this game.

ANDREW:​You’re going to Roll Tide.

NICK:​Yup.

ANDREW:​Alabama as well. I just was bull crapping Nick trying to get him to pick something stupid. Alabama rolls 42-7, shuts down the offense. The game that Andrew has gotten to be pissed off about. Here we go.

NICK:​Andrew’s two favorite coaches face off.

ANDREW:​Shut the hell up with that lie. That lie is retarded. Who’s going to win the worst coach of America job this week? Is it going to be Mark I am fake as all get out Richt or Butch I fail in the 4th quarter Jones? UGA vs. Tennessee, Nicholas, who do you have?

NICK:​I am going with Georgia. Tennessee has no answer for Sir Nicholas Chubb, for Keith Marshall. They have no answer for that. Georgia’s going to walk into Neyland, I think Tennessee is trying to do some kind of grayout uniform thing.

ANDREW:​It’s blackout. They’re trying to black Butch Jones out from the 4th quarter.

NICK:​Most of those fans will wish they were blacked out by the time that game is done. Georgia wins, and they win handily.

ANDREW:​Nick, I’m too wavy to pick this game.

NICK:​There’s your word.

ANDREW:​There’s my word. I’m way too wavy. You guys don’t know if you’re not hip like myself. Wavy means cool nowadays. Nick, I’m not picking this game. I’m way too wavy for this game. Not picking it. Hate both of them. If the stadium was to fall down before the game, and they have to postpone it that would be excellent in Andrew’s book, so I’m not picking it. Let’s go on. Gators vs. Missouri.

NICK:​He just refused to pick the game.

ANDREW:​I just refuse to pick the game. I’m way too wavy for that crap. I’m just not.

NICK:​You hate both coaches in this game that you refuse to say that either one of them has the possibility of winning, even though one of them will win the game.

ANDREW:​Maybe not. Maybe the Lord will bless us and they will both tie. Here we go. Missouri vs. Florida. Who do you have, Nicholas, and what is the score in Columbia, Missouri? I almost said South Carolina.

NICK:​I am going Florida. I’ve sort of wised up to Vegas. I try not to go against Vegas, because like I said, they don’t build those giant casinos out there, those aren’t free. Vegas doesn’t lose money often. I’m going to pick Florida in a 27-7 ballgame.

ANDREW:​I feel like you copied my score.

NICK:​I don’t know what you’re talking about.

ANDREW:​That was not wavy.

NICK:​I don’t know what you’re talking about. 27-7, Florida.

ANDREW:​27-7 Florida. Whatever, Nick. I don’t care. Pick what you want. Gators roll, 31-3. Big time win for the Gators. The Gators sit undefeated headed to Baton Rouge for a matchup in the Cajun Bowl of Corndogs vs. the Gators. In LSU Gators roll. Real quick note, I was talking to someone yesterday. Let’s just throw out some odd things here. I feel like podcast went odd anyway. Odd anyway for Andrew. If the Gators win this week and Tennessee is to beat Georgia, Florida will have a two game lead over Georgia. Florida could basically clinch the East by beating LSU next week.

NICK:​That’s assuming a lot of wins down the line.

ANDREW:​No it’s not. They’re beating Vandy and Carolina.

NICK:​I’m saying…

ANDREW:​This is not Will Muschamp, Nick. Will Muschamp does not coach the Gators anymore, Nick. Butch Jones does not coach the Gators anymore, Nick.

NICK:​I have lost control again.

ANDREW:​They don’t coach it, Nick. Jim McElwain, please come on. Coffee man has lost his marbles if he thinks the Gators are losing to Missouri and South Carolina. Lost his marbles.

NICK:​Whenever you’re done I’m here to explain.

ANDREW:​Explain.

NICK:​To say that they can clinch the SEC East with a win at LSU is assuming a lot of wins, because there’s a lot of games left. I think you can’t really pick Florida to win a game in the end of November against a team or a month from now, because there’s so much that can happen, injury wise. There’s so many things that can happen. Do I think right now if Florida and Vanderbilt played tomorrow? Yeah, I think Florida wins that game pretty big. If Florida played South Carolina next week, I’d say Florida wins that game pretty big, but there’s just a lot of time between now and those games. Injuries can happen. So many things can happen from now until then. That’s why I say assuming a lot of win.

ANDREW:​I need oxygen right now, because you kick me in the gut and basically say you suck. That’s basically what you did to me, because I said could potentially clinch, potentially, Nicholas. I didn’t say for sure, and you’re going to kick me in the gut while I’m down. That’s what you did. You kicked me in the gut while I was trying to feel good about myself, trying to think positive. You kicked me in the gut. Thanks, buddy. Love you.

NICK:​If you’re wondering if Andrew will recover from my gut punch, you can see him on GatorCountry.com, also on Twitter @AndrewSpiveyGC. Andrew, why don’t we do a giveaway?

ANDREW:​Sure. Go ahead.

NICK:​If you made it this long into the podcast, the first person to tweet Andrew Spivey with what his word of the week was, because normally he shouts it from the rooftop and from the mountains all week long, but this week it took him till the last 10 minutes of the podcast, the third podcast, to bring it out. The first person to tweet wavy, Spivey’s word of the week at him gets a free month of Gator Country.

ANDREW:​There you go. Quick thing real quick, running across Twitter at noon today on Thursday when you and I are taping this, some news that Randy Edsall may be fired at Maryland if he loses. Nick, I believe it was you and I that were talking to a couple people that said they thought Randy Edsall would be fine, because they knew Maryland was going to be bad this year, but that’s kind of crazy. I’m going to be honest with you. Florida fans and fans across the country really should hope that Randy Edsall stays, because there’s some good athletes in Maryland, and he just sucks at coaching.

NICK:​Yeah. He was not a big favorite of someone that I’m close to, Max Garcia. That’s part of the reason why Max left.

ANDREW:​He’s throwing shots today.

NICK:​I saw that. That’s part of the reason why Max left and went to Florida, so Gator fans can thank Randy Edsall for Max Garcia.

ANDREW:​Good to great. That’s what Edsall needs to keep saying, and Max Garcia is letting him hear about it today. If you ever met Max Garcia, it’s tough to get on that man’s bad side. He’s a great guy.

NICK:​Very good guy. Something must have happened there.

ANDREW:​Maybe Edsall pulled a Butch Jones and started punching his players.

NICK:​Here we go.

ANDREW:​Here we go. Nicholas, we’re rolling over 50 minutes here. People have got to be sick of hearing your voice. They always love hearing me. Let’s end this thing. Say your few magic words. Let’s get off and have a good weekend against the Missouri kitty cats of Columbia.

NICK:​Thank you for listening this long. Make sure to tweet at Andrew. You can tweet at me @NickdelaTorreGC. Love to have you guys listening to the podcast. Would love to see you on the message boards as well. As always, you stay classy, Gator Country.

ANDREW:​Absolutely. Nick and I have a fun week planned for next week. It should be a lot of good things. As always, Butch, Mark, you still suck. Go Braves.

 

Andrew Spivey
Andrew always knew he wanted to be involved with sports in some capacity. He began by coaching high school football for six years before deciding to pursue a career in journalism. While coaching, he was a part of two state semifinal teams in the state of Alabama. Given his past coaching experience, he figured covering recruiting would be a perfect fit. He began his career as an intern for Rivals.com, covering University of Florida football recruiting. After interning with Rivals for six months, he joined the Gator Country family as a recruiting analyst. Andrew enjoys spending his free time on the golf course and watching his beloved Atlanta Braves. Follow him on Twitter at @AndrewSpiveyGC.

1 COMMENT

  1. Hey Nick,

    I know it’s a bit late, but you should really try out Oklahoma Joe’s in St. Louis. We did a barbecue crawl there before the Missouri game a couple of years ago. It was hands-down the best of the five popular joints we hit. It’s located in an old gas station, but the barbecue is outstanding.