How do you see the game w/ Louisville unfolding?
seems apparent to most, if the gators 'show up' and match the intensity of UL, we should win handily. we're healthy. looked good vs the noles in a game we lost the momentum, then siezed it back with a vengeance. we should be healthy and we have the mo'... but: 1. you know the cards, as a major underdog w/ virtually 'no chance,' will come to play and play w/ that proverbial chip on the ole shoulder. but: 2. it's been more than a month since that fsu game.
as the underdog, the card coaching staff is the one making the changes and searching for weaknesses in our schemes to the nth detail. as the prohibitive favorite, we're probably not be as diligent in our analysis and probing for weaknesses and adjusting our game/schemes. plus, i think we'll imbibe in 1 or 2 too many 'hurricanes' while visiting bourbon street due to the confidence.
keys to our success this year: turnover margin, 2nd half adjustments, winning (dominating at times) the 4th quarter, special teams play, and solid/dominating 'D'.
Gators have a lot to play for. so there should be ample motivation. e.g finish #2 in the nation. win a sugar bowl game (big deal for my generation of gator at least
), finish w/ 12 wins - a rarity for a gator squad (something to brag about, indeed!). further, i do suspect that muschamp looks at the bowl as the springboard to next season. he has said as much. suspect: a bowl for Will may not be the crowning jewel at the end of a season until we're playing for the actual crystal trophy.
with that said, i'm not sure we're totally into it early in the game. like many of the regular season games, we sorta play to 'feel out' the foe, then make the adjustments. however, i do think Pease will have scripted out some great plays for the opening drive.
my expectation:
both teams have great opening drives. cards take advantage of some over pursuit and an aggressive gator 'd'. finally stiffen in the red zone. Gator drive also fizzles in the red zone. something that has plagued us this season.
early gator turnover nets another score for Louisville - bridgewater shows why he's herealded and the gator 'd' still is on their heels early in the game and can't respond to the "quick change" of the turnover. Gators 'O' sputters a bit as a result.
1st qrt: UF 3 UL 10
gators get some solid defensive play. but offense sputters. there's yards to be made vs the card defense, but they've come to play and have some great individual efforts to 1. break up passes, bat balls at the line of scrimmage, chase down driskel for a sack.
clutch punting by Christy flips the field and buries the cards deep. gator d plays w/ a sense of urgency.
being in a bowl, there's some creative trickeration. some work, others get too cute and results in a turnover, this time by the Cards. Gators, now w/ the mo', mount a nice drive, displaying great balance.
bridgewater takes advantage of the gators playing man2man, gets a big unexpected scramble for major yards. sets up another field.
clutch punting by Christy flips the field and buries the cards deep. gator d plays w/ a sense of urgency. gator d finally gets a few 3&outs to end the half.
Gator offense, playing w/ some nice urgency and getting a bit p-o;ed execute a nice 2 minute style drive that showsoff the receiver corps as being better than advertised. Hines, Dunbar, Reed all show off to close out the half.
halftime: UF 17 UL 13
Gator coaches work their halftime adjustments.
Gators have some timely blitzes that net some key sacks and pressures Bridgewater into another key turnover. sets up a couple of short fields. gators go backwards w/ one, but sturgis nails a long field goal. Gillislee w/ a gallop thru a gauntlet of cards for another.
Gator D assets itself some more. Card offense sputters.
Gators continue to win the field position game w/ solid special teams play.
Pick 6 by Watkins puts the gators up big going into the 4th.
thru 3 quarters: UF 34 UL 13
Muschamp sorta shuts id down w/ a big lead.
Gators get a bit sloppy and turn it over for an easy card drive and score.
Gator OL asserts itself and dominates to close out the game.
Subs get some quality p.t. in the 4th.
Muschamp, aware of the betting line, opts to kick a late field goal.
Final: UF 37 UL 20
how do you think the game will go?
How do you see our Sugar Bowl game unfolding?
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