Sometime early this evening, the winner of the 86th (or 87th, if you are a Bulldog) renewal of the Florida-Georgia series in Jacksonville will have the inside track to the SEC Championship game. The loser’s national title hopes, meanwhile, will be shattered. It’s the Gators and the Bulldogs with CBS televising the action nationally beginning at 3:30 p.m.
GAME 8: FLORIDA GATORS vs. GEORGIA BULLDOGS
WHEN: Saturday at 3:30 p.m. ET.
WHERE: Jacksonville Municipal Stadium (80,000), Jacksonville.
RECORDS: Florida 6-1 overall, 4-1 SEC East; Georgia 7-1 overall, 4-1 SEC East.
RANKINGS: Florida No. 8 BCS Standings, No. 5 Associated Press media, No. 7 USA Today coaches, No. 4 Legends Football Coaches Association, No. 6 Harris Interactive; Georgia No. 6 BCS Standings, No. 8 Associated Press media, No. 8 USA Today coaches, No. 8 Legends Football Coaches Association, No. 8 Harris Interactive.
COACHES: Florida, Urban Meyer, fourth season, 37-9 (overall 76-17, eighth season); Georgia, Mark Richt, eighth season, 79-20 (overall, same).
GATOR COUNTRY.COM: A pre-game show, featuring Buddy Martin, Franz Beard, Mark McLeod and others, will be broadcast before the game from the parking lot of the stadium and a post-game show is tentatively planned afterward. Check www.,gatorcountry.com for the times and the formats.
TV: CBS (Verne Lundquist, play-by-play; Gary Danielson, color; Tracy Wolfson, sideline).
DELAYED TV: Sun Sports (Larry Vettel, play-by-play; Nat Moore, color: Steve Babik, sideline) will televise at 8:30 a.m. Sunday and 11 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 14.
RADIO: Gator Radio Network (Mick Hubert, play-by-play; Lee McGriff, color; Steve Babik, sideline; Scot Brantley and Travis McGriff, pre-game). Pre-game show starts at 1:30 p.m.; post-game show concludes 90 minutes after game. WFXJ-AM 930 (Jacksonville) is flagship station; affiliates are WWBF-AM 1130 (Bartow), WPHK-FM 102.3 (Blountstown), WWJB-AM 1450 (Brooksville), WBGC-AM 1240 (Chipley), WAFC-FM 99.5 (Clewiston), WXCV-FM 95.3 (Crystal River), WDCF-AM 1350 (Dade City), WMYR-AM 1410 (Fort Myers), WRUF-FM 103.7 (Gainesville), WRUF-AM 850 (Gainesville), WKWF-AM 1600 (Key West), WUCR-FM 107.9 (Lake Butler), WNFB-FM 94.3 (Lake City), WDSR-AM 1340 (Lake City), WONN-AM 1230 (Lakeland), WQHL-AM 1250 (Live Oak), WMEL-AM 1300 (Melbourne), WFTL-AM 850 (Miami), WCNZ-AM 1660 (Naples), WSBB-AM 1230 (New Smyrna Beach), WMOP-AM 900 (Ocala), WMOP-FM 100.1 (Ocala), WFLF-AM 540 (Orlando), WPLK-AM 800 (Palatka), WFLF-FM 94.5 (Panama City), WDIZ-AM 590 (Panama City), WTKE-FM 98.1 (Pensacola), WPSL-AM 1590 (Port St. Lucie), WLSS-AM 930 (Sarasota), WWTK-AM 730 (Sebring), WAOC-AM 1420 (St. Augustine), WSTU-AM 1450 (Stuart), WUTL-FM 106.1 (Tallahassee), WDAE-AM 620 (Tampa), WEFL-AM 760 (West Palm Beach), WZHR-AM 1400 (Zephyrhills). Game also available on XM Satellite Radio channels 199 (Florida feed) and 201 (Georgia feed).
SERIES:.Georgia leads 46-37-2 (according to Florida) or 47-37-2 (according Georgia). Georgia claims a 52-0 victory at Macon, Ga., in 1904 as the opening game of the series; Florida claims it did not start varsity football until two seasons later. In games played in Jacksonville, Georgia leads 40-34-1. In games played in Savannah, Ga., Florida is 1-0-1. In game played at Tampa, Georgia leads 1-0-0. In games played in Athens, Georgia leads 4-1. In games played in Gainesville, the series is tied 1-1.
1915: Lost 0-39 at Jacksonville; 1916: Lost 0-21 at Athens; 1919: Lost 0-16 at Tampa; 1920: Lost 0-56 at Athens.
1926: Lost 9-32 at Athens; 1927: Lost 0-28 at Jacksonville; 1928: Won 26-0 at Savannah, Ga.; 1929: Won 18-6 at Jacksonville; 1930: Tied 0-0 at Savannah, Ga.
1931: Lost 6-33 at Gainesville; 1932: Lost 12-33 at Athens; 1933: Lost 0-14 at Jacksonville; 1934: Lostg 0-14 at Jacksonville; 1935: Lost 0-7 at Jacksonville; 1936: Lost 8-26 at Jacksonville; 1937: W 6-0 at Jacksonville; 1938: Lost 6-19 at Jacksonville; 1939: Lost 2-6 at Jacksonville; 1940: Won 18-13 at Jacksonville.
1941: Lost 3-19 at Jacksonville; 1942: Lost 0-75 at Jacksonville; 1944: Lost 12-38 at Jacksonville; 1945: Lost 0-34 at Jacksonville; 1946: Lost 14-33 at Jacksonville; 1947: Lost 6-34 at Jacksonville; 1948: Lost 12-20 at Jacksonville; 1949: Won 28-7 at Jacksonville; 1950: Lost 0-6 at Jacksonville.
1951: Lost 6-7 at Jacksonville; 1952: Won 30-0 at Jacksonville; 1953: Won 21-7 at Jacksonville; 1954: Lost 13-14 at Jacksonville; 1955: Won 19-13 at Jacksonville; 1956: Won 28-0 at Jacksonville; 1957: Won 22-0 at Jacksonville; 1958: Won 7-6 at Jacksonville; 1959: Lost 10-21 at Jacksonville; 1960: Won 22-14 at Jacksonville.
1961: Won 21-14 at Jacksonville; 1962: Won 23-15 at Jacksonville; 1963: Won 21-14 at Jacksonville; 1964: Lost 7-14 at Jacksonville; 1965: Won 14-10 at Jacksonville; 1966: L 10-27 at Jacksonville; 1967: Won 17-16 at Jacksonville; 1968: Lost 0-51 at Jacksonville; 1969: Tied 13-13 at Jacksonville; 1970: Won 24-17 at Jacksonville.
1971: Lost 7-49 at Jacksonville; 1972: Lost 7-10 at Jacksonville; 1973: Won 11-10 at Jacksonville; 1974: Lost 16-17 at Jacksonville; 1975: Lost 7-10 at Jacksonville; 1976: Lost 27-41 at Jacksonville; 1977: Won 22-17 at Jacksonville; 1978: Lost 22-24 at Jacksonville; 1979: Lost 10-33 at Jacksonville; 1980: Lost 21-26 at Jacksonville.
1981: Lost 21-26 at Jacksonville; 1982: Lost 0-44 at Jacksonville; 1983: Lost 9-10 at Jacksonville; 1984: Won 27-0 at Jacksonville; 1985: Lost 3-24 at Jacksonville; 1986: Won 31-19 at Jacksonville; 1987: Lost 10-23 at Jacksonville; 1988: Lost 3-26 at Jacksonville; 1989: Lost 10-17 at Jacksonville; 1990: Won 38-7 at Jacksonville
1991: Won 45-13 at Jacksonville; 1992: Won 26-24 at Jacksonville; 1993: Won 33-26 at Jacksonville; 1994: Won 52-14 at Gainesville; 1995: Won 52-17 at Athens; 1996: Won 47-7 at Jacksonville ; 1997: Lost 17-37 at Jacksonville; 1998: Won 38-7 at Jacksonville; 1999: Won 30-14 at Jacksonville; 2000: Won 34-23 at Jacksonville.
2001: Won 24-10 at Jacksonville; 2002: Won 20-13 at Jacksonville; 2003: Won 16-13 at Jacksonville; 2004: Lost 24-31 at Jacksonville; 2005: Won 14-10 at Jacksonville; 2006: Won 21-14 at Jacksonville; 2007: Lost 30-42 at Jacksonville.
RESULTS: Florida: beat Hawaii in Gainesville 56-10 Aug. 30; beat Miami (Fla.) in Gainesville 26-3 Sept. 6; beat Tennessee in Knoxville 30-6 Sept. 20; lost to Mississippi in Gainesville 30-31 Sept. 27; beat Arkansas in Fayetteville, Ark., 38-7 Oct. 4; beat Louisiana State in Gainesville 51-21 Oct. 11; beat Kentucky in Gainesville 63-5 Oct. 25. Georgia: beat Georgia Southern in Athens 45-21 Aug. 30; beat Central Michigan in Athens 56-17 Sept. 6; beat South Carolina in Columbia, S.C., 14-7 Sept. 13; beat Arizona State in Tempe, Ariz., 27-10 Sept. 20; lost to Alabama in Athens 30-41 Sept. 27; beat Tennessee in Athens 26-14 Oct. 11; beat Vanderbilt in Athens 24-14 Oct. 18; beat Louisiana State in Baton Rouge, La., 52-38 Oct. 25.
NEXT GAMES: Florida at Vanderbilt Nov. 8; Georgia at Kentucky Nov. 8.
TEAM RANKINGS: Florida is ranked 31st in total offense (410.3 yards a game), 21st in rushing offense (196.0 yards a game), 61st in passing offense (214.3 yards a game), 7th in scoring offense (42.0 points a game), 13th in total defense (273.4 yards a game), 15th in rushing defense (102.7 yards a game), 17th in passing defense (170.7 yards a game, 6th in scoring defense (11.9 , points a game), 40th in net punting (36.6 yards), 4th in punt returns (20.1 yards a return), 7th in kickoff returns (25.7 yards a return), tied for 3rd in turnover margin (1.43 a game), tied for 112th in penalties per game (8.1 a game), 2nd in Red Zone Offense (28 of 29), 3rd in Red Zone Defense (11 of 18). Georgia is ranked 25th in total offense (431.3 yards a game), 39th in rushing offense (172.5 yards a game), 23rd in passing offense (258.8 yards a game), 24th in scoring offense (34.3 points a game), 21st in total defense (298.1 yards a game), 6th in rushing defense (76.9 yards a game), 77th in passing defense (221.3 yards a game), 36th in scoring defense (20.3 points a game), 13th in net punting (38.44 yards), 3rd in punt returns (20.9 yards a return 58th in kickoff returns (21.5 yards a return), tied for 46th in turnover margin (0.38 a game), 119th in penalties per game (9.5 a game), tied for 33rd in Red Zone Offense (27 of 31), tied for 34th in Red Zone Defense (20 of 26).
’DOG BONES: This is the fifth time in the history of the series that both teams have been ranked in the Top 10, and the teams have split the previous four (1976, No. 7 Georgia beat No. 10 Florida, 41-27; 1983, No. 4 Georgia beat No. 9 Florida, 10-9; 1984, No. 10 Florida beat No. 8 Georgia, 27-0; 1999, No. 5 Florida beat No. 10 Georgia, 30-14). … The Bulldogs are 104-31 in the last 10 seasons; Florida is 99-35. … Junior quarterback Matthew Stafford, who is 24-5 as a starter, has completed 141 of 229 passes (62 percent) for 1,946 yards (243.2 yards a game) and 12 touchdowns with 5 interceptions. … In two games against Florida, Stafford is 24-of-51 passing for 368 yards and 3 touchdowns and 3 interceptions. … Redshirt sophomore Knowshon Moreno has rushed for 925 yards (115.6 yards a game) on 149 attempts (6.2 average) with 12 touchdowns. … In last year’s 42-30 Bulldogs victory over Florida, Moreno ran for 188 yards and three touchdowns, the first one setting off “The Incident” which occurred when Georgia’s entire team rushed on the field to celebrate the touchdown. … True freshman flanker A.J. Green has 39 receptions for 662 yards (17.0 average) and 5 touchdowns, with senior split end Mohamed Massaquoi has 28 receptions for 366 yards (13.1 average) and 4 touchdowns. … Sophomore outside linebacker Rennie Curran leads the Bulldogs with 69 tackles, including 7.5 tackles for loss, 3 sacks and 2 forced fumbles. … Redshirt sophomore middle linebacker Darryl Gamble has 45 tackles and two interceptions, both against LSU. Gamble returned LSU quarterback Jarrett Lee’s first pass 40 yards for a score and then picked off Lee again in the fourth quarter, returning it 53 yards for a touchdown. … The Bulldogs start a veteran secondary with senior strong safety CJ Byrd, junior cornerbacks Asher Allen and Prince Miller and sophomore free safety Reshad Jones. … Freshman placekicker Blair Walsh has connected on 12 of 17 field-goal attempts, with a long of 52 yards, and is perfect on 32 PAT attempts.
GATOR CHOMPS: Junior quarterback Tim Tebow needs just one more rushing touchdown to become Florida’s all-time leader. He currently has 36, tying Tebow with Emmitt Smith (1987-89). … Tebow only has thrown two interceptions in 164 attempts and is just one of eight quarterbacks nationally with at least 115 pass attempts who has thrown two or less interceptions. … Tebow has completed 104 of 164 passes (63 percent) for 1,415 yards (an averaging of 202.1 yards a game) and 12 touchdowns with 2 interceptions. … Junior Percy Harvin leads the team with 26 receptions for 429 yards (16.5-yard average) with six touchdowns, while senior Louis Murphy is next with 20 receptions for 315 yards (15.8 average) and two touchdowns. … Florida is averaging 252.3 rushing yards a game in its last three outings and has rushed for 200 yards or more in its last three SEC games for the first time since 1996. … “The Baby Backs” – true freshman Jeff Demps and redshirt freshman Chris Rainey – lead the Gators in rushing with 357 and 322 yards, respectively, averaging 11.9 and 6.6 yards with four and two touchdowns. … Middle linebacker Brendon Spikes leads the Gators with 52 tackles, including five for losses, has 1.5 sacks and two interceptions. … Sophomore cornerback Joe Haden has 40 tackles, one interception, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery. … Florida has outscored its opponents 76-7 in the first quarter, 74-13 in the second quarter, 66-31 in the third quarter and 78-32 in the final quarter. … Tackle Lawrence Marsh leads the Gators with 5.5 tackles for loss. … Defensive end Carlos Dunlap leads the team with four sacks. .. Safety Ahmad Black leads the team with three interceptions, two of which he has returned for touchdowns. … Senior placekicker Jonathan Phillips is 9-for-9 in field-goal attempts (with a long of 40 yards) and has made 37 of 38 PATs. … Junior Brandon James is averaging 20.2 yards a punt return with two touchdowns. … Florida, which blocked two punts and a field-goal attempt last Saturday against Kentucky, has blocked five kicks this season, with Demps having a pair of punt blocks. … Florida has a dozen players (seven on offense, five on defense) on its roster who have run the 40-yard dash in 4.4 seconds or less. … Of Florida’s 38 touchdowns this season, 25 have been scored by one of those 12 players. … In games he has coached against ranked opponents at Bowling Green, Utah and Florida, head coach Urban Meyer is 14-5, including 12-5 at Florida.