JACKSONVILLE IS ‘PARTY’ CITY
It’s time for annual rivalry game between sec east foes florida and georgia
Break out those bucket lists, college football fans. If you’re serious about reveling in the sport, you’ll rank attending a Florida-Georgia game — informally known as the “World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party” — high among your things to do.
OK, so it’s a little late to get to Jacksonville, Florida. Maybe next year?
The schools in this mega-rivalry no longer use “cocktail” in any official way when it comes to their annual series — times have changed, after all — but try selling that to the hard-partying maniacs in Gators orange and Bulldogs red. An off-the-charts pregame experience leads to an amazing spectacle in the TIAA Bank Field stands, with a down-to-the-bone 50-50 fan split.
Yet there’s something about this year’s game that’s just plain odd. No. 6 Florida (+6½) vs. No. 8 Georgia (2:30 p.m., Ch. 2) features a higher-ranked team that is — on a neutral field — a sizable underdog. It makes no sense at all.
Worth noting is that the weekly AP poll has become — how to put this nicely? — almost completely irrelevant. It doesn’t factor into how college football determines its playoff field, nor is it reasonable to believe that writers who cover teams in other parts of the country keep close tabs on the doings in, say, the SEC East.
So, which of these teams is actually better? The view from here — Big Game Hunting keeps close tabs everywhere, bub — is that Georgia and its slightly higher-end talent has been outperformed in 2019 by Florida and its electric speed and terrific chemistry.
Take the quarterback spot. The Dogs’ Jake Fromm has all kinds of NFL ability, but the Gators’ Kyle Trask has mojo coming out of his earholes.
Georgia’s NFL-style ball-control offense meets Florida’s turnover-machine defense. The Dogs’ championship expectations under Kirby Smart meet the Gators’ compelling rise under Dan Mullen. Two excellent teams meet in a playoff-elimination game.
As for that point spread?
“That’s more a Vegas deal,” Mullen told reporters. “It would be a much bigger deal if you walked in and they spotted you the points.”
Wouldn’t it, though?
Somebody throw Uga a fresh bone. Dogs, 23-21.
IN OTHER WEEK 9 ACTION:
No. 9 Utah (-3½) at Washington (3 p.m., Fox-32): There’s something missing in Seattle. For whatever reason, Chris Petersen’s Huskies (5-3) haven’t quite remained at toptier-program status since their 2016 playoff season. Meanwhile, the Utes (7-1) only get stronger, especially on the defensive side of the ball. Is this when they snap a four-year losing streak against UDub? Indeed — 24-17.
No. 15 SMU (+5½) at No. 24 Memphis (6:30 p.m., Ch. 7): Don’t adjust that dial — this is, in fact, your ABC prime-time matchup. ESPN’s traveling “GameDay” circus is on the scene and everything. That’s what happens sometimes when a Group of 5 team like the 8-0 Mustangs rises up and makes this kind of noise. But don’t forget about the 7-1 Tigers, people. Memphis 34, SMU 24 — the AAC West gets even wilder at the top.
Virginia (+2½) at North Carolina (6:30 p.m., ACC Network): Look, somebody is going to have to face Clemson in the ACC title game. Will it be the Cavaliers (5-2), who are tied atop the Coastal division with UNC at 3-2? Or will it be Mack Brown’s Tar Heels (4-4), who scared the daylights out of the defending national champs in a 21-20 loss in Chapel Hill in September? Heels click, 31-20.
No. 7 Oregon (-5) at USC (7 p.m., Fox32): Who in the Pac-12 can handle the Ducks duo of quarterback Justin Herbert, a future NFLer, and running CJ Verdell, who ran wild last weekend for over 250 yards? It’s a mighty test for the Trojans (5-3), who are locked up with Utah in a battle for the South crown. The Ducks (7-1) have been shakier of late, though. Cue the 34-31 upset.
MY FAVORITE FAVORITE: UCLA (-5½) vs. Colorado (8 p.m., Pac-12 Network): The Bruins fell completely off the radar during their 1-5 start, but they’ve played very well in upsets of Stanford and Arizona State their last two times out. What Chip Kelly is doing is (finally) starting to work.
MY FAVORITE UNDERDOG: Miami (+3½) at Florida State (2:30 p.m., Ch. 7): Some of us are old enough to remember when ’Canes vs. ’Noles was as appointment-TV as it got. Note: This is not appointment TV. The U gets a much-needed road win, though.
Last week: 5-2 straight-up, 5-2 vs. the spread.
Season to date: 45-20 straight-up, 37-27-1 vs. the spread. ✶