wow, i almost had a perfect day yesterday. changing things up really helped! 1-4 with a push. :facepalm: at least i was dead on with the orange bowl. NIU had a very nice season and should have been in a bowl game where they could have competed.
louisville (+14.5) 2 units. i have to take 2 TDs from a team that may not score 2 TDs. this is the worst florida offense we've seen in a long time. it's really a testament to gillislee that he's had the season he has, because there isn't much threat of a passing game. maybe i just watched the wrong games, but driskel has been very unimpressive. i mean, 23 points against jacksonville state** and 27 against la lafayette? both at home? florida's "offense" thrives on getting a short field. their defense forced 29 TO's, including 19 INTs. however, only 5 teams turned the ball over less than louisville. i'm a huge believer in teddy bridgewater. and what he did against rutgers, playing hurt, was very impressive. he can keep plays alive while still looking downfield and finding receivers. obviously florida has a very, very good defense. but i think bridgewater can lead them on a few scoring drives.
on the other side of the ball.... can louisville slow down florida's running game? that's the big question. based on what we've seen this year, it's going to be a struggle. BUT... last year, louisville had one of the best run defenses in the country. and they only lost one defensive starter. so the talent is still there. if they can recapture what they did last year, they may make it very difficult for florida to run the ball.
i gotta believe there is a little extra motivation for charlie strong to beat his old team. whether or not that carries over to his players, i have no idea.
** side note - i decided to take a look at jacksonville state, thinking maybe they had the best 1AA defense in all the land. but they gave up 32 points/game. 23 points matched the 2nd fewest points they gave up all season. take a minute to think about that. only one team all season scored fewer points against jacksonville state than florida. sure, maybe the gators were looking ahead to fsu, but the 2nd fewest points given up by a 1AA team all year?
louisville (+14.5) 2 units. i have to take 2 TDs from a team that may not score 2 TDs. this is the worst florida offense we've seen in a long time. it's really a testament to gillislee that he's had the season he has, because there isn't much threat of a passing game. maybe i just watched the wrong games, but driskel has been very unimpressive. i mean, 23 points against jacksonville state** and 27 against la lafayette? both at home? florida's "offense" thrives on getting a short field. their defense forced 29 TO's, including 19 INTs. however, only 5 teams turned the ball over less than louisville. i'm a huge believer in teddy bridgewater. and what he did against rutgers, playing hurt, was very impressive. he can keep plays alive while still looking downfield and finding receivers. obviously florida has a very, very good defense. but i think bridgewater can lead them on a few scoring drives.
on the other side of the ball.... can louisville slow down florida's running game? that's the big question. based on what we've seen this year, it's going to be a struggle. BUT... last year, louisville had one of the best run defenses in the country. and they only lost one defensive starter. so the talent is still there. if they can recapture what they did last year, they may make it very difficult for florida to run the ball.
i gotta believe there is a little extra motivation for charlie strong to beat his old team. whether or not that carries over to his players, i have no idea.
** side note - i decided to take a look at jacksonville state, thinking maybe they had the best 1AA defense in all the land. but they gave up 32 points/game. 23 points matched the 2nd fewest points they gave up all season. take a minute to think about that. only one team all season scored fewer points against jacksonville state than florida. sure, maybe the gators were looking ahead to fsu, but the 2nd fewest points given up by a 1AA team all year?
