The most publicized football game in the Southeastern Conference will take place next Saturday when Alabama hosts Florida.
Looking ahead should not be a danger for the top-ranked Crimson Tide, who visit No. 10 Arkansas this weekend, but what about the No. 9 Gators? Florida hosts Kentucky on Saturday, a team the Gators have outscored 104-12 the past two seasons.
“No, no, not here,” Florida coach Urban Meyer said Wednesday. “If Kentucky wasn’t very good, then sure, I would be very concerned about that, but there is no concern at all. These kids watch film a lot. We watch it with them. We know their record, and we know their players. There is absolutely none of that right now.”
Meyer even referred to the Wildcats, who haven’t produced a winning record in league games since 1977, as an “upper-echelon SEC team.” Kentucky has opened this season with wins over Louisville, Western Kentucky and Akron.
Wildcats first-year head coach Joker Phillips said that traveling to the Swamp will be a huge measuring stick for his program, and he is not dwelling on Florida’s 23 consecutive wins in the series.
“Every year it’s a different team, but we talked in the preseason about breaking some of these streaks with the traditional powers in this league,” Phillips said. “Our goal is to win the East, and to win the East you’ve got to knock off the guys who have won it the last few years.”
Pasquali’s Pix:
N.C. State at Georgia Tech: The ACC may not reach October with an undefeated team. Yellow Jackets 31, Wolfpack 24.
UAB at Tennessee: Foreshadowing alert? The last two times Tennessee hosted the Blazers (2005 & ’08), the Vols suffered five-win seasons. Vols 24, Blazers 13.
Alabama at Arkansas: And these little piggies cried “Wee! Wee! Wee!” all the way home. Crimson Tide 43, Razorbacks 22.
UTC at Western Carolina: Pregame analysis pretty much begins and ends with Tusculum’s 54-30 win in Cullowhee on Sept. 11. Mocs 49, Catamounts 17.
Georgia at Mississippi State: The loser of this one readjusts its goal to the Papajohns.com Bowl. Red Dogs 20, Maroon Dogs 13.
Kentucky at Florida: Phillips has a higher win percentage as a head coach than Meyer — for now. Gators 25, Wildcats 16.
South Carolina at Auburn: Can the Tigers really win every big game this season by a field goal? Gamecocks 28, Tigers 23.
West Virginia at LSU: Nothing like a matchup of the two most normal and sedate fan bases in college football. Tigers 26, Mountaineers 24.
Last week:
Winners......................20
Busted coverages.........5
Pasquali is 63-12 overall (84 percent) this season.
OTHER PICKS
Ole Miss 27, Fresno State 22
Miami 24, Pittsburgh 17
Va. Tech 19, Boston College 16
Maryland 21, Fla. International 7
Virginia 42, VMI 0
Florida St. 33, Wake Forest 19
Duke 24, Army 21
North Carolina 16, Rutgers 14
MTSU 20, La.-Lafayette 9
Ohio State 45, E. Michigan 13
Boise State 47, Oregon St. 24
TCU 30, SMU 10
Oregon 41, Arizona State 22
Oklahoma 38, Cincinnati 15
Texas 29, UCLA 20
Wisconsin 55, Austin Peay 6
Stanford 34, Notre Dame 17
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524.
David Paschall is a sports writer for the Times Free Press. He started at the Chattanooga Free Press in 1990 and was part of the Times Free Press when the paper started in 1999. David covers University of Georgia football, as well as SEC football recruiting, SEC basketball, Chattanooga Lookouts baseball and other sports stories. He is a Chattanooga native and graduate of the Baylor School and Auburn University. David has received numerous honors for ...
Gosh David, thanks for reminding us that the Gators actually have a game this week with Kentucky. It may be closer than many think. Most likely Florida prevails and Urban Meyer's heart beats in proper time.
Florida is overrated. Kentucky will make this game very interesting.
Or login with:
New Account