The Game Formerly Called*...

The World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party takes place this weekend in Jacksonville, Florida as the unranked Georgia Bulldogs challenge the #9 Florida Gators. This game is typically nasty because parties from both schools legitimately don’t like each other. The game is played in the neutral city of Jacksonville, and both schools get an equal share of tickets; therefore, half the stadium will cheer red and black and the other half will cheer blue and orange. There will be no field advantage. You can only hope to quiet the other side.

Unfortunately for the Bulldogs, the Gators have dominated the annual rivalry game. It hasn’t matter if Georgia had the superior team on paper or ranked as high as #3 in the county because they always seem to find a way to lose this game. Instead of playing big, the team consistently falls flat – trailing early and giving up the big play. I sat in the cold windy stadium last season as open Georgia wide receivers dropped catchable balls. I watched as Bulldog running backs underperformed, and I stood horrified as the G-Day defense looked dazed and confused – so heartbreaking. Florida always plays the spoiler.

Georgia has an opportunity to play spoiler this year. The Bulldogs are young, inexperienced, and hampered by a season of lackluster performances. The “experts” predicted this would be a down year for the Dawgs and so far they’ve been correct. Poor showings against Alabama-Birmingham, Colorado, and Mississippi State and terrible loses to Tennessee and Vanderbilt can all be erased with a win over Florida.

The Bulldog Nation needs this win because it gives us good momentum heading into the last part of the season were we face Kentucky, Auburn, and Georgia Tech. I may be a little silly, but I think Georgia can run the table and finish 10 – 2 and be ranked and still make it to a decent bowl game if they catch some luck, play smart defense, and not turn the ball over. Remember, Florida lost to Auburn because they couldn’t stop the run. Auburn lost to Arkansas because they couldn’t stop run, and Tech lost to both Norte Dame and Clemson because they couldn’t make the big play. The good news for UGA – they have the potential to run the ball well and our special teams is capable of making the big play.

If UGA does these five things, then they should beat UF in a close last minute upset win:

1. The offensive line has to establish itself. The back field needs time to make something happen on offense. Additionally, Stafford, Lumpkin, and Ware needs to make something happen with the time the o-line provides them.
2. Quarterback Matthew Stafford needs to make better decisions and he needs to protect the ball, i.e. no interceptions or fumbles. Additionally, the wide receivers need to reward Stafford by catching catchable balls. Keep the drive alive!
3. The G-Day defense can’t let Florida spread them out. Florida likes to run a spread offense and the Georgia defensive coordinator needs to figure a way to stop their high powered offense.
4. The G-Day defense needs to be ready for the option or the quarterback keeper when Florida's backup quarterback Tim Tebow enters the game. He's fast, strong, and a freshman, so they need to cut his running lanes and confuse him with complicated blitz packages. Make Tebow beat you with his arm and not his legs.
5. The team and coaching staff needs to play with confidence and show some consistency. Our team has lacked both confidence and consistency all season. Where's our leaders? Who's going to step up and be the next Boss Bailey, David Pollack, David Green, and D.J. Shockley? Dawg fans always knew that one of these guys would make the play when the Bulldogs needed one. Additionally, it's time for the coaching staff to coach our guys up. You don't have to be the most talented to win games.

* Just in case you haven't heard, both UGA and UF have asked CBS and ESPN to stop referring to this game as the World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party. Both stations have agreed to stop using the nickname. What should the new nickname be? Maybe we should play for a trophy.