my bad...Troy put up a fluke 31 points, 21 first downs, and 280+ yards passing

It's not like Troy began their drives at
their own 24
own 25
own 36
own 21
own 26
own 22
own 35
own 11
own 3
own 21
Fla 1 (with a missed FG here)
own 43
own 35
own 25
own 41

had 2 of those drives end halves and still score 31 without a special teams or defensive touchdown

ooops....that's exactly what happened


then, the offense
Florida avg just over 22 ppg in the SEC last year, which is above avg (5th in conference)
However, they lost their long-term starter
Tebow was only playing safe downs/situations last year....you didn't see him in 3rd and long backed up inside his own 30.

This is the year Florida is down. They struggled to bring in the talent during the coaching turnover. They're a little short on experienced talent this year.

They're still a good team, but 9-3 seems to be the likely upper end on their achievements this regular season unless Meyer can inspire them to overachieve.

My prediction is 10-2 so it's not like I am expecting the world from this team. They are definitely not as good as last year but Special Teams & Offense could make this a very special year.

First, your point about the offense. We've only seen them looking awesome so far this year. It's expected that they will be much better than last year. They look very dangerous, I don't get if you're trying to say they won't be as good as last year or what. We have arguably the most talent on offense in the nation.

Tebow was only playing safe downs? Obviously that's incorrect. Safe yardages without passing? Correct.

They struggled to bring in talent during the coaching turnover? No, not really, our sophomore talent is sick as it is but most is offense. But you are right, we're a little short on experienced talent on defense at least.

As for your offensive stats for Troy.
150 yards passing vs 2nd team defense. 1 TD/1 FG vs 2nd team defense.
I don't even really care, the half that mattered the FL defense played awesome. Troy has a very capable QB & he did a good job against a young D. They threw the ball every play, they were going to get close to 300 yards passing.

The jury is out on the team/defense but it's not like Troy walked all over us like the score may indicate.

15:00 1 02:26 TSU 27 3 2 Punt
Dominated
10:46 1 02:51 TSU 26 9 74 TD
Impressive drive, no doubt.
04:52 1 01:17 TSU 37 3 8 Punt
Dominated
02:20 1 01:46 TSU 26 3 6 Punt
Dominated
14:56 2 02:51 TSU 27 9 18 Fumble
Dominated
09:55 2 02:21 TSU 23 3 8 Punt
Dominated
02:57 2 01:22 TSU 35 4 26 Interception
Dominated
00:22 2 00:22 TSU 11 1 4 End of Half
14:35 3 00:27 FLA 4 4 36 FG Good
Fumbled kickoff
12:17 3 02:40 TSU 36 8 68 TD
2nd Team D
09:37 3 02:07 TSU 40 6 32 FG Miss
2nd Team D
05:30 3 02:37 TSU 43 9 57 TD
First team, impressive
00:00 3 00:27 TSU 36 3 0 Punt
Dominated
10:05 4 03:05 TSU 23 9 77 TD
I believe this drive had 1 huge play & 2 stupid penalties

2-3 impressive drives, which wasn't as good as Arkansas' D did. Mostly domination though, especially in the first half.
The whole team came out flat in the second half & Troy was ready to play. They can play offense.

MT2R, this is all really irrelevant because UF is trying things in the secondary, most subs played in the first half as well because they are obviously trying to give everyone a chance to get some experience. Derrick Harvey & Tony Joiner(only 2 returning defenders) didn't even play after the first quarter really until the end.

I think we will know a lot more about UF after their game with UT this Saturday. Hopefully we can all agree on that.

EDIT: And LSU is playing MTSU. We can how we compare to Louisville's performance.

Exactly, I don't care about anything else prior to UT now. Nothing else really matters. If UF dominates UT everyone is going to think UT just sucks and it's absolutely true. If UF barely wins then they both suck & if UF loses then they suck.

It's as if there is no in between and teams aren't going to have learning curves at the beginning of the season. Not everyone is LSU this year.

OSU lost 9 starters on D & made it to the MNC last year meanwhile UF struggled mightily all year and won the MNC. GASP.

You are a "the glass is half empty" kind of guy aren't you?

How did you get that? I'm saying that's how everyone else views it, not myself.

UF last year is the perfect example. They kind of play average(people would even say suck, wow) all year & win the NC. Go figure. That's why it's silly to write teams off and rank them.

I'd rather discuss who is going to beat who or who may beat UF down the road rather than what rank they are.

Things change week from week, if UF wins handily going in to the LSU game people are going to think it may be an awesome game. Then UF may get blown out or UF could continue to shock LSU at Tiger Stadium like they have in the past. That's why college football is awesome. People look to much in to underrated/overrated because of scheduling early in the season. Just wait & find out.

TFG.

I too was at the Troy game and agree with your analysis. Our DL is troublesome.

Also TFG. It makes my job as a UF fanboy much easier. I just dont know why MT2R has to hate on my Gators like that!!!

Don't worry, I will continue to insist that UT sucks regadless of the results next week, next month, next year.........

I don't like this matchup for UF much at all simply because Ainge is battle tested and simply a good quarterback. He's going to be able to throw at will against this Florida defense, which I really really do NOT trust.

Can UF skate by this?

Sure. But I just think UT has a big edge in the QB department since Ainge has been in this spot before and Tebow really hasn't.

This is going to be a painful year for UF..I think probably 3 losses, maybe four just on the fact that they are going to have to lean on Tebow to win shootouts and though he's been sharp against two cupcakes I think he's just too raw to start being clutch in fourth quarter SEC battles on the road.

Initial prediction:

Florida 38
UT 31.

P.S.: A part of me still has a mancrush for Spurrier and I can't help but be on the bandwagon in a sick sick way that I can't control.

It's like breaking up with a girlfriend that you know you shouldn't still have feelings for but when you see her out you just gotta go back to it at times.

I hate on everyone and everything-
go through my post history
-Florida barely begins to get my blood up

I think calling Tebow untested is a bit too harsh. He was placed in some clutch situations last season and he came through every time. I know that he hasnt had to manage a tough game from end to end but he was asked to step up and make some big plays last season and he delivered, even with defenses keying on him.

Here's a fun fact I picked up from another forum.

UGA is currently on a five game SEC East Division losing streak:

South Carolina
Kentucky
Florida
Vanderbilt
Tennessee

--their SEC wins in the midst of this streak coming against West Division teams Auburn and Miss State.

Amen.

No worries, you're an awesome poster. It's fun to discuss it. I have to feel sorry for the Fightin Zookers anyway.

Maybe because his Illini got Zook?

Which pretty much means Mark Richt is done there.

With Florida State losing to Clemson and really battling to get past UAB (at home) and Bobby Bowden's age Mark Richt might be donning a FSU cap and head set next season.

It's possible, interesting dynamic with Jimbo at FSU though, there had to have been some promises/words about a possible HC position for him there. No way he would of left LSU otherwise.

UGA's "rise" in the East the past 5-6 years has not been quite what it seems.

While they have certainly been good during that time, you have to bear in mind it came during a time when traditional SEC East power (UF, Tenn) were going through some mediocre years, and the real power began to swing to the West (LSU).

Now that UF is back and South Carolina improving, UGA is going back to the middle of the pack in the East.

Did anybody notice how bad Matthew Stafford played against South Carolina?

Now South Carolina has a fast, underrated defense that is led by thoe outstanding twin linebackers and a pretty stout defensive line+ Captain M. who is a good corner but Stafford consistently made poor reads...at least three of which would have been for 30+ yards and two definite touchdowns.

Instead UGA struggled to move the ball and tensed up when they approached the Red Zone.

A bunch of "experts" claimed UGA would win the SEC East behind Stafford as he was the best QB in the conference.

Judging from his outing on Saturday Stafford still hasn't found himself.

Also of note last year they came withing in a play of losing to MSU, and Ole Miss beat them but the SEC officials saved the higher rankeed team on a horrendous call on a punt that was blocked and returned for a touchdown.

The officials called defensive holding on the db that was supposed to be blocking the gunner. First it was twenty five yards away from anything that had to do with the outcome of the play, and second not only did the db not hold, the replay showed he never even made contact. Actually a really poor job of blocking by the db.

To pile on the UGA bashing, they also should have lost to a terrible Colorado team last year, they trailed the whole game and scored two late touchdowns to barely win, and that was with Colorado pissing away many chance to open up an even bigger lead.