Florida Gators College Football Preview: Ranking All 12 Games in 2011 Schedule
A new beginning and fresh start.
That is what Florida Gator football fans are leaning on heading into the 2011 season with a brand new coaching staff and playing style.
Considered a team that did not meet its potential in 2010, the Gators enter into a new era of football in Gainesville.
Will Muschamp and his staff are bringing a brand of tougher, smash-mouth football and Muschamp's seemingly "no nonsense" attitude has Gator fans thinking big things ahead in 2011. However, Florida is still a young football team, especially on defense with an inexperienced secondary and defensive line.
The 2011 season will be crucial for the future of Florida football and as many coaches will say, "Every game counts."
So, in order to usher in the new year, I will rank all 12 games on Florida's 2011 schedule by importance to prep Gator fans on the big games upcoming for the Gator football team.
12. Florida vs. Furman; Nov. 19
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The tune-up game before the Florida State game comes in at No. 12.
Florida is notorious for playing a weak FCS opponent before they take on the Seminoles. This year proves to be no different.
The Paladins of Furman will be no match for the Gators, who will be deep into the season and have become accustomed to Will Muschamp and his coaching staff.
History shows that the Gators will make quick work against the Paladins from the Southern Conference.
Dating back to 2006, the Gators have scheduled three other Southern Conference teams in the week prior to playing Florida State.
In 2006, Florida pummeled Western Carolina, 62-0.
During the next Gator national championship season, they scheduled The Citadel and put up 70 points on the Bulldogs.
Appalachian State traveled to Gainesville last year and was defeated 48-10, and they were the No. 2 FCS football team in the nation.
Florida will use Furman as an easy tune-up before its highly anticipated game against Florida State.
11. Florida vs. UAB; Sept. 10
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When the Blazers come into Gainesville to face the Gators, Florida will have its opening game behind them and will most likely be on their way to finding an identity.
Out of the Conference USA, UAB has not had a winning season since 2004.
Florida is too strong of an opponent for the Blazers to handle. Muschamp's fiery attitude on defense will pressure the Blazers into too many mistakes.
Even if Florida is caught looking ahead to the Tennessee game, the Gators' talent will be too superior and too fast for UAB.
In the end, Florida blows out UAB in preparation for their first conference game of the 2011 season.
10. Florida vs Vanderbilt; Nov. 5
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At No. 10, the Gators will face the Vanderbilt Commodores in the Swamp.
As of late, Vanderbilt has been no match for Florida whenever they meet during the season.
In the past three years, the Gators have outscored the Commodores 124-31.
As always, in the SEC, no game can be taken lightly as any team within the conference has the ability to upset the favorite.
But with the Gators recent success against Vanderbilt, it will be as much of a sure thing as one can have in the SEC, especially in Gainesville.
However, it will be important for the Gators to stay sharp throughout the game so they can stay prepared for South Carolina the week afterward.
If the Gators play unconvincingly, it could carry over into the succeeding weeks.
Look for the Gators to open up the passing game against Vanderbilt's weak secondary and put the Commodores away early.
Until the Commodores can right the ship, it should not be a close contest in the Swamp.
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9. Florida at Kentucky; Sept. 24
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Much like the recent Florida and Vanderbilt games, the Gators have dominated the Kentucky Wildcats over the last three seasons.
The Gators have outscored them 152-26.
The Wildcats have simply been no match for Florida since they days of Andre' Woodson at quarterback for Kentucky in 2007.
The one intriguing thing about this game, however, is that it is the Gators first away game of the season.
It will be interesting to see how Muschamp and the Gators handle the away crowd, even if it is at Kentucky's Commonwealth Stadium.
What is most important in this game is that the Gators continue to play strong throughout the game. Although the Gators have superior ability compared to the Wildcats, the next four games after Kentucky will be some of the toughest for the Gators, including LSU, Alabama, Auburn and Georgia.
Florida must keep its intensity through this week if they want to be successful in any of those next four games.
8. Florida vs. FAU; Sept. 3
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The Gators will face off against Florida Atlantic in their season-opener for 2011.
There is no question that the Gators are the clear favorite here, but anything can happen.
It will take a miracle for the Owls to pull off the upset against Florida, but the implications of this game are more long term than anything.
This will be the first game for Muschamp and the new coaching staff in the Swamp, representing a new era of Florida football.
Coming out at the start of the game quickly and aggressively will be very important for Florida. In 2010, the Gators were notorious for starting games very slow.
If Muschamp can instill confidence from the fans and his team, that could go a long way in helping the Gators achieve their goals for the 2011 season.
But, if Florida starts the game off slow like in 2010, that could quickly put Muschamp and the rest of the coaching staff in a bad light by the Florida fanbase.
7. Florida vs. Tennessee; Sept. 17
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Florida and Tennessee is one of the most classic rivalries in the SEC.
Although Tennessee's football program has gone through some tumultuous times in recent years, both teams still provide for some quality football for both fanbases.
Especially with Tennessee, Muschamp will have a lot on his shoulders because Tennessee is a team that former Florida head coach Urban Meyer never lost against.
For Florida, it will be the first SEC game for them on the 2011 schedule. With the game in Gainesville, the Gators will be able to find a lot of passion and motivation from one of the loudest stadiums in the country.
This will be the first real test for the young Gators team, and it will go a long way to prove whether Muschamp can handle and prepare for the rigors of the Southeastern Conference.
With his success as Auburn's defensive coordinator, history shows that Muschamp will be able to effectively game-plan against the SEC and will lead the Gators into this Tennessee game with intensity and great focus.
6. Florida at Georgia; Oct. 20
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The World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party features the rivalry between Florida and Georgia.
This game falls at the end of a tough four-game stretch for the Gators after having to play Alabama, LSU and Auburn.
Georgia will feature the passing attack of quarterback Aaron Murray, one the SEC's best quarterbacks entering into 2011.
Most likely, this game has potential to decide the SEC Eastern division champion. Both Georgia and Florida have experienced quarterbacks who are looking to prove themselves and defenses that lost crucial senior leadership from the past season.
Florida has won the last three games against Georiga, and with a new coaching staff, the Bulldogs will be sensing that this could be their year to break that trend.
Florida will have to come out with aggression and a quick start to have a good shot at defeating the Bulldogs for the fourth year in a row.
This could easily be a loss for the Gators, and one that the Florida fanbase may be less forgiving of than some others on the schedule.
5. Florida at Auburn; Oct. 15
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Florida and Auburn haven't faced each other since 2007 when Auburn stole one from the Gators inside the Swamp.
Even though it's been four years since that game, Florida and Auburn still have had some animosity towards each other because of Cam Newton transferring from Florida and eventually ending up at Auburn to lead them to a national championship.
Auburn, who lost both Nick Fairley and Cam Newton, will be searching for their own identity behind the running back duo of Michael Dyer and Onterio McCalebb.
Florida will be seeking some revenge against the Tigers because Urban Meyer was 0-2 against Auburn while coaching in Gainesville.
It will be a close game between two evenly-matched teams, but the crowd at Auburn will give the Tigers the edge throughout the game.
But if the Gators can pull off the win, they could carry that momentum into the rest of their SEC schedule.
4. Florida at South Carolina; Nov. 12
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South Carolina ended the Gators two-year reign as SEC East Champions last year after the Gamecocks upset them in Gainesville.
This year, the Gators travel to Columbia to face a more experienced and very talented South Carolina team.
Sophomore Marcus Lattimore has the talent to contend for the Heisman Trophy and wide receiver Alshon Jeffrey will help stretch out the passing attack from the Gamecocks and expose some of the weaknesses in the Florida secondary.
This will be the Gators last conference game of the regular season. Depending on how the Gators perform earlier in the season, it could also be Florida's last shot at contending for a berth in the SEC Championship.
Since the game is on the road, Florida will have even a tougher time contending with the Gamecocks.
The key for the Gators will be getting pressure on Stephen Garcia. If they can force him to make mistakes and keep the ball out of Lattimore's hands, then the Gators could make it a highly-contested game in Columbia.
3. Florida vs. Alabama; Oct. 1
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This has been the biggest rivalry over the last five years, largely due to the fact that both teams are high in the rankings.
While the Crimson Tide have maintained their elite status since 2008, the Gators faltered some last year when they lost to Alabama 31-6 in Tuscaloosa after losing their undefeated season to the Tide in 2009 at the SEC Championship.
This year, the game shifts to Gainesville, and the Gators will look to feed off the energy of the home crowd.
There is no doubt that Alabama has the more experienced and better overall team in this game, but the home-field advantage will help balance the playing field for the Gators.
Alabama's defense under Kirby Smart is always potent, and they will look to attack a vulnerable offensive line for the Gators and get Brantley out of his rhythm by forcing mistakes.
Muschamp has experience in preparing for Alabama, however, and with Florida's new pro-style offense, the Gators feel they have a better opportunity to advance the ball against the stout Alabama defense.
A Florida win against one of the top five programs heading into 2011 will go a long way in establishing confidence in the young players on the Gators as well as shifting some recruiting momentum in Florida's favor.
Limiting mistakes will be key for the Gators. If they can accomplish this, the Gators will be able to hang around throughout the game, giving them the best opportunity to show the Crimson Tide some revenge for the last two years.
2. Florida at LSU; Oct. 8
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It's a night game for Florida at Tiger Stadium as they take on LSU.
Sports journalists have LSU as a top five team in many of the preseason polls heading into 2011. LSU boasts an experienced offense behind Jordan Jefferson and their always explosive and opportunistic defense.
The atmosphere of a Saturday night game at Death Valley weighs heavily in the Tigers' favor.
Since 2002, the Tigers have only lost one Saturday night game.
It was to the Gators in 2009.
But that Gators team was much different the present Gators.
And LSU posses a much better overall team after having a successful season in 2010 and returning a large portion of players from 2010.
The key for the Gators will be ball possession and keeping it out of the LSU offense.
Unfortunately, it will take a perfect game from them for the Gators to upset LSU, a team that will be most likely possessing a top five ranking when the game is played.
1. Florida at Florida State; Nov. 26
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Florida State is very much a team on the rise with a 10-4 record last year and two top five recruiting classes during the last two years.
Florida had dominated the Seminoles lately, winning the previous six games before 2010.
Florida State got its revenge against one of the weaker Florida teams of the past decade, defeating them 31-7 in Doak Campbell Stadium.
FSU has also seemed to gain the recruiting edge over Florida recently with recruits being attracted to the coaching regime under Jimbo Fisher at FSU.
Although Florida probably won't have as strong of a record as FSU heading into this game, the Gators will be fueled by the humiliation of the 31-7 loss in Tallahassee from the year before.
FSU has the momentum in the rivalry, but the Gators possess the talent necessary to take back control of this in-state rivalry.
FSU's weakness will be E.J. Manuel who will be the starting quarterback for the Seminoles after Christian Ponder's departure.
The Gator's defensive line can get penetration into the backfield and force Manuel to make mistakes, the Gators could take advantage of those opportunities and jump out early on the Seminoles.
If Florida defeats the Seminoles, it will be regarded as the biggest win of the season, giving the team great confidence heading into the postseason. But if they falter, Florida could seemingly lose more control of their past football domination in the state of Florida.
A lot will be riding on this game come late November in Gainesville and is the biggest game of the 2011 season for the Florida Gators.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
