Florida Gators (4-2, 2-2 SEC) vs. #24 Auburn Tigers (4-2, 2-1 SEC)
Both of these SEC strongholds have hit turbulence in recent weeks. The Florida Gators have lost consecutive games – badly to West division stalwarts Alabama and LSU. Auburn, meanwhile, is coming off a 38-14 spanking at the hands of Arkansas.
Jordan-Hare Stadium, Auburn AL
Saturday, Oct. 15, 7:00 pm EST
NCAA Odds from Sportsbook.com:
MoneyLine: Florida -135, Auburn +111
Spread: Florida -2, Auburn +2
Over/Under: 49.5
In both cases, these teams need to right the ship.
It may be a difficult task for the Gators, as they are without their starting QB John Brantley, out with an ankle injury. Freshman Jeff Driskel, who was Brantley’s primary backup, is also down with an injury. This leaves true freshman Jacoby Brissett as the man (or the kid, I should more accurately say) who will get the start against Auburn. Driskel may be healthy enough to see some time, but Gators head coach Will Muschamp has indicated that Brissett will get the lion’s share of the minutes. On defense, starting CB Jeremy Brown is also out with a knee injury.
For the home side, Auburn had a tough loss last week, but it has already exceeded expectations somewhat with its 2011 play. The Tigers have lost a ton from last year’s National Championship-winning team, including QB Cam Newton, who in one season is one of the better players we’ve ever seen in college football. Newton has moved on to prolific passing lines for the Carolina Panthers of the NFL.
New starting QB Barrett Trotter has played, for the most part, admirably. Trotter’s key passing weapon may be jeopardized this week, however, as leading WR Emory Blake is listed as questionable for this week with a foot injury. Blake didn’t see any time in the Arkansas game and it is the combination of the hook-up between Blake and Trotter and the strong running style of RB Michael Dyer that makes the Auburn attack roll. If Blake cannot go, some serious sting has been removed from the Tigers’ offense. [soliloquy id=”82219″]
But how much better can a Florida side be, with a true freshman starting under center? The Gators’ speed attack of RB Jeff Demps and RB/WR Chris Rainey can be lethal, but those two still need to be delivered the ball in space to be truly effective. Brissett or Driskel must rise to the challenge in a hurry if the Florida attack is to resemble anything like it did in the early weeks of the season (when Florida was unbeaten).
This game could very well come down to capitalizing on mistakes. Both of these defenses have been liable to surrender points in 2011, but they both also feature athletic playmakers capable of making impact plays. Given the relative inexperience on offense for both sidelines, whichever QB keeps it together better between the ears should have the best chance of triumph.
This is why I am going to call for Auburn to win this game. Florida may well have the more talented roster from top to bottom, but Trotter definitely has more savvy than either of Florida’s options under center and he will have the raucous Auburn crowd behind him. The Gators’ home of The Swamp always gets all the publicity for representing crazy home-field advantage, but when the college football-mad Alabamans have a chance to host the publicized East division power, they like to deliver their own Dixie truculence. Expect the crazy noise to get to either Brissett or Driskel and lead them into making errors that will change the tone of this close match-up.
Injured Florida starter Brantley can’t get healthy soon enough. A loss to Auburn would continue the battery of West division teams having their way with the Gators, but unless a freshman QB really shows some poise and moxie, it looks like that might happen.
Score Prediction: Auburn 27, Florida 24 (OT)
Over/Under Prediction: 51
CHECK OUT OUR College football betting forums today! Join us today and make College football picks against the spread for all Division 1 NCAA Football matchups!
Welcome to the CappersPicks.com college football weekly predictions pages! We KNOW you will find our FREE weekly college football picks, tips, betting advice, strategies, CFB gambling articles and more to help you become the best College football bettor on your block!!
