GAINESVILLE, FL- After finishing in sixth place in the 2021-2022 SEC East Conference Standings with a 6-7 overall and 2-6 SEC Record, the Florida Gators (1-0, 0-0 SEC) needed to make a statement this season. While the College Football Season is just one week in, the Gators did just that, defeating the No. 7 ranked Utah Utes (0-1, 0-0 Pac-Twelve) 29-26, behind Sophomore Quarterback Anthony Richardson’s dazzling season debut. As a result of taking down the 2021-2022 Pac-Twelve Champions, the Gators quickly shot up the AP-Top 25 Ranked List, placing No. 12 after starting the season unranked. With their marquee week-one victory over the Utes in the past, Florida will now welcome Will Levis and No. 20 Kentucky to the Swamp, renewing the deep SEC rivalry between the Gators and the Wildcats.
Review of No. 12 Florida’s Week One Win Against No. 7 Utah
In what was one of the most highly anticipated games in Week One of College Football, Utah and Florida didn’t disappoint. In the end, the Gators beat the Utes 29-26 after Linebacker Amari Burney picked off Cameron Rising at the six-yard line with 17 seconds left. Burney’s interception sealed an impressive coaching debut for Billy Napier, who became the first Florida Coach to beat an AP top-25 opponent in his debut. Burney wasn’t the only Gator to show up and deliver when it mattered most, though.
Florida’s Richardson showed out in his season debut, completing 17-24 pass attempts for 168 passing yards while running for 104 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 11 rushing attempts. In addition to Richardson, Montrell Johnson (12 attempts, 77 yards, one touchdown) and Trevor Etienne (five attempts, 64 yards) contributed to a dominant Gators’ rushing attack, as Florida recorded 272 total rushing yards. It’s worth noting Richardson still had success with throwing the football against Utah, as he completed passes to seven different receivers, led by Arizona State Transfer Ricky Pearsall (four receptions, 67 yards) and Xzavier Henderson (six receptions, 41 yards).
In spite of the marquee win over the reigning Pac-Twelve Champion Utes, the game has caused some concern moving forward for the Gators. The main concern regarding Florida was its run defense, which seemed to collapse during the second half versus Utah. For context, Utah’s rushing game was stagnant in the first half, largely in part to Gervon Dexter and Brenton Cox combining for 15 tackles. Once the game reached the third quarter, however, Utah regained control in the trenches. For example, Utah’s Star Running Back Tavion Thomas recorded 89 of his 115 rushing yards in the second half, while the Utes notched 171 total rushing yards in the second half, compared to 59 rushing yards in the first half. Furthermore, Florida didn’t have an answer for Utah’s Senior Tight End Brant Kuithe, who had his way with the Gators’ defense. As Rising’s No. 1 target, Kuithe caught nine passes for 105 yards and one touchdown, typically serving as Rising’s security blanket over the middle of the field.
While these issues weren’t dire enough to give Florida a season-opening loss, they very well may against tougher competition later in the season.
Review of No. 20 Kentucky’s Week One Win Against Miami (Ohio)
Unlike Florida, Kentucky began their 2022-2023 season with a less formidable foe in Miami (Ohio). In spite of this, the Wildcats struggled to take command in the first half, leading the Redhawks 13-10 entering the second half. Once Kentucky returned to the field after halftime, however, the Wildcats never looked back, outscoring the Redhawks 24-3 for the remainder of the game en route to a 37-13 home win.
Kentucky’s Senior Quarterback Will Levis looked sharp in his first start of the season, completing 21 of 32 pass attempts for 303 passing yards, three touchdowns, and one interception. With Levis’ 2021 No. 1 receiver Wan’Dale Robinson now in the NFL, he made sure to spread the ball around, completing at least one pass to nine different receivers. Among those nine receivers, it appears that Senior Tayvion Robinson may be Levis’ No. 1 option moving forward, as the Virginia Tech Transfer caught six passes for 136 yards.
Although Levis’ passing attack proved successful in Kentucky’s win over Miami (Ohio), the same can’t be said about the Wildcats’ running game. As a team, Kentucky recorded 50 rushing yards on 26 rushing attempts, while Miami (Ohio) notched 111 rushing yards and one touchdown on 32 attempts. The main reason for Kentucky’s lackluster running game is due to the absence of star running back Chris Rodriguez, who was suspended for multiple games due to a DUI Charge in May. Rodriguez’s impact on Kentucky’s offense can’t be understated, as Rodriguez recorded 225 rushing attempts, 1,378 rushing yards, and 13 scrimmage touchdowns in ten games last season. For reference, Kentucky’s leading rusher against Miami (Ohio) was Senior Kavoseiy Smoke, who ran for 32 yards on seven carries. Without Rodriguez and Outside Linebacker Jordan Wright (106 Career Tackles, 7.5 Sacks), the Wildcats will rely heavily on Levis and Robinson to carry Kentucky to a week-two win in the Swamp.
Game and Betting Information for No. 20 Kentucky vs. No. 12 Florida
Game Information
- Location: Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, Gainesville, Florida
Date: Saturday, September 10th, 2022 - Kick-Off Time: 7:00 P.M. ET
- TV: ESPN
- Game Spread: -6 Florida
- Point Total Over/Under: 51.5
- Moneyline: Utah +192, Florida -235
- Football Power Index (FPI): Favors Florida at 54.8%
Betting Information
- Florida went 3-5 against the spread against SEC Opponents last season.
- Florida covered the spread twice in six games when favored by 4.5 points or more in SEC action last season.
- Just two of Florida’s eight conference games went over the point total last season.
- Both Florida (+3) and Kentucky (-16) covered the spread in their week-one victories.
Ten Facts to Know for No. 20 Kentucky vs. No. 12 Florida
- Saturday’s game between Kentucky and Florida will mark the 73rd meeting between the two SEC Rivals. Over the previous 72 meetings, the Gators have gone 53-19 against the Wildcats.
- From 1987-2017, Florida owned a 31-game consecutive winning streak over Kentucky.
- Since Kentucky ended the 31-game losing streak against Florida in 2017, the Gators and the Wildcats have each won two of the last four games since 2018.
- Kentucky’s 20-13 win over Florida last season was the Wildcats’ first win against the Gators in Lexington since 1986.
- The Gators committed 15 penalties for 115 yards, including eight false starts, with each starting offensive lineman accounting for at least one in the seven-point loss to the Wildcats.
- Throughout the Mark Stoops coaching era at Kentucky, the margin of victory between Kentucky and Florida has been decided by eight points or less in five of the last nine games.
- The last time Kentucky and Florida played each other as teams ranked inside the AP Top-25 was 2007, when Kentucky was No. 8 and Florida was No. 14.
- Kentucky has not beaten Florida in back-to-back seasons since the 1975-1976 and the 1976-1997 seasons.
- Saturday’s Matchup between the Gators and Wildcats will feature two potential top-ten draft picks in the 2023 NFL Draft in Richardson (Projected No. 6 to Carolina) and Levis (Projected No. 8 to NYG), according to ESPN’s Todd McShay.
- Without Rodriguez, Kentucky recored just 50 rushing yards, their lowest total since the 2013-2014 season.
Check out Zack Milliron’s video preview of the game: https://youtu.be/jXIE-15AUSY