GAINESVILLE, FLA- Following a disappointing 20-42 blowout loss to No. 1 Georgia in week nine, the Florida Gators (5-4, 2-4 SEC) traveled to Kyle Field in College Station to play the Texas A&M Aggies in an SEC-Conference game. Due to masterful play by the offense, Florida cruised to a comfortable 41-24 win versus Texas A&M. With just two SEC-Conference games remaining on the Gators’ schedule, it’ll be extremely tough to remain near the top of the SEC East Standings alongside No. 1 Georgia (9-0, 6-0 SEC), No. 5 Tennessee (8-1, 4-1 SEC), and No. 24 Kentucky (6-3, 3-3 SEC). In reference to this, Florida has a great shot to revitalize their 2022-2023 college football season, as the Gators will play the South Carolina Gamecocks (6-3, 3-3 SEC) in The Swamp in a week eleven SEC-Conference Showdown.
Review of Florida’s Week Ten Win Against Texas A&M
After suffering consecutive SEC-Conference losses to No. 10 LSU and No. 1 Georiga, Florida rebounded with a solid 41-24 victory over Texas A&M at College Station. Florida’s Sophomore Quarterback Anthony Richardson played very well in one of the most hostile environments in college football, completing 17-28 pass attempts for 201 passing yards, two touchdowns, and zero interceptions while adding 78 rushing yards and two touchdowns on seven rushing attempts. Following an uneven start to the 2022-2023 football season, Richardson has played well for Florida as of late, completing 50-of-90 pass attempts for 657 passing yards, four passing touchdowns, and zero interceptions, along with 206 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns on 28 carries in Florida’s last three games. In addition to Richardson, Freshman Running Back Trevor Etienne (17/80/0), Sophomore Running Back Montrell Johnson (22/100/1), and Junior Wide Receiver Ricky Pearsall (3/34/0) all contributed to Florida’s dominant rushing attack, which recorded 291 rushing yards, three rushing touchdowns, and 5.8 YPC on 50 carries. Of the six receivers that caught passes from Richardson, Pearsall (3/65/0), Freshman Caleb Douglas (3/25/1), and Sophomore Ja’Quavion Fraziars (4/50/1) all thrived against Texas A&M’s depleted defense.
As previously mentioned, Texas A&M was without many key players before Saturday’s game versus Florida. Due to a Flu Outbreak within the university, Texas A&M was without Quarterbacks Connor Weigman and Max Johnson, along with Cornerback Bryce Anderson, Placekicker Ethan Moczulski, Safety Kent Robinson, and Offensive Lineman Kam Dewberry, among others. The Flu Outbreak left Aggies’ Head Coach Jimbo Fisher with no other choice but to start Sophomore Haynes King at Quarterback. Given the circumstances, King played alright in his fifth start of the season, completing 23-45 pass attempts for 279 passing yards and a five-yard touchdown pass to Junior Running Back Devon Achane. It’s worth noting that King did cough up two fumbles, each setting Florida up with excellent field position. In reference to King’s inconsistent play, Texas A&M relied heavily on Achane, who finished the game with 16 carries for 122 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns, all-team-highs. While Florida did struggle to contain Freshman Receiver Evan Stewart (8/120/0) and Sophomore Moose Muhammad III (7/99/0), the Gators limited the Aggies to just 24 points, the lowest scoring output by an opponent since Florida’s 24-17 week six victory over Missouri.
Review of South Carolina’s Week Ten Win Against Vanderbilt
Following a disappointing 10-23 SEC-Conference loss to Missouri in week nine, South Carolina rebounded nicely with a 38-27 victory versus Vanderbilt at Williams Brice Stadium. Similar to Florida’s Richardson, South Carolina’s Junior Quarterback Spencer Rattler has been erratic in his play this season, throwing for 1,837 passing yards, eight touchdowns, and nine interceptions for a 46.2 QB Rating. Against Vanderbilt, however, Rattler was nearly flawless, completing 18-26 pass attempts for 200 passing yards, three touchdowns, and zero interceptions. Rattler spread the ball out nicely, completing passes to eight different receivers, as Junior Antwane Well Jr notched a game-high four catches for 110 receiving yards and two touchdowns. Furthermore, South Carolina’s rushing attack was also effective against Vanderbilt, as the Gamecocks notched 35 carries for 208 rushing yards, one touchdown, and 5.9 YPC as a team. This week, Junior Running Back Jaheim Bell (16/56/0) was the workhorse back for the Gamecocks, while Sophomore Juju McDowell (5/48/0) and Senior Christian Beal-Smith (3/55/1) also contributed in the win.
From a defensive standpoint, the Gamecocks weren’t as dominant against the Commodores. In spite of switching from Freshman Quarterback AJ Swann to Junior Quarterback Mike Wright after Swann suffered a low-body injury, Vanderbilt notched 228 passing yards and three passing touchdowns, albeit with two interceptions. South Carolina struggled mightily to slow down Senior Running Back Ray Davis, who finished the game with 20 rushing attempts for 167 rushing yards and 8.4 YPC. Likewise, Sophomore Receiver Quincy Skinner finished the game with four catches for 79 receiving yards and two touchdowns, and Junior Receiver Will Shepard added 95 yards on six receptions. South Carolina’s defense did show up when it mattered most, forcing Vanderbilt to commit a season-high four turnovers, while holding the Gamecocks to 3-of-10 on third-down conversions and 1-of-2 on fourth-down conversions. Overall, it was a solid sixth win for second-year Head Coach Shame Beamer and the improving Gamecocks.
Game and Betting Information for South Carolina vs Florida
Game Information
- Location: Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, Gainesville, Florida
Date: Saturday, November 12th, 2022 - Kick-Off Time: 4:00 P.M. ET
- TV: SEC Network
- Game Spread: -8 Florida
- Point Total Over/Under: 59
- Moneyline: +250 South Carolina, -320 Florida
- Football Power Index (FPI): Favors Florida at 70.8%
Betting Information
- Florida is 5-4-0 against the spread (ATS) so far this season.
- Florida has yet to lose ATS (2-0) as a 3.5-point underdog or greater this season.
- The Point Total has gone over in six of Florida’s nine games this season.
- Florida is 3-2 in the five games this season it has been money-line favorites.
- South Carolina is 5-3-1 against the spread in nine games this season.
- The Point Total has hit the over twice in South Carolina’s last three games.
- When South Carolina is an underdog of 8 points or more, the Gamecocks have yet to cover the spread.
- Following a win, South Carolina is 3-2 in their following game, while Florida is just 1-3.
Ten Facts to Know for South Carolina vs Florida
- In the 42 games Florida has played South Carolina, the Gators are 29-10-3
- Since South Carolina joined the SEC Conference in 1992, Florida has won 13 of the past 20 meetings.
- The last time South Carolina beat Florida on the road was during the 2014-2015 season with a 23-20 win.
- This is the second straight season neither Florida nor South Carolina is ranked and the teams have only played as ranked teams five games, the last time in 2012.
- For reference, South Carolina dismantled Florida at Williams Brice Stadium last season, defeating the Gators 40-17 en route to a 6-6 overall record and an appearance in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl versus North Carolina.
- Saturday’s Week Elevn Game of Florida and South Carolina marks the sixteen-year anniversary of the 2006 game, where Florida blocked an extra point to hold on to a 17-16 lead, and then Jarvis Moss blocked Ryan Succop’s field goal try on the last play of the game. From there, the Gators went on to win the national title that season behind Star Quarterback Tim Tebow.
- At 5-4, Florida just needs to defeat South Carolina, Vanderbilt, and/or Florida State in their three final games to clinch another bowl game appearance.
- Florida should have no issues with their rushing attack against South Carolina, as the Gamecocks allow 171.8 RYPG (11th in SEC).
- Through nine games, Florida has seen its offenses produce solid results, averaging 31.2 PPG, 430.4 TYPG, 221.2 PYPG, and 209.2 RYPG.
- Meanwhile, South Carolina is averaging 31.1 PPG, 368.3 TYPG, 231.9 PYPG, and 136.4 RYPG.