ESPN’s College Football Power Index gave No. 2 Georgia some reassurance at the outset of Florida Week, as the rivals get ready for the annual “World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party” on Saturday afternoon in Jacksonville.
The FPI divided things cleanly, at least to start the week with, giving the Bulldogs an even 80% chance to take down the Gators for the 4th straight year and the 7th time in the past 8 years.
It’s not much of a shock that ESPN would lean so heavily in Georgia’s favor for the showdown at EverBank Stadium. The Bulldogs have won 2 of the past 3 national championships as Kirby Smart has built a burgeoning dynasty in Athens, while Florida has fallen on hard times recently under Billy Napier.
Georgia is 6-1 overall, took down then-top-ranked Texas in Austin in Week 8 and should be fresh as the Bulldogs come off a bye week. The Dawgs have put that agonizing loss at Alabama in late September in the rear-view mirror as they take aim at another SEC title and another trip to the College Football Playoff.
Florida, meanwhile, is 4-3 overall but has shown some signs of life in recent weeks, winning 3 of its past 4 games, with the lone loss being an overtime setback at Tennessee. The Gators will also be coming off a bye as they try to keep their momentum going with freshman DJ Lagway at the helm.
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