Staff Roundtable: Florida-Vanderbilt Predictions
Inside the Gators staffers Tanner Dennie, Landon Watnick and Mark Wheeler take a closer look at this weekend's match-up between Florida and Vanderbilt, including predicting a winner.
1) What does Florida need to do in order to rebound with a victory over Vanderbilt?
Dennie: Florida definitely took a hit last weekend in taking a loss against Tennessee, but I think one thing that the team really needs to focus on is making sure that they are mentally prepared to fight game in and game out, as the SEC schedule is starting to heat up. If the Gators can mentally get past the loss to the Volunteers, I think that Florida still has a chance to make it to Atlanta to play for an SEC Championship.
Watnick: First off, the Gators just need to not let the effects of last weekend’s second-half collapse linger into a totally winnable contest like Vandy. Offensively, I’d say establish the run early (like Florida managed to do in the first half at Tennessee) and then not be too afraid to test out the deep ball with some play-action and be less conservative with the play-calling.
On defense, shutting down the run is going to be important. The Gators’ front seven lost some footing in that regard last weekend against Tennessee’s Josh Dobbs and Jalen Hurd, but the group will face another challenge this weekend in Vanderbilt running back Ralph Webb. Without starting nose tackle Joey Ivie (thumb) likely for the next 4-5 weeks, Khairi Clark is going to need to step in and play good football. In addition, the secondary is going to need to shake off last weekend’s woes – and that shouldn’t be too hard against a Vanderbilt passing offense that doesn’t instill too much fear in folks.
Wheeler: What does Florida need to do to rebound this weekend? Just one thing, put last weekend behind them. Coming off a devastating loss such as the one the Gators suffered last weekend at the hands of Tennessee, the natural inclination can be to focus more on what went wrong, rather than credit yourself somewhat for what went right while committing to fixing the bad. No, I'm not talking exclusively about the players here. The coaching staff, particularly those on offense, need to find a way to draw from both the positives of the first half (wide open play calling that kept the Volunteers off balance) while learning from the negatives of the second half (deciding to take their foot off the gas pedal)
The bottom line is, there are no do-overs. You learn from it and move on, or you dwell on it and prepare for more of the same. Really, the only thing that could cost Florida this game is if there is a hangover effect from last week. IF the Gators have put last week behind them, that should result in a resounding win on Saturday.
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* Grading Florida's defense player by player
* Grading Florida's offense player by player
* The Edge: Florida-Vanderbilt Breakdown
* WR Cleveland showing growth after early setbacks
* Behind Enemy Lines: Vanderbilt Q&A
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2) Which match-up this weekend are you most looking forward to watching?
Dennie: The offensive line needs to hold up against a talented Vanderbilt defense. The Commodores' defense will be ready, as Head Coach Derek Mason will have them prepared to play a physical contest. So far, overall the offensive line hasn’t looked too bad on the season as a whole, but there have been moments where they have looked shaky and vulnerable. If the offensive line can hold up against Vanderbilt, the Gators should be able to handle the Commodores and come out of Nashville with a win.
Watnick: The Florida defense vs. Ralph Webb is a popular pick, but I really want to see how quarterback Austin Appleby looks against the Vanderbilt passing defense. He was off to such a good start in the first half against Tennessee, and then the offense played it too close to the vest with its play-calling and lost a ton of steam later on in the game. Which Appleby will we see Saturday: the one from the first half last Saturday or the turnover-prone signal-caller from Purdue? After all, Vanderbilt’s passing defense is ranked just 108th nationally.
Wheeler: By virtue of his last name allowing his answers to be placed ahead of my own in our alphabetical listing, Landon was able to steal my original pick of Appleby – who I believe will have a field day, thus bringing into question if Luke Del Rio is deserving of being the clear cut starter at quarterback.
Since I now have to go in a different direction, I'll go with Florida offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier against Vanderbilt's Derek Mason. Though Mason may not have a ton of talent at his disposal, and though the defensive rankings may not bear it out, he is still considered one of the top defensive minds in college football. It will be interesting to watch these two battle in a game of wits this weekend. Unfortunately for the Commodores, Mason is bringing a knife to a gun fight.
3) Predict the outcome
Dennie: Ultimately, the Gators are so talented and there is no question that they are the better team, and I think this is a mental game for the team at this point. I think the Gators go into the Vandy game and start off sloppy, as they are trying to regroup from last weekend, and I think that they pick it up in the second half and shut down the Vandy offense to escape with an ugly win against the Commodores.
My Score: Florida 27, Vanderbilt 17
Watnick: I don’t think Florida has much trouble against Vanderbilt on Saturday. Vanderbilt Stadium isn’t nearly as daunting as Neyland Stadium. The offense shouldn’t have as much trouble against Vanderbilt as it did in the second half at Tennessee, which means the defense shouldn’t be nearly as gassed from playing so many reps. Overall, this team is going to be extremely motivated to get back on the right track, especially with how things went down last weekend.
My Score: I’m going with Florida 30, Vanderbilt 13.
Wheeler: One of the issues this Florida team has had at times in the Jim McElwain era is that they can come out flat – lacking energy at times. A noon start (actually 11 a.m. local time) on the road in what is less than an overly ruckus environment can be hard to get up for as a player. Are the Gators fired up after what happened last weekend, or do they come out in a daze and sleepwalk though the early part of the game? To me, with the talent disparity between the two teams, UF's energy level is what will most determine the outcome here.
My Score: The Gators come out fighting mad – so I see it Florida 48, Vanderbilt 14.
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