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Published Oct 26, 2016
The Edge: Florida-Georgia Breakdown
Mark Wheeler  •  1standTenFlorida
Publisher

Today we provide you with a very detailed team comparison between No. 14 Florida and unranked Georgia. Scroll down to view how the two teams match-up at each position from a recruiting standpoint, how they compare stats wise and who has the edge in each facet of the game.

Here's a color-coded depth chart which shows how Florida and Georgia players stacked up when they were recruits.

Color-coded key

Blue: Five-star player

Orange: Four-star player

Grey: Three-star player

Yellow: Two-Star or Unranked by Rivals.com

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NOTES:

* When two players are listed as the starter with an OR the first player listed is used for our star rating purposes.

* On Florida's depth chart, backups Keivonnis Davis, Khari Clark and CeCe Jefferson are listed first over regular starters Bryan Cox, Joey Ivie and Jordan Sherit.

Florida offense vs. Georgia defense   

Florida defense vs. Georgia offense      

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* UF-UGA GAME WEEK HEADQUARTERS

* Del Rio looking forward to going back 'home'

* Notebook: McElwain discusses familiarity with Smart

* 10 names added to the recruiting board this week

* Status of key injured defensive Gators uncertain for Georgia game

* FREE ONE MONTH TRIAL MEMBERSHIP TO ITG

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COMPARING FLORIDA-GEORGIA IN EACH STATISTICAL CATEGORY
CategoryFLORIDA GATORSGEORGIA BULLDOGS

AP/Coaches/Sagarin

14/12/16

UR/UR/52

SOS (Sagarin)

#68

#32

Total Offense

426.4 YPG (#52 Nationally)

402.9 (#73)

Scoring Offense

30.3 (#60)

25.1 (#93)

Passing Offense

244.7 (#51)

207.3 (#91)

Rushing Offense

181.8 (#57)

195.6 (#44)

3rd Down Conversions

50.5% (#8)

39.3% (#71)

4th Down Conversions

42.9% (#92)

62.5% (#30)

Red Zone Conversions

72% (#122)

81.5% (#78)

Sacks Allowed

1.0 (#12)

2.43 (#83)

Time of Possession

33.08 (#21)

35:08 (#5)

Total Defense

252.5 (#2)

339.7 (#20)

Scoring Defense

12.0 (#2)

26.4 (#58)

Passing Defense

132.8 (#2)

228.6 (#69)

Rushing Defense

119.7 (#22)

111.1 (#17)

Sacks

3.17 (#16)

2.0 (#68)

Interceptions

10 (#14)

8 (#31)

Fumbles Recovered

3 (#95)

7 (#19)

Net Punting

42.14 (#8)

35.67 (#101)

Kickoff Returns

25.0 (#22)

21.69 (#58)

Punt Returns

3.2 (#109)

7.5 (#68)

Turnover Margin

1.67 (#29)

.71 (#25)

Penalty Yards per Game

72.83 (#116)

48.43 (#34)

Yes, they are provided above, but this is a game, perhaps the only game on the schedule for Florida, where normally you can throw out rankings, ratings and statistics. This is an emotional game, where momentum can and will play a big part.

WHO HAS THE EDGE?
CategoryThe ReasoningThe Edge

UF rush offense vs. UGA rush defense

First off, throw out any notion that what Florida was able to do against Missouri is a sign of an emerging Gators rushing game. Credit the UF defense for many of those yards. They pitched so many three and outs, keeping the Tigers defense on the field, and that resulted in them being completely worn down by the fourth quarter, when UF gained most of those yards. Plus, when you factor in that Georgia's run defense is a strength it will be interesting to see if the Gators can run the ball early.

UGA

UF pass offense vs. UGA pass defense

Under Kirby Smart's guidance Georgia has been about average at best against the pass this season. Lucky for the Bulldogs, Florida has been slightly below average throwing the ball.

EVEN

UF rush defense vs. UGA rush offense

This is a tale of two defensive lines. If Florida starters Joey Ivie, Jordan Sherit and Bryan Cox are healthy and able to go, this match-up would favor the Gators. If a couple of the are out completely or limited, the pendulum swings back in the Bulldogs favor.

EVEN

UF pass defense vs. UGA pass offense

As you would expect from a true freshman in the SEC, quarterback Jacob Eason has been up-and-down, hot-and-cold. He threw for over 300 yards against Missouri and Vanderbilt, but was held in check by both South Carolina (29-yards) and Ole Miss (137). His issue in waiting this weekend is that Florida is by far the best secondary he has faced to date.

UF

Special Teams

Other than punt returns, Florida's special teams has been exceptional this year. If this game is close, this could very well be the tipping point for the Gators.

UF

Intangibles

The two head coaches are incredibly familiar with one another after their time together on Alabama's staff. Wacky things can and do happen in this game, but how is Georgia going to respond after losing three of their last four? They could be looking ahead to next season while Florida still has an SEC East title in their sights.

UF

Coaching

It isn't a favorable comparison for sure, but early on Smart is looking an awful lot like he is a Will Muschamp (a former Nick Saban defensive prodigy) type of hire.

UF

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