Sports bettors have apparently forgotten about Florida after losing starting quarterback Jeff Driskel to an injury, but backup Tyler Murphy is more than capable of guiding the Gators to a win each and every week. In fact, Murphy is completing 72% of his passes for 8.6 yards per pass play against teams that combine to allow just 6.4 yards per pass play to mediocre quarterbacks. Here is why the experts at Pro Edge Sports Picks believe that the Florida Gators are the best 3-1 team in college football:
Florida Defense:
- Florida’s run defense is one of the best in the game today as the Gators are allowing 61 rushing yards per game at 3.1 yards per rushing play to four teams that would combine to average 5.8 yards per rush play against a mediocre stop unit;
- The Gators are 2-0 at home this season where they are limiting opponents to just 12.7 points per game on 2.4 yards per rush play, 4.8 yards per pass play and 202 total yards (3.8 yards per play).
Florida’s run-oriented offense is also underrated in that the Gators are averaging 4.4 yards per rush play, 8.2 yards per pass attempt and 5.6 yards per play against teams that combine to allow just 4.1 yards per rush play, 7.1 yards per pass attempt and 5.4 yards per play. Overall, the Gators are 0.3 yards per carry, 1.1 yards per pass attempt and 0.2 yards per play better than average offensively, although we believe Florida’s ground attack is enhanced with Tyler Murphy behind center.
While Florida remains a run-first team, offensive coordinator Brent Pease is cognizant of keeping the Gators’ playbook diversified in order to keep opposing defenses off-balance. “To say that we’re always going to carry it, have that time of possession, is probably not our total plan,” Pease said. “I think you feel comfortable in doing that. You’ve got a lot of good things going. But sometimes you still stress that you want to have explosive plays and you hope you get those where you’re scoring in two or three, which limits your time of possession. That wasn’t the way it worked out (against Kentucky). So I think there’s some give and take in it.”
Pro Edge Sports Picks likes Florida going forward, especially tonight against Arkansas. The matchup strongly favors the Gators and we project a comfortable double-digit win over the Razorbacks.