Week 4 Primer
Butch Jones has been throwing out ready-made excuses all week, including how many of his players will be getting on an airplane for the first time ever for the trip to Gainesville.
Published on Friday, 9/25/15, at 4:36 p.m. Eastern.
–Let’s start with a Happy Birthday to my sister, Rebecca!
—My preview of tonight’s action filed to VegasInsider.com on Wednesday.
—My Upset of the Week: Texas Tech takes down TCU one year after the Horned Frogs dropped 82 on the Red Raiders.
—My seven selections for Saturday.
—My Top 50 Power Rankings going into Week 4.
–Pat Dooley of the Gainesville Sun breaks down how my Gators got cheated at Neyland Stadium in 2004. The only mistake he made was that the referee did see the first slap by the UT defender. Replays showed that clearly.
–From Mike Bianchi’s Florida-Kentucky post-game column this past Sunday in the Orlando Sentinel: “When the Gators are feeling cursed and downright unlucky, it doesn’t really matter cuz there’s always Kentucky.”
–If Tennessee had an AD with any backbone whatsoever, I would suggest that he tell Butch Jones to cool it with all the stats and percentages about how many of his players are just freshmen and sophomores, in addition to how many have never been on an airplane before this week. (Note to readers: Dave Hart is UT’s AD and is an unfathomable d-bag!) Butch: Nobody gives a shit! You’re in your third season at the helm. Nobody, especially your own fans, wants to hear all of your built-in excuses before games you might or might not lose.
–Tennessee has never been favored at The Swamp. However, after UF opened as the short favorite, the Vols were 1.5-point ‘chalk’ at most books late Friday afternoon.
–Sixteen years after Gator legend Alex Brown went upside Tee Martin’s head five times in a 23-21 UF win over UT, Brown will serve as the honorary Mr. Two Bits on Saturday at The Swamp.
–In honor of UF-UT week, my top-five Power Rankings of Gator wins over the Vols:
1-Florida 31, Tennessee 0 (1994) — My only trip to Neyland Stadium. With freshman Peyton Manning in at QB late in the fourth quarter, the Vols were threatening to score for the first time. Steve Spurrier had removed the starters but with Manning moving UT into the red zone, Spurrier ordered the starters back in to preserve the cream-cheese treatment. A few plays later, Kevin Carter sacked Manning on fourth down to ensure the bagel. Who started for the Vols at QB in this game? Not Manning. It was Colorado Rockies’ legend Todd Helton.
2-Florida 33, Tennessee 20 (1997) — Again, I was there for this one. Doug Johnson outplayed Manning, who fell to 0-for-LIFE against the Gators with this defeat. Tony George had a pick-six in the first half in which he somehow stayed inbounds as he rolled down the UF sidelines to the north end zone.
3-Florida 35, Tennessee 29 (1996) — Our Saturday morning flight from Gainesville to Knoxville got delayed. With heavy rain expected in Knoxville, my Dad and I decided to skip the trip with the threat of getting to the game late. We went back to my pad on 8th Avenue and hammered libations as the Gators raced out to a 35-0 lead. Manning would throw for 492 meaning-less yards and take another ‘L’ against The Mighties.
4-Florida 23, Tennessee 21 (1999) — I was also there for this one, The Alex Brown Game.
5-Florida 62, Tennessee 37 (1995) — One of my worst hangovers of all time! I still made it to the game, however, and it was all good by the time UF ripped off 48 unanswered points after falling behind 30-14 in the first half. Lawrence Wright nearly took off Joey Kent’s head. It was the most memorable hit I can remember at The Swamp. The second-most memorable Gator Lick? That would be when the late/great Jarvis Williams knocked Miami’s Melvin Bratton the fuck out!
–If UT loses to UF on Saturday, Jones will have the same record Derek Dooley had (14-15) through 29 games.
–Bowling Green’s first three games are averaging a combined score of 83.0 points per game. Senior QB Matt Johnson, who tore his ACL in Week 1 of last season, is leading the nation with 1,358 passing yards. Johnson has a stellar 12/1 touchdown-to-interception ratio. The Falcons are second in the country in total offense, averaging 609.3 yards per game. They are short ‘chalk’ at Purdue on Saturday with the total at 75.
–Ole Miss owns a 10-5-1 spread record as a home favorite in 16 such spots on Hugh Freeze’s watch. The Rebels were favored by 26 vs. Vandy as of late Friday afternoon.
–Vandy owns a 3-1 ATS record as a road underdog on Derek Mason’s watch. The Commodores have posted a 6-3 spread record in nine games as double-digit underdogs under Mason.
–Notre Dame is an abysmal 3-11 ATS in its last 14 games as a double-digit favorite. The Fighting Irish are favored by 29 Saturday vs. UMass.
–If you don’t already know that Texas Tech sophomore QB Patrick Mahomes is legit, you’ll know by tomorrow night.
–Like I tweeted yesterday, Timmy Touchdowns is now dating Miss Universe Olivia Culpo. This is just another example of how Tebow ain’t ever been nothin’ but a WINNER! Pictorial proof seen below.
–Best of luck with your bets and ballgames in Week 4!
