So what if Florida lost
Just after Florida lost 20-17 to three-touchdown underdog Auburn in the Swamp Saturday, ESPN announcer Mike Patrick sympathized with LSU because now Florida has something to get even about. At least Patrick was talking about the game he was announcing, which is his job, and didn't bring up Britney Spears for no reason as he did just before Georgia's game-winning play that beat Alabama in overtime on Sept. 22. And he does have a point. Florida has never lost two straight games under coach Urban Meyer, who is in his third season.
Then again, it depends on how you look at this. Meyer went into the Auburn game never having lost a home game as the Gators coach. And he lost. And it wasn't like it was a fluke. Late in the game, Florida benefitted from an awful punt catching interference call against Auburn and a subsequent unsportsmanlike conduct penalty against Auburn coach Tommy Tuberville, who had every right to be angry. The two calls gave the Gators excellent field position near midfield, and they couldn't score on Auburn, which did not have star defensive end Quentin Groves as he was on on crutches with dislocated toes.
Meyer also pushed the spirit of the rules a little bit when an official allowed him to call a timeout just before Auburn's Wes Bynum made a 43-yard field to apparently win the game. Bynum had to kick it again. Technically, Meyer was within the rules. But it didn't look good. It looked like Meyer and the official were working together.
Auburn's offense, which looked horrible at times in losses to South Florida and to Mississippi State, outgained Florida 326 yards to 312. Auburn quarterback Brandon Cox looked like a new man as he completed 17 of 26 passes for 227 yards. This was better than the great Tim Tebow, who completed 20 of 27 passes but for just 201 yards and an interception.
The odds were in Auburn's favor. Sooner or later Meyer was going to lose at home.
The odds are in LSU's favor this week. Sooner rather than later Meyer will lose two in a row.
But the most important reason to think LSU is in good shape this week is because the Gators' loss to Auburn proves that Florida probably isn't that good. Don't forget, Florida struggled to beat Ole Miss two weeks ago.
If you follow Patrick's and many others' logic that teams coming off losses are mad and out to get even, then an 0-10 team would really be mad. Maybe it's the other way. Florida losing at home means to me that it could lose again and maybe even again. The Gators did lose nine starters on defense from their national championship of a year ago. Maybe the Gators aren't that good. LSU's games the following weeks at Kentucky and at home against Auburn may be tougher than this week's game.
Then again, it depends on how you look at this. Meyer went into the Auburn game never having lost a home game as the Gators coach. And he lost. And it wasn't like it was a fluke. Late in the game, Florida benefitted from an awful punt catching interference call against Auburn and a subsequent unsportsmanlike conduct penalty against Auburn coach Tommy Tuberville, who had every right to be angry. The two calls gave the Gators excellent field position near midfield, and they couldn't score on Auburn, which did not have star defensive end Quentin Groves as he was on on crutches with dislocated toes.
Meyer also pushed the spirit of the rules a little bit when an official allowed him to call a timeout just before Auburn's Wes Bynum made a 43-yard field to apparently win the game. Bynum had to kick it again. Technically, Meyer was within the rules. But it didn't look good. It looked like Meyer and the official were working together.
Auburn's offense, which looked horrible at times in losses to South Florida and to Mississippi State, outgained Florida 326 yards to 312. Auburn quarterback Brandon Cox looked like a new man as he completed 17 of 26 passes for 227 yards. This was better than the great Tim Tebow, who completed 20 of 27 passes but for just 201 yards and an interception.
The odds were in Auburn's favor. Sooner or later Meyer was going to lose at home.
The odds are in LSU's favor this week. Sooner rather than later Meyer will lose two in a row.
But the most important reason to think LSU is in good shape this week is because the Gators' loss to Auburn proves that Florida probably isn't that good. Don't forget, Florida struggled to beat Ole Miss two weeks ago.
If you follow Patrick's and many others' logic that teams coming off losses are mad and out to get even, then an 0-10 team would really be mad. Maybe it's the other way. Florida losing at home means to me that it could lose again and maybe even again. The Gators did lose nine starters on defense from their national championship of a year ago. Maybe the Gators aren't that good. LSU's games the following weeks at Kentucky and at home against Auburn may be tougher than this week's game.
posted by Glenn Guilbeau at 2:02 PM
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