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Our friend Scott Hall gives his weekly look deeper into the stats of the previous week's game. Enjoy.
Urban Meyer accomplished something neither Steve Spurrier nor Ron Zook were able to accomplish: defeat the Bulldogs in Starkville. Florida had lost 4 straight games to Mississippi State in Starkville since its 36-22 win in 1985. All 4 games (1986, 1992, 2000, 2004) found Florida as the favorite, including the 2000 matchup between #3 Florida and unranked Mississippi State, a game that ended in a 35-47 upset of the Gators...
With the 29-19 victory at Davis Wade Stadium at Scott Field, Florida extends the nation’s longest winning streak to 17 games and improves to 33-18-2 all-time against the Bulldogs.
Florida is 7-0 for the first time since 1996, and has won 8 straight SEC road games, the second-longest streak in school history (12 games, late 1993 - mid 1997).
With Tim Tebow’s 26 yard rushing touchdown in the 2nd quarter, he tied Herschel Walker’s (University of Georgia) SEC Rushing TD record with 49.
Mississippi State set a stadium record attendance at 57,178 Saturday night, marking the second time this season Florida has knocked off an away team during a stadium attendance record (LSU).
Florida entered the game ranked 76th in the nation in red-zone efficiency, and didn’t do much to improve that ranking. The Gators have scored only 2 TDs in their last 15 trips inside the red zone. A true freshman safety for the Bulldogs (Banks) scored as many touchdowns as the Gators’ offense did the entire game. Tim Tebow’s frustration with the offense was apparent, as he declined to talk to the media for the first time in his career (that was he was healthy enough to talk to the media). He threw 2 interceptions in a game for only the second time in his career on Saturday.
In SEC wins over Tennessee, LSU, Arkansas, and Mississippi State this season, Florida has scored just 7 offensive touchdowns.
A big concern for the Florida defense was Mississippi State’s star running back Anthony Dixon, who became the school’s career rushing leader the week prior against Middle Tennessee, after compiling 135 yards and 2 TD. Dixon had 696 yards on the season and had five straight 100-yard games coming into the game against Florida, but Florida’s defense held him to just 53 yards on Saturday.
Mississippi State has now lost five straight games against ranked opponents since beating then #13 Vanderbilt 17-14 on October 11, 2008.
Random Stat: The Gators are only 4-7 all-time against MSU in Starkville, partly because Florida and Mississippi State have played each other in 7 different cities, listed below with Florida’s W/L in the city:
Gainesville, FL: 19-7-1
Jackson, MS: 6-4
Jacksonville, FL: 0-0-1
Montgomery, AL: 1-0-0
Orlando, FL: 1-0
Starkville, FL: 4-7
Tampa, FL: 2-0 |
