A look inside the Georgia-Florida game

By Tim Tucker

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

3 keys to the game

1. Will Florida’s defense dominate? The Gators are No. 1 in the nation in total defense, while Georgia is No. 90 in total offense. The Bulldogs’ only chance to move the ball against Florida, they concede, is to have a balanced attack, which means their worst-in-the-SEC rushing game will have to somehow step up. And quarterback Joe Cox will need protection from the rush of Florida defensive end Carlos Dunlap, who had three sacks against Mississippi State last week.

2. Can Georgia’s defense play as well against the Gators as, say, Arkansas’ and Mississippi State’s did? Florida’s past two games -- a 23-20 victory over Arkansas and a 29-19 win over Mississippi State – were closer than expected mainly because the opposing defenses played tough against the Gators, especially in the red zone, and forced six turnovers.

3. In the end, no matter what else happens, would Tim Tebow allow the Gators to lose? The strong-willed, dual-threat quarterback, the 2007 Heisman Trophy winner, had arguably his worst game as a Gator last week -- but still won, of course. He has been sacked nine times in the past two games, and Georgia will need to keep the pressure on. Remember, Tebow accounted for five touchdowns (three running and two throwing) against Georgia last year.

A Georgia win would ...

*Possibly salvage a season.

*Be the second victory in UGA football history against a team ranked No. 1 in the nation.

*Give the Bulldogs just their fourth victory over the Gators in the past 20 years but their third in six years.

A Florida win would ...

*Extend the Gators’ best-in-the-nation winning streak to 18 games.

*Keep the Gators on track toward the SEC Championship Game in Atlanta.

*Presumably keep the Gators No. 1 in all the ratings -- AP, coaches’, BCS.

Keep an eye on ...

For Georgia: The Bulldogs will need to get the ball often to A.J. Green, who has been their only consistent offensive playmaker this season. Watch his matchup against Florida cornerback Joe Haden, who had an 88-yard interception return vs. Georgia last year.

For Florida: Tebow, of course. If he runs for one touchdown, he breaks former Georgia great Herschel Walker’s 27-year-old SEC career record of 49 rushing touchdowns, which Tebow tied last week.

The numbers game

2-6

Georgia’s record vs. Florida under coach Mark Richt

3-1

Florida’s record vs. Georgia under coach Urban Meyer

11-3

Georgia’s record under Richt following an open date, which the Bulldogs had last week, including 1-0 vs. Florida

History book

Series record: Georgia leads 47-38-2.

Last meeting: Florida won 49-10 in Jacksonville last year.

The bottom line

This is the fourth time in Georgia football history that the Bulldogs face an opponent ranked No. 1 in the nation. Unranked Georgia lost to No. 1 Florida 47-7 in 1996. No. 17 Georgia beat No. 1 Florida 24-3 in 1985. No. 5 Georgia lost to No. 1 Pittsburgh 27-3 in the Sugar Bowl on Jan. 1, 1977.