In six straight losses to Florida, Georgia has scored more than 14 points only once–in a 34-23 loss in 2000. Mark Richt is 0-3 in the rivalry as Georgia’s coach, and his teams have scored a combined total of 36 points in the three losses.
The emphasis is for No. 10 Georgia (6-1 overall, 4-1 Southeastern Conference) to end its trend of offensive breakdowns inside the 20 when it plays Florida on Saturday in Jacksonville.
In 30 possessions inside the opponents’ 20-yard line this season, Georgia has scored only 14 touchdowns. Georgia ranks only seventh in the SEC in red-zone offense, and the Bulldogs’ 40.2 percent success rate on third down ranks a modest sixth in the league.
Of course, Florida will be dealing with the aftermath of the firing of coach Ron Zook, who will coach the rest of the season.
In the big time
The North Texas game plan Saturday against Louisiana-Monroe calls for at least 2 yards for running back Jamario Thomas. Six more feet would vault the freshman into select company as the fourth player in NCAA Division I history to gain 1,000 yards in his first seven games. Thomas, who did not play in Game 2 against Florida Atlantic, would join Emmitt Smith, Marshall Faulk and Oklahoma freshman Adrian Peterson, who accomplished the feat last week.
Coach Darrell Dickey has seen Thomas develop into the nation’s leading rusher at 166.2 yards per game while also refining his all-around game.
“He’s understanding that he’s got to help in pass protection,” Dickey said. “He’s taken a lot of pride in trying to become a complete player.”
Rose Bowl on line?
No. 20 Arizona State plays at No. 7 California on Saturday in a game that could determine a Rose Bowl berth. Should No. 1 USC end up playing in the Orange Bowl for the national title, the ASU-Cal winner figures to represent the Pac-10 in Pasadena if it finishes 10-1 and is ranked 12th or better in the final Bowl Championship Series standings.
However, should Utah earn an automatic bid by finishing sixth or higher in the BCS standings and Florida State earn an automatic bid by finishing third or fourth, the Rose Bowl will not be allowed to take Cal or Arizona State.
Title implications
The Missouri-Nebraska winner in Lincoln will have a leg up in the Big 12 North race. Each team controls its own fate, and Missouri coach Gary Pinkel reminded his players of that.
“We’re fortunate to be in the situation we are, as Nebraska is,” he said. “That’s a plus. We also have to play better.”
Missouri has the more favorable schedule. The Tigers get Kansas State and Kansas at home before finishing at Iowa State. Nebraska has to play at Iowa State and Oklahoma, then has a week off before hosting Colorado.
Rough path
North Carolina had just five wins in the last two seasons. Its schedule this year is making it tough to add to that total. The Tar Heels’ schedule is ranked the nation’s most difficult, according to the Sagarin rankings. The Tar Heels (3-4, 2-2) have lost to No. 5 Florida State, No. 9 Utah, No. 13 Virginia and No. 14 Louisville, teams with a combined 24-3 record.
When the Tar Heels face No. 4 Miami on Saturday, it will be North Carolina’s fifth game against a team ranked in the Top 25.
“The teams we have played are pretty good,” coach John Bunting said. “A lot of people probably didn’t think we’d have at least two of the three wins we do have.”
Offensive offense
New Arizona coach Mike Stoops has done a good job rebuilding the Wildcats’ defense. The former co-defensive coordinator at Oklahoma now needs to work on Arizona’s struggling offense.
The Wildcats are last nationally among the 118 Division I-A teams in scoring, averaging 12.0 points per game. They are 115th in total offense with 277.6 yards per game. That’s a big reason Arizona has lost six straight since a season-opening win against Division I-AA Northern Arizona.
Depth pays off
During the summer, quarterbacks coach Skip Holtz said he had four dependable players at the position, although few looked beyond South Carolina’s starter race between Dondrial Pinkins and Syvelle Newton. But with Pinkins and Newton injured, backups Blake Mitchell and Mike Rathe have gotten their chance to stand out.
“I’m a blessed coach to have the four guys that I have sitting in my meeting room to work with,” Holtz said. “They have great attitudes.”
Pinkins is hopeful he’ll be ready to start Saturday for South Carolina (5-2, 3-2 Southeastern Conference) against No. 11 Tennessee. Newton also expects to be ready.
Extra points
Texas A&M leads the nation with only one turnover. Nebraska is last with 27. . . . A win over Florida would give Georgia quarterback David Greene 39 for his career, matching Tennessee’s Peyton Manning for the Division I-A record for quarterbacks. Greene is 38-9, despite his 0-3 record against the Gators. . . . Central Michigan quarterback Kent Smith set school records with 29 completions and 446 total yards in last weekend’s 27-22 Mid-American defeat against Toledo.
