Gametime: Columbia, SC (November 12th – Noon on CBS)

The Florida Gators, coming off their first win in 5 games, travel to Columbia, South Carolina to face Steve Spurrier & the 7-2 Gamecocks. Kickoff is at noon for this annual matchup between 2 SEC perennial threats. This will be the 5th nationally televised game for the Gators against the 5th top 25 team, further explaining  UF’s difficulties this season. Widely acknowledged as having the hardest schedule in college football, UF looks to finish out the season strong against South Carolina, Furman & FSU. With Brantley back the Gators lineup is closer to its early season form.

Last week, the Gamescocks lost to another top ranked SEC team, Arkansas who handed them a 44-28 loss in Fayetteville. Jeff Demps, coming off a big game for the Gators, will help take the pressure off Brantley, hopefully allowing for some big yardage throws and spreading of the field.

UF Football has dominated South Carolina over the 31 total games played in the series. Florida leads 10-4-1 when the game is played Columbia, SC. Ironically, Brantley was born in Columbia, SC. Where the Gators really have room for improvement is on 3rd down conversions, where the Gators are 37/111 on the year, an anemic 33%.

Demps & Rainey currently rank 3rd & 4th among SEC rushers in total careers yards, with 2,395 (Demps) & 2,129 (Rainey). Trent Richardson (Alabama) leads the conference with 2,529 and is certainly NFL bound in 2012.

The Gator Nation has alot to look forward to, especially next year, as other teams in the SEC will graduate more starting players than the Gators and UF will segway from a “transition year” into a more established system & program.