Florida's Arrogance Breeds Confidence for Georgia Taking Back the East

Florida’s embarrassing late-season collapse against LSU Saturday was the moment that many Georgia fans were waiting for since Jacksonville’s game reached its conclusion.

Since week one of the regular season, the hype coming out of Gainesville, Florida, was nothing compared to the noise created after beating Georgia in the annual meeting between two of the fiercest rivals in sports.

After three straight seasons, Florida finally knocked off Georgia in the World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail party. The 44-28 win over the Dawgs was the victory that the Gators needed to feel legitimate in contention for the College Football Playoffs after an early-season loss to Texas A&M.

Florida’s contention for a bid in the CFP was short-lived after Saturday’s loss to LSU. The loss can be for many reasons, including the cleat throwing of senior defensive back Marco Wilson that gave LSU the fifteen-yard penalty they needed to have a chance to kick a field goal.

One of the main reasons for Florida’s loss on Saturday was the arrogance that in their behavior leading up to the game. After Florida’s victory over Tennesee, the Gators officially clinched the SEC East. The win prompted a private celebration between former Gator quarterback Steve Spurrier and Dan Mullen.

The celebratory mood carried over into game week as just 24 hours before the Gators were to battle with a subpar below .500 LSU team, Dan Mullen discussed his feelings on how Florida could qualify for the playoffs even if they lose to LSU with the ESPN broadcast team.

While the broadcast team always meets with some coaches and players before a game to discuss the upcoming matchup. It was highly unusual for a contending team to overlook its opponent and discuss the implications of a loss would mean for Florida’s playoff bid.

A head coach’s attitude permeates throughout the program, which led to Florida’s loss this weekend. The Gators are likely eliminated from the playoffs and will play for an SEC Championship against a red hot Alabama this weekend.

While Mullen may only make this mistake once it is clear that Florida will be a different football team next fall, both Kyle Trask and Kyle Pitts will head towards the NFL at season’s end. The connection between the two carried Florida to a bid in the SECCG.

Pitts did not play in the LSU game. His absence was noticeable, Kyle Trask, and the Florida offense struggled as Trask threw two costly interceptions, the first ended up in the endzone for a touchdown otherwise known as a pick-six.

With the Gators losing a starting quarterback and two playmakers in Kyle Pitts and Kadarius Toney and returning a defense that struggled, the chances of retaining the East are slimmer than at first imagined.