With the Canes expected to put up points, the matchup that may decide the game is the Gator offense against the Canes defense. We dove into the numbers to see how the two teams match up. National rankings are in parentheses:
OVERALL
Florida scoring offense- 26.5 PPG (62nd)
Miami scoring defense- 24.1 PPG (48th)
Florida yards per play- 5.7 YPP (51st)
Miami yards per play against- 5.1 YPP (36th)
Florida giveaways per game- 1.0 (17th)
Miami takeaways per game- 1.4 (58th)
The respective units were pretty even last season, when accounting for conference. Florida’s offense didn’t put up a ton of points but did an excellent job of protecting the ball, fueled by Graham Mertz’s 20/3 TD/INT ratio.
THE RUN GAME
Florida yards per rush- 4.1 YPC (72nd)
Miami yards per rush allowed- 3.5 YPC (20th)
Florida rushing yards per game- 136.4 ypg (83rd)
Miami rushing yards per game allowed- 111.7 (15th)
Miami was sneaky good in defending the run last year, fueled by Coach Guidry’s use of bear fronts. However, they must replace both starting defensive tackles (Branson Deen and Leonard Taylor). Florida’s running game was average, and they lost their top runner (Trevor Etienne) to Georgia.
THE PASSING GAME
Florida yards per pass- 7.8 YPP (43rd)
Miami yards per pass against- 7.1 YPP (52nd)
Florida sack percentage allowed- 9.38% (115th)
Miami sack percentage- 7.33% (40th)
This is the most pivotal matchup in the game. Florida’s passing game was extremely efficient last year, and they return a veteran quarterback surrounded by experienced receivers. Miami had three defensive backs drafted off a group that was only average.
The key will be pass protection. Florida was awful last year and do not have any new additions on their first team. Miami was slightly above-average, but return a dominant Rueben Bain and add Akheem Mesidor, Tyler Baron and Elijah Alston. This matchup has the ability to decide the game for Miami and remove all of Florida’s advantages in the passing game.
EXPLOSIVE PLAYS
Florida scrimmage plays (national rank):
10+ yards- 46th
20+ yards- 56th
30+ yards- 90th
40+ yards- 104th
50+ yards- 101st
Miami scrimmage plays allowed (national rank):
10+ yards- 32nd
20+ yards- 32nd
30+ yards- 76th
40+ yards- 62nd
50+ yards- 53rd
The stats tell a simple story: Florida was not an explosive offense last year. They also lost two of their three most explosive players, with Etienne in Georgia and Ricy Pearsall drafted in the first round.
The Canes will need to avoid self-inflicted mistakes, but if they play a clean game they have a great chance to limit the Gators’ big plays.
OVERALL
Florida scoring offense- 26.5 PPG (62nd)
Miami scoring defense- 24.1 PPG (48th)
Florida yards per play- 5.7 YPP (51st)
Miami yards per play against- 5.1 YPP (36th)
Florida giveaways per game- 1.0 (17th)
Miami takeaways per game- 1.4 (58th)
The respective units were pretty even last season, when accounting for conference. Florida’s offense didn’t put up a ton of points but did an excellent job of protecting the ball, fueled by Graham Mertz’s 20/3 TD/INT ratio.
THE RUN GAME
Florida yards per rush- 4.1 YPC (72nd)
Miami yards per rush allowed- 3.5 YPC (20th)
Florida rushing yards per game- 136.4 ypg (83rd)
Miami rushing yards per game allowed- 111.7 (15th)
Miami was sneaky good in defending the run last year, fueled by Coach Guidry’s use of bear fronts. However, they must replace both starting defensive tackles (Branson Deen and Leonard Taylor). Florida’s running game was average, and they lost their top runner (Trevor Etienne) to Georgia.
THE PASSING GAME
Florida yards per pass- 7.8 YPP (43rd)
Miami yards per pass against- 7.1 YPP (52nd)
Florida sack percentage allowed- 9.38% (115th)
Miami sack percentage- 7.33% (40th)
This is the most pivotal matchup in the game. Florida’s passing game was extremely efficient last year, and they return a veteran quarterback surrounded by experienced receivers. Miami had three defensive backs drafted off a group that was only average.
The key will be pass protection. Florida was awful last year and do not have any new additions on their first team. Miami was slightly above-average, but return a dominant Rueben Bain and add Akheem Mesidor, Tyler Baron and Elijah Alston. This matchup has the ability to decide the game for Miami and remove all of Florida’s advantages in the passing game.
EXPLOSIVE PLAYS
Florida scrimmage plays (national rank):
10+ yards- 46th
20+ yards- 56th
30+ yards- 90th
40+ yards- 104th
50+ yards- 101st
Miami scrimmage plays allowed (national rank):
10+ yards- 32nd
20+ yards- 32nd
30+ yards- 76th
40+ yards- 62nd
50+ yards- 53rd
The stats tell a simple story: Florida was not an explosive offense last year. They also lost two of their three most explosive players, with Etienne in Georgia and Ricy Pearsall drafted in the first round.
The Canes will need to avoid self-inflicted mistakes, but if they play a clean game they have a great chance to limit the Gators’ big plays.
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