Playing strong games early....

[jakez4ut]

Both are predicted to win their conferences this year. Troy came within a touchdown last year of beating FSU at FSU. They played Arkansas pretty tough and scored 26 points at Arkansas. On ESPNs rankings for the strength of programs over the last decade, Troy is #85, ahead of teams such as Vanderbilt, Tulsa, La. Tech., and just behind Kansas, Memphis, and Hoston.

Southern Miss is a lot higher, but I don't think that for teams like UF and UT there is a meanginful difference between the two.

Anyway, I am used to this criticism. Happens every year because of the way we open things up. But last year, after enduring such criticism to start, we ended up with the #1 toughest schedule and still went 13-1, so if it makes you feel better to think you had the tougher opening stretch, have at it.

i didn't go back and check what you were responding to, so take this with the grain of salt....

is there really any doubt as to who has had a tougher opening of the two? really?

and to me, it doesn't matter. FL has real tape to see what we do, how we do it and what can be exploited. we get scrimmage tape. yippie.

while the strategy hasn't earned FL any schedule respect, i think it's an advantage this year.

 

[TennNC]

Seems to me for the last 17 years or so, UT plays tougher openers. Florida plays less challenging opponents, and 7 times out of ten Florida beats us.

I will say this, however - Fulmer and staff seem to prepare and coach their players better when expectations are really low and few give them a chance to win. Find some way to exploit their inexperience (esp. their D) and UT could win.

 

[TheDeeble]

I don't think it matters really.

Sure Florida plays pansies. They probably have used far less of their playbook. They probably get their younger guys more experience. They're players are probably brimming with confidence after two blowout wins, even if they are against pansies. They probably know a heck of a lot more about us after two games than we do about them.

I have no problem with what we do. I think it has it's benefits as well.