By: Robert Craft

TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services

The Florida-Georgia football rivalry began in 1915 and they have played every year since 1926, except for 1943(canceled due to war). The “World’s Largest Cocktail Party” started in 1933. Jacksonville has hosted the game with the exception of 1994 and 1995.

Georgia leads the series with 51 wins 43 loses and 2 ties.

Let’s take a look at the series by decades. Georgia owned the 1980’s winning eight times during that period.

The 1980 game, Georgia trailed 21-20 with time running out, facing a third down and long from their own 7-yard line.

Georgia quarterback Buck Belue scrambled around his end zone then found wide receiver Lindsey Scott open in the middle of the field.  I can still hear legendary Georgia radio announcer Larry Munson’s call of the play.  “Run Lindsey” lives on today in my memories.

In 1990, Florida hired its prodigal son, Steve Spurrier. The 1990’s belonged to Florida winning 9 times during that decade.

The 1993 game, Florida was leading 33-26 with five second remaining. Eric Zeier, the Georgia quarterback completed what looked like the tying touchdown to Jerry Jerman.

However, Gators cornerback Anthone Lott had called a timeout. On the next play, Lott was called for pass interference giving the Bulldogs one last chance. Zeier last pass was incomplete. Gators won 33-26

The 1994 and 1995 games are the only game since 1933 not played in Jacksonville. In 1994, the Bulldogs traveled to Gainesville and took a beating 52-10.

In 1995, the Gators went to Athens and embarrassed Georgia 52-17. Coach Spurrier stated after the game, “we wanted to be the first team to hang half a hundred on them in their own stadium, we heard no one had ever done that before.”

The 2000’s belonged to the boys from Florida. The Gators won 8 times during the 2000’s.

The 2007 and 2008 games stand out during this decade. In 2007, after a short touchdown run by Knowshon Moreno, the entire Bulldog bench rushes the field to celebrate.

Coach Mark Richt stated that he ordered his team on the field after the touchdown.  That celebration fueled the Bulldogs to a 42-30 victory. This game is remembered as “The Gator Stomp.”

The 2008 game featured two top ten teams with an inside track to the SEC Eastern Division race. The Bulldogs dominated the first half on the field but missed two field goals and failed to recover an onside kick. The Gators lead at half 14-3.

The second half was all Gators just like the 2000’s. Tim Tebow lead the Gators to a 49-10 rout of the Bulldogs.

The 2010’s are up for grab this Saturday.  Georgia leads the 2010’s 5 to 4 wins. With a win on Saturday, Georgia would win the decade battle for the first time since the 1980’s.

This may be the most significant Florida-Georgia game since 2008. The winner takes control of the division and their college playoff hopes are still alive.

Keys to the Game for the Bulldogs:

• Establish the running game (entire offense revolves around running the ball)
• Win the turnover battle
• Pressure Trask

Keys to the Game for the Gators:

• Tackle, Tackle & Tackle (no yards after contract)
• Contain D’Andre Swift (there is not a team in College Football that can stop him)
• Win the cornerback/wide receiver battles

Georgia is a 3.5 point favor. My prediction: Florida takes it 24-16