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Gators’ stout defense no sure thing vs. Hogs

Florida defensive back Teez Tabor (31) celebrates his interception for a 39-yard touchdown against Missouri with teammate linebacker Jarrad Davis (40) during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 15, 2016, in Gainesville, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
Florida defensive back Teez Tabor (31) celebrates his interception for a 39-yard touchdown against Missouri with teammate linebacker Jarrad Davis (40) during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 15, 2016, in Gainesville, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

Florida is a good defensive football team.

If the Gators truly are the No. 2 defense in the country, they can prove it Saturday in Fayetteville during their first test outside of the SEC Eastern Division.

It has been a while since anyone described any team as a Beast of the East, at least since Urban Meyer retired for a year before landing at Ohio State refreshed and ready for football away from the daily pressures of the SEC.

The East is 1-7 against the West this season, and that explains why, when the first College Football Playoff poll was released Tuesday night, three teams from the West were in the Top 10. Alabama was No. 1, Texas A&M No. 4 and Auburn came in at No. 9 after the 56-3 thumping of Arkansas on Oct. 22.

Florida did come in at No. 11 and LSU was No. 13. With five schools ranked that highly, it leaves no doubt the selection committee has great respect for SEC football, especially when you consider the Aggies were ahead of undefeated Washington and Louisville, which lost to No. 2 Clemson 42-36.

That is a statement about the strength of Alabama football. The Tide beat the Aggies 33-14. But A&M could go undefeated the rest of the way and still fall out of the top four, just like TCU did two years ago.

Now back to that 56-3 Auburn win over Arkansas. That's why most think the Gators will fly into town, score a few touchdowns and get back home with win No. 7.

Maybe.

The Razorbacks needed their open date for more reasons than just one.

They were pretty banged up coming out of the Auburn game, especially quarterback Austin Allen -- who hadn't appeared to be 100 percent since the Alabama game.

He got a week off to recuperate, and the defense -- especially up front -- got its own examination. The Hogs coaching staff went to great measures to work on issues that have to do with technique, positioning and mental approach.

When a team runs on you like Auburn did, and the Tigers ran like it was a track meet, it is not uncommon for players to forget fundamentals and start making mistakes.

That's not to say the Hogs are suddenly going to jump from the No. 87 defense in the country to top 25, but if they are going to win they have to be better, especially against the run.

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It isn't expected to be a high-scoring game as the Razorbacks have the 61st most-productive offense in the country and Florida is No. 75.

The big gap between the teams is their defensive ranking. Florida has that No. 2 ranking and the Hogs are 87th. Although that doesn't bode well, this will be one of the Gators' biggest tests of the season.

The highest-ranked offense they have faced was No. 21 Missouri, which they beat 40-14, but the Tigers had two passes intercepted and lost one of three fumbles. The Gators scored three touchdowns off the three turnovers.

The next best offensive team they have played is Kentucky, which is No. 71 in the country, and the other five opponents are ranked No. 92, 100, 109, 116 and 124.

Georgia, beaten by Florida 24-10 on Saturday, looked worse than No. 100 against the Gators, and no doubt some of that was the Gators' defense, but for whatever reason the Bulldogs ran Nick Chubb only nine times, and just twice in the second half.

After what happened to the Razorbacks at Auburn, expect Florida to come out running, testing the perimeter that Alabama and the Tigers exploited. If the Hogs have fixed that problem and Allen gets some protection, college football will see whether Florida is the No. 11 team with the No. 2 defense in the country.

Sports on 11/03/2016

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