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No. 5 Gators Ready To Roll

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By MICK ELLIOTT

melliott@tampatrib.com

Published: November 8, 2008

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The Florida Gators are in Music City hoping not to hit a sour note.

They face off against Vanderbilt with a chance to clinch the SEC Eastern division title and reserve a spot in the conference championship game, which could springboard them into the national title chase. They will arrive for the game (8 p.m., ESPN2) ranked No. 5 in the nation and 24-point favorites. They have never looked or felt better this season.

That is the concern.

"The good thing is, we have more than four or five guys leading," Coach Urban Meyer said. "We'll be ready."

All the same, Florida is coming off last week's monster payback victory against Georgia. In four games since a surprising loss to Ole Miss, which came, incidentally, a week after a big rivalry win against Tennessee, the Gators have outscored opponents 201-43. Can they possibly keep up the pace without flattening out - at least briefly?

In contrast, the Commodores are coming off three consecutive losses after starting the season 5-0. Last week, they lost to Duke, which is usually not a good thing unless it's involving basketball or brain teasers.

But recent history shows Vanderbilt has been tough on Florida, especially in Nashville, where UF's 2006 national championship team labored to hammer out a 25-19 win.

"I think our guys get excited playing Florida," Vanderbilt senior safety Rashard Langford said. "It's a real competitive team, they're a good team, and we always play them close."

Vandy is also coming off an open date, and Florida provides an exceptional challenge. The Gators are all but perfect this season in the red zone, scoring on an amazing 23 of 24 trips inside the 20-yard line. The only time they did not score was late in a lopsided win against Tennessee, when they ran on fourth-and-9 rather than kick a short field goal.

Their last 10 trips inside the 20 have resulted in touchdowns.

"As we always explain success, it's some very good players," Meyer said. "I like our scheme, but the scheme doesn't make it happen. The players do."

Vanderbilt coach Bobby Johnson praised the Gators' talent and depth, but he said stopping the high-energy attack comes down to fundamentals.

"Tackling," Johnson said of the key to the game. "They're awfully good, and even if you play right, being in the right position, you've still got to make the tackle. That prevents the big plays, and big plays are what they do pretty well."

No. 5 Florida (7-1, 5-1 SEC) at Vanderbilt (5-3, 3-2)

AT STAKE

At risk for Florida is its dream season - a spot in the SEC Championship Game and a potential place in the national championship picture. A victory tonight guarantees the Gators the SEC Eastern Division title. Vanderbilt, meanwhile, is mathematically in the chase and could make the SEC title game by running the table against the Gators, Kentucky and Tennessee. Vandy needs one more win to become bowl eligible and make its first postseason appearance since 1982.

KEY STAT

Florida has scored more points (92) in the fourth quarter than any other quarter this season. The Gators also have allowed only one first down in the fourth quarter against three different teams (Miami, Tennessee, Ole Miss). QB Tim Tebow has not had a fourth-quarter incompletion in more than a month. The last fourth-quarter incomplete pass by Tebow was on the final drive in the loss to Ole Miss.

KEEP AN EYE ON

The Emotion Meter. Florida has been playing lights-out, collecting big wins against LSU and Georgia. The Gators would not be the first team to find the batteries a little low going into a game it is favored to win by 24 points. Also, playing in Nashville hasn't been easy for Florida recently. The Commodores have lost by six points or less in two of the last three meetings against UF at home.

KEY MATCHUPS

The Commodores have played impressive defense this year, ranking No. 1 in the SEC and ninth nationally with 27 sacks. Junior DE Broderick Stewart leads the team with 4.5 and has 25 for his career. Florida, meanwhile, hopes to make the Vandy offense one-dimensional, shutting down an ordinary running attack, then zeroing in on QB Mackenzi Adams (572 yards, five touchdowns).

INJURY REPORT

Vanderbilt - No significant injuries.

Florida - QB Cam Newton (ankle, neck), DT Omar Hunter (ankle), DT John Brown (wrist), OG Jim Tartt (shoulder) and OG Maurice Hurt (ankle) are doubtful.

PREDICTION

Florida 32, Vanderbilt 6

Reporter Mick Elliott can be reached at (813) 281-2534.

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