Florida vs. Georgia: Will Gators atone for 2012 flop in Athens?

Since the last time Florida played Georgia, two short weeks ago, Florida has blasted LSU, Texas A&M, and Missouri, and Georgia has lost to Mississippi State and Missouri and beaten LSU, even though star Kentavious Caldwell-Pope had to get a tetanus shot after an LSU player broke the skin on his leg in that win.

Since the last time Florida played Georgia in Athens, though, much more has happened. The Gators are 19-6 since that 76-62 loss last February, got three NCAA Tournament wins in that span, and took all of those losses away from Gainesville except a home loss to 2012 Kentucky; Georgia is 9-12 since, and has lost at home to Youngstown State, Iona, and Mississippi State since then.

So, yes, Florida's on the way up at 15-2 and 4-0 in the SEC, and Georgia (7-10, 1-3 SEC) is on the way down. But there's also just no reason to believe Georgia has improved enough from the 33-point beatdown the Gators administered in the O'Dome just two weeks ago to make this a game tonight. Florida's got five starters scoring more than eight points; Georgia has just Caldwell-Pope, who the Gators held to a season-low 11 points, a season-low zero assists, and three rebounds, and Nemanja Djurisic, who is shooting 35.9 percent from the field. Florida defends very well; Georgia gave up 73 points to Florida A&M in Stegeman Coliseum. Florida usually appears to know what offense is; Georgia spent much of the first half two weeks ago teaching itself basketball.

The hardest thing for many Gators tonight might just be finding Florida on TV, as this game's being broadcast by the SEC Network. Fortunately, GatorZone has a list of affiliates.

As ever, I'm on Twitter and in the comments. Go Gators.