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Florida vs. Vanderbilt, Game Thread, first half: Plus ça change...

Florida is suddenly very good again? Vandy is, well, Vandy? The more things change...

By Andy Hutchins
Sam Greenwood

My 25 predictions for Florida's trip to Nashville to tussle with Vanderbilt (7:30 p.m., SEC Network or ESPN3)...

  1. Treon Harris will throw fewer than 22 passes.
  2. Harris will account for more than 150 yards of total offense.
  3. Matt Jones will lead Florida in rushing yards.
  4. Jones will not lead Florida in yards per carry.
  5. Demarcus Robinson will have at least three catches.
  6. Another Florida wide receiver will catch a touchdown pass.
  7. Florida will have under 200 passing yards.
  8. Florida will have at least four drives of 50 or more yards.
  9. Florida's offense will average more than 4.8 yards per play.
  10. Florida will score first.
  11. Florida will score in the first quarter.
  12. Florida's defense will allow fewer than 4.5 yards per play.
  13. Florida will give up at least one play of more than 40 yards.
  14. Florida will force more than one fumble.
  15. Florida will have at least one interception.
  16. Dante Fowler, Jr. will have at least two sacks.
  17. Antonio Morrison will make a big play.
  18. Quincy Wilson will make a big play.
  19. Vanderbilt will complete fewer than 55 percent of its passes.
  20. Vanderbilt will be held to a field goal on at least one red zone drive.
  21. Florida will make a field goal.
  22. Andre Debose will make a big play on a kick return.
  23. Marcell Harris will make a big tackle on special teams.
  24. Florida will never trail by more than seven points.
  25. Florida will win.
  26. And when it's over, we'll be happy.

Star-divide

Would you have bet on Florida entering a game at Vanderbilt and it feeling like the good ol' days on Saturday morning last week?

Of course not. But that's where we sit now, after the Gators' threshing of Georgia last weekend in Jacksonville. Vanderbilt was going to be Old Vanderbilt for this game, for sure, given that Derek Mason's first year as chief Commodore has featured a loss to Temple and scuffling on a weekly basis.

But Florida looked like Old Florida for the first time in a long time — except, y'know, for the lack of a passing game — against the Dawgs. And whatever fear factor that might have existed for this game has been replaced by worries about a letdown or a look-ahead game.

If Florida had lost to Georgia last week, I would've worried about a loss tonight.

Now? I can't.

Go Gators.