Three Key Matchups: Vanderbilt-Florida

Vanderbilt visits The Swamp today and there are many storylines in this one, so here we take a look at three matchups that will be key in this game.

The Florida Gators will likely still be feeling the affects of their loss last week to the Georgia Bulldogs when they host Vanderbilt later this morning in THe Swamp.

The Gators lost a chance to head to Atlanta and play in the SEC Championship Game in that game and it's anyone's guess as to how motivated they will be when they hit the field to face the Commodores. 

It would be easy for the Gators to overlook Vanderbilt because the Commodores season has been disastorous. If Florida comes out flat this one could be interesting. 

Three Key Matchups To Watch

1) Deuce Wallace/Allan Walters vs Gators secondary: Barring a miracle of sorts this one is on Deuce, or is it Allan?

Either way Vanderbilt will most liekly be without their top two options at quarterback, meaning that Wallace and Walters have spent the week battling to see who will face The Gators.

It's a daunting taks going against this defense for experienced quarterbacks, but even moreso if you are inexperienced and have issues on your offense.

This Gators secondary is good, but not as good as some others we've seen in Gainesville. They are certainly good enough to give whomever is behind center today fits for Vanderbilt. 

If they Gators pass rush doesn't get to Wallace/Walters, then how either quarterback handles what they see on the back end will be huge.      

2) Commodores Offensive Line Vs Zuniga, Grennard: Jabari Zuniga and Jonathan Grennard are two of the best pass rushers in the SEC. They, along with their mates find the quarterback regularly, collecting 29 sacks in their first nine games of the season.

Individually Zuniga (3) and Grennard (4) are a handful, though Zuniga has been hampered by injurys and missed four games. It will be imperative that the Commodores o-line handle these two and hope to do their best with the rest of this unit. 

3) Gators Receivers vs Vanderbilt Secondary: The Gators have five receivers with 20 or more receptions and 200 or more yards through nine games, led by Kyle Pitts (6'6" 239)  who is a mismatch nightmare for opposing defenses, and leads the team in both receptions (39) and yards (469) for the season.

He is supported by Freddie Swain, Van Jefferson, Trevon Grimes, Josh Hammond and Tyrie Cleveland, giving quarterback Kyle Trask multiple options down field. 

The Commodores defense has improved of late, but were still tourched last week by Bryan Edwards of South Carolina. 

Edwards is a better receiver than any of the Gators individually, but Florida's group is far better as a whole than the Gamecocks receivers.

It's a tough ask, but the Commodores secondary must hold their own and make some plays on the backend. Of course rush and coverage go hand in hand and the more heat the front seven can create, the better the secondary can be.

Yes, football is really a simple game, and these seem like simple matchups, but they will be where this one is decided.