Where the Gators Stand after 7 Games

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After a devastating loss against unranked LSU last weekend, Florida’s record fell to 4-3 when just a month ago, they had chances to beat then top-ranked Alabama. So, where did everything go wrong?

 

Defensive coordinator Todd Grantham certainly hasn’t helped matters with his defense allowing 454 yards against a struggling LSU offense, with 287 of those yards coming from Tyrion Davis Pierce’s rushing yards with a total of 3 TDS. But it’s more than just the defense. For example, take the Kentucky game, where playcalling was weak and special teams struggled. Florida is also dead-last in the SEC in yards per kick return.

 

And then there’s the quarterback situation where Emory Jones has struggled the past few games. Anthony Richardson brought life back into the offense when he replaced Jones in the LSU game, accounting for three key touchdowns and high energy that was simply unmatched. He did have two interceptions which is understandable as he is only a redshirt freshman compared to Jones, who has been a part of the offense for four seasons now and is making interceptions that a player with that much experience should not make. 

 

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And in the most recent news, Florida lost a commitment for the 2022 class from 4-star linebacker, Shemar James. I can’t blame him when Florida’s defense is subpar and Todd Grantham’s contract is up at the end of this season. Many fans are calling for his firing which has gone back to the end of last year. 

 

Even more than that, many Florida fans on Twitter are finding tweets from current and former players who are disgruntled with Todd Grantham and Head Coach Dan Mullen. You can see easily in recent press conferences that Dan Mullen doesn’t have the same fire and passion for winning as he did back in his first two seasons at Florida. Midway into Mullen’s fourth season, sitting at 4-3 overall and 2-3 in the SEC, there’s definitely some cause for concern. We’ll see what happens next when Florida travels to Jacksonville to take on top-ranked Georgia on October 30th at 3:30 pm.

 

Let us know your thoughts below.

Goldie’s Week 5 Picks: Can the Dolphins cover in Tampa? (and more)

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Goldie:

All Time Record: 163-78          

Vs. Spread: 119-119

 

21-22 Season:  37-23                

Vs. Spread: 30-30

 

Week 4 Record : 8-7                 

Vs. Spread: 5-10

 

Guarantee All Time: 11-7       

21-22 Season: 2-2

 

Upset All Time: 11-6              

21-22 Season: 2-2

 

Crazy Uncle Jeff 

All Time: 23-3              

21-22 Season: 7-2       

Week 4: 2-1

 

Goldie’s Guarantee

Tennessee Titans (2-2) @ Jacksonville Jaguars (0-4)

Vegas Picks: TEN -4.5

Goldie’s Take: Titans WIn 31-14

After a bit of a disappointing start to the season, the Titans look to get back above .500 with a win in Jacksonville. The Jags, on the other hand, have been a mess recently. Following their loss to the Bengals on TNF, inappropriate photos of head coach Urban Meyer at an Ohio bar surfaced. The organization has been dealing with these off field issues all week. Leaves me to believe that I’m not so sure they’re too focused on football over there in Jacksonville. Even if they WERE focused on this game, I’d still take the Titans to win and cover. Henry runs wild as T’s go into Jacksonville and destroy the Jags. I GUARANTEE IT!

 

Goldie’s UPSET of the Week

Buffalo Bills (3-1) @ Kansas City Chiefs (2-2)

Vegas Picks: KC -3

Goldie’s Take: Bills Win 30-28

Game of the Week, also UPSET of the week. The Bills have had this rematch of last season’s AFC championship game circled on their calendar since January. The Chiefs have been shaky to start the season, and the Bills have, so far, clearly looked like the best team in the AFC. Buffalo has been running through teams and seem to have found their groove. They’ve won their last three games by an average of 32 points. Plus this is a revenge game for them. Sunday Night UPSET in Arrowhead!

 

Crazy Uncle Jeff’s Lock of the Week: NO -2.5

New Orleans Saints (2-2) @ Washington Football Team (2-2)

Vegas Picks: NO -2.5

Goldie’s Take: Saints Win 27-23

Uncle Jeff and I view this game as a trend breaker. The Saints have seemed to lose their mojo a bit since that Week 1 beatdown they put on Green Bay. Last week’s loss to the Giants at home was not a good look for N’awlins either. On the other hand, Washington is feeling great after a miraculous late game comeback in Atlanta last week. We don’t see Taylor Heinicke continuing to play like prime Brady, and Jameis still has something to prove on the other side. Never fade the Crazy Uncle. Saints get back on track this Sunday with a win in the nation’s capital.

 

Crazy Uncle Jeff’s Lock of the Week: PIT +1

Denver Broncos (3-1) @ Pittsburgh Steelers (1-3)

Vegas Picks: DEN -1

Goldie’s Take: Broncos Win 24-21

A RARE occurrence where Jeff and I don’t see eye to eye. Jeffy likes the veteran presence of the Steelers at home to prevail. Whereas, I think Big Ben and the Steelers have finally fallen off the cliff. Big Ben can’t throw like he used to, and he sure as hell can’t run/move like he used to. Denver’s pass rush is going to give Pitt troubles all day. Teddy-Two-Gloves is a great game manager, and that’s the perfect counterattack to a stingy defense like Pittsburgh. Give me the Broncos to go in and take this one on the road. 

 

New York Jets (1-3) @ Atlanta Falcons (1-3) (LONDON)

Vegas Picks: ATL -2.5

Goldie’s Take: Falcons Win 30-23

Dirty Birds are kicking themselves after another 4th quarter collapse last week. However, no better remedy to get on track than a game against the New York Jets. That being said, New York does come into this one with some swagger after an overtime win against Tennessee. Anything can happen in a 9:30AM game across the pond, but the safe play is to take Atlanta in this battle of 1-3’s.  

 

New England Patriots (1-3) @ Houston Texans (1-3)

Vegas Picks: NE -9

Goldie’s Take: Pats Win 24-13

If you live under a rock, maybe you didn’t hear that Brady returned to Foxboro last week. However to many people’s surprise, the Pats were a first down away from probably winning that game. Moral victory? Belichick and the Pats will carry that momentum right into this one and cruise past Davis Mills and the frail Texans. 

 

Detroit Lions (0-4) @ Minnesota Vikings (1-3)

Vegas Picks: MIN -10

Goldie’s Take: Vikings Win 27-14

Although I’ve been one of the biggest supporters of the Lions’ fighting spirit this season, their already weak roster has recently been hit with the injury bug. Detroit has three starting O-Lineman iffy to play to go along with losing one of their best pass rushers to a season ending Achilles injury. Not to mention it’s a divisional game on the road. Expect Minny to win and cover with ease at home this Sunday.  

 

Philadelphia Eagles (1-3) @ Carolina Panthers (3-1)

Vegas Picks: CAR -3

Goldie’s Take: Eagles Win 27-23

Lots of question marks surround this matchup, but none bigger than the status of Carolina star RB Chistian McCaffrey. He’s iffy to play, and it’s evident that the Panthers offense is not the same without him. Even if he does play, he shouldn’t be at 100%. A hobbled CMC could be enough for the Eagles to steal this one on the road. Three straight losses after a win in the opener has the desperation starting to set in for Philly. ‘Birds get back on track with a much needed win. UPSET!

 

Miami Dolphins (1-3) @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-1)

Vegas Picks: TB -9.5

Goldie’s Take: Bucs Win 24-20

Tua-less ‘Fins head to Tampa for an all-Florida battle. Brady and the Bucs barely put away the Pats last week in an emotional roller coaster, so they could be resting on their laurels a bit for this one. Honestly, that’s probably just my Miami-bias talking. However, don’t be surprised when Brian Flores and the Dolphins defense keep this one competitive. Taking Tampa to win at home, but taking the ‘Fins to cover.

 

Green Bay Packers (3-1) @ Cincinnati Bengals (3-1)

Vegas Picks: GB -3

Goldie’s Take: Packers Win 30-21

Since the week 1 anomaly against the Saints, the Packers have looked like the contenders we all thought they were. Wins against good teams in back to back weeks has resolidified the Packers status across the NFL landscape. On the flipside, the Bengals have surprised many by their 3-1 start, but struggled to put away the Jags last week. That has me questioning their validity. Bengals are a nice up and coming team but I don’t put them in the same category as Aaron Rodgers and the Packers. Give me the Pack by multiple scores in Cincy. 

 

Chicago Bears (2-2) @ Las Vegas Raiders (3-1)

Vegas Picks: LV -5.5

Goldie’s Take: Raiders Win 28-16

Chicago has named Justin Fields the starting quarterback moving forward. Awesome move for the Bears, let the kid see NFL action and develop as the season goes on. However rookie quarterbacks with subpar weapons usually don’t result in a lot of wins. Not to mention the Raiders have been great this year. I envision Fields struggling on the road, and Vegas cruising to a victory to improve to 4-1 for the first time since 2016. Al Davis said it best, “Just Win Baby!”

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Cleveland Browns (3-1) @ Los Angeles Chargers (3-1)

Vegas Picks: LAC -2

Goldie’s Take: Browns Win 27-26

In my mind this game is basically a pick ’em. I love both of these teams and view them both as legitimate contenders. Usually in a game like this I make it a venue call and go with the home team, but the Chargers historically have been the most unlucky team ever. So I’m taking the Browns. I like Cleveland’s run-heavy offense to control the pace of play in this one, as the Chargers defense should have a hard time getting off the field. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, the Cleveland Browns are the real deal this season. 

 

New York Giants (1-3) @ Dallas Cowboys (3-1)

Vegas Picks: DAL -7

Goldie’s Take: Cowboys Win 28-24

The Giants showed us something last week in their overtime win in the Superdome. That’s why I’m picking New York to cover in this one, but I do believe the ‘Boys are the better team. However in a divisional matchup, 7 points seems like way too hefty of a spread. It seems every time these teams face off it’s a competitive matchup. Dak and the Cowboys have shown no signs of slowing down, but the G-Men are better than most think. Cowboys win in a close one. 

 

San Francisco 49ers (2-2) @ Arizona Cardinals (4-0)

Vegas Picks: ARI -5

Goldie’s Take: Cardinals Win 31-27

The Upset of the week committee took a hard look at this one before deciding to play it safe and take the Cardinals. Just couldn’t trust rookie Trey Lance in his first NFL start in a divisional game on the road against an undefeated team. The Cardinals murdered the Rams last week, and many thought the Rams were the best team in football. Kyler Murray has also emerged as the MVP frontrunner and all is well in ‘Zona right now. Good times keep rolling with a home win this Sunday to improve to 5-0.

 

Indianapolis Colts (1-3) @ Baltimore Ravens (3-1)

Vegas Picks: BAL -7

Goldie’s Take: Ravens Win 30-17

Hobbled Colts finally got a win last week against the hobbled Miami Dolphins, but now they have to go on the road to face Lamar Jackson and the Ravens?? Good luck with that. Baltimore defense will be too much for Wentz and the slow-moving Colts offense to handle. Ravens cruise to 4-1, while Colts are starting to get desperate at 1-4. 

Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes at the opening night event for Super Bowl 54. (Craig Davis for Five Reasons Sports Network)

Goldie’s Week 4 NFL Picks: Lions Surprise, Chiefs Recover

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Goldie:

All Time Record: 155-71          

Vs. Spread: 114-109

 

21-22 Season:  29-16                

Vs. Spread: 25-20

 

Week 3 Record : 11-4                 

Vs. Spread: 10-5

 

Guarantee All Time: 10-7       

21-22 Season: 1-2

 

Upset All Time: 11-5              

21-22 Season: 2-1

 

Crazy Uncle Jeff 

All Time: 21-2              

21-22 Season: 5-1       

Week 3: 2-0

 

Goldie’s Guarantee:

Cleveland Browns (2-1) @ Minnesota Vikings (1-2)

Vegas Picks: CLE -2

Goldie’s Take: Browns Win 34-21

Cleveland is the real deal on both sides of the football this season, but especially on the defensive side. Their fierce pass rush landed 9 sacks last week and held the Bears to a total of 47 yards of offense. Vikings’ shaky O-Line is going to have a long day trying to contain Myles Garrett and the rest of that unit. Brownies win and cover on the road. 

I GUARANTEE IT!

 

Upset of the Week:

Detroit Lions (0-3) @ Chicago Bears (1-2)

Vegas Picks: CHI -2.5

Goldie’s Take: Lions Win 26-24

Although 0-3, this Lions team has almost exceeded expectations in some ways. In all three of their games played so far, they have shown admirable fight against teams that are simply much more talented than they are. On the other hand, Chicago got their head handed to them last week by Cleveland, posting a total of 47 offensive yards. It’s clear that Justin Fields is not ready to start yet, and Andy Dalton doesn’t seem to be the answer either. The Bears don’t have a Quarterback. So yes, give me the Lions to UPSET Chicago in a rare road divisional win for Detroit. 

 

Crazy Uncle Jeff’s Lock of the week: DAL -4.5

Carolina Panthers (3-0) @ Dallas Cowboys (2-1)

Vegas Picks: DAL -4.5

Goldie’s Take: Cowboys win 33-27

At 21-2 all time against the spread, Jeffy is just getting more and more confident in his pick skills. That’s why this week he’s cooking up a 3 LOCK play! The first being the Cowboys -4.5. Jeffy loves what he’s seen from the ‘Boys this season, and he’s not buying the Panthers hype. He’s betting on the Cowboys to win and cover at home. If I’ve learned anything in the past few years doing picks with my Crazy Uncle Jeff, it’s to NEVER fade the Crazy Uncle. How ‘Bout Them Cowboys!

 

Crazy Uncle Jeff’s Lock of the Week: KC -7

Kansas City Chiefs (1-2) @ Philadelphia Eagles (1-2)

Vegas Picks: KC -7

Goldie’s Take: Chiefs WIn 31-17

The second of Jeffy’s THREE LOCKS this week is the Chiefs at -7. The fact that the Eagles and Chiefs are two teams with the same record, is quite the anomaly. Even with these teams at 1-2, most sportsbooks are still betting on the Chiefs with the best odds to win this year’s Super Bowl. Meanwhile, the Eagles are currently in the midst of a rebuild. Crazy Uncle Jeff and I fully expect Mahomes to shine as KC puts on a show in Philly. 

 

Crazy Uncle Jeff’s Lock of the Week: TB -7

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-1) @ New England Patriots (1-2)

Vegas Picks: TB -7

Goldie’s Take: Bucs Win 33-20

Emotions will be at an all time high in Brady’s return to the stadium that he called home for 20 years. Surely Belichick will be doing everything he can to win this one, but he just doesn’t have the pieces.It’s a statement game for both Brady and Belichick; a battle that is destined to fuel the debate between who is really responsible in New England’s for the notorious past successful legacy. Originally I had a feeling Brady would be so overwhelmed with emotion that it might affect his game, but then I remembered who I was talking about. GOAT takes care of business on an emotional Sunday night in Foxboro. Speaking of GOATs, Uncle Jeff is picking the Bucs too in his THIRD LOCK of this week

 

Tennessee Titans (2-1) @ New York Jets (0-3)

Vegas Picks: TEN -7

Goldie’s Take: Titans Win 23-10

It’s already been a tough season for Jets fans, as their team has posted a total of 20 points through 3 games, and it only looks like it’s going to get tougher. Zach Wilson has not been able to get it going, but what do you expect when you throw a rookie QB onto an offense with limited weapons and an iffy O-Line? Also it’s not like they have the best defense in the world either. The Titans will take care of business in New York as the Jets continue to be knee-deep in this rebuild. 

 

Indianapolis Colts (0-3) @ Miami Dolphins (1-2)

Vegas Picks: MIA -2

Goldie’s Take: Dolphins Win 27-21

Both of these squads are desperate for a win after subpar starts to each of their seasons. Miami lost an overtime heartbreaker in Vegas last week, and the Colts just can’t seem to figure it out. Indy has had a laundry list of significant injuries, and it’s only week 3. Like most Dolphins wins, I expect this game to mostly be controlled by the defense. Also, Brissett looked much more comfortable last week after having a full week of first team reps. Another week of Brissett as QB1 in practice will give their offense some much needed continuity. Expect the Fins to get back on track with a win at home this Sunday. 

 

Washington Football Team (1-2) @ Atlanta Falcons (1-2)

Vegas Picks: WAS -1.5

Goldie’s Take: Falcons Win 24-21

Atlanta stole a road victory last week against the Giants 17-14. Rare for Atlanta to have such a low scoring win, but it seems their defense definitely improved a bit from last season to now. Also this is a favorable matchup for Atlanta, as the No Names don’t exactly have a high powered offense. Give me Matty Ice and the Dirty Birds to get another defensive win to get back to .500. Venue call!

 

Houston Texans (1-2) @ Buffalo Bills (2-1)

Vegas Picks: BUF -16.5

Goldie’s Take: Bills Win 35-20

Vegas is not sugarcoating this one at all. Almost everyone expects Buffalo to stay hot and run right through the Texans. This should certainly be the case, however I’d advise staying away from betting this one. 16.5 points is just too unpredictable. Josh Allen and the Bills “circle the wagons” once again at home this Sunday to improve to 3-1. 

 

New York Giants (0-3) @ New Orleans Saints (2-1)

Vegas Picks: NO -7.5

Goldie’s Take: Saints Win 30-20

This one was a strong contender for the Guarantee committee, as the Saints play their first game back with a full Superdome in over a year. Not only do I think the Saints are the better team, I would’ve made this pick on atmosphere alone. Daniel Jones isn’t going to be able to hear his own thoughts in the building that the city of New Orleans considers to be its heart and soul. Saints win in the dome!

 

Seattle Seahawks (1-2) @ San Francisco 49ers (2-1)

Vegas Picks: SAN -3

Goldie’s Take: 49ers Win 28-23

The UPSET of the week committee took a long gander at this one after the Niners loss to the Packers last week. However, after extensive research we’ve concluded that the Seahawks pass defense is going to be the death of them again. Last week Kirk Cousins had a field day with this Seattle defense, largely due to the fact that the ‘Hawks pass rush was nonexistent. They only managed to sack Cousins one time. The Niners have a better O-Line than the Vikings do, so expect Jimmy G to have plenty of time to make decisions back there. Niners win a close divisional matchup at home. 

 

Arizona Cardinals (3-0) @ Los Angeles Rams (3-0)

Vegas Picks: LAR -4.5

Goldie’s Take: Rams Win 35-31

You could legitimately argue that the Rams have both the best offense and the best defense in the NFL. They have playmakers on both sides of the ball, and a great coaching staff to complement them. The Rams are a machine. Kyler will keep the ‘Cards in it, but give me LA to get the divisional win at home and improve to 4-0!

 

Pittsburgh Steelers (1-2) @ Green Bay Packers (2-1)

Vegas Picks: GB -6.5

Goldie’s Take: Packers Win 35-13

Guarantee committee took a hard look at this one as well before ultimately settling on the Browns. The Packers seem to be back after that strange week one beatdown they received, and the Steelers don’t have a quarterback. Big Ben’s arm is shot, and they’re still asking him to throw 50+ times a game. This is not a recipe for success. Unless the Steelers get a new quarterback, I don’t see them winning more than 5 games this season. Packers win in a rout!

 

Baltimore Ravens (2-1) @ Denver Broncos (3-0)

Vegas Picks: DEN -1

Goldie’s Take: Ravens Win 32-28

Although undefeated, the Denver Broncos are a bit of fools gold 3-0. Their opponents thus far have a combined record of 0-9 so we can’t really consider the Broncos to be “legit” quite yet. I expect the Broncos to finally be exposed this week. Lamar Jackson and the Ravens are a major step up from the competition that the Broncos have faced in the past few weeks. Denver is a solid team with a lot of promise, but they’re not quite contenders yet. Baltimore stays hot with a road win in the Mile High. 

 

Las Vegas Raiders (3-0) @ Los Angeles Chargers (2-1)

Vegas Picks: LAC -3.5

Goldie’s Take: Chargers Win 30-27

Nothing like a good divisional matchup on MNF. Both of these teams have to be thrilled with the way their seasons have started. Raiders are 3-0 for the first time since 2002, and Chargers are coming off a huge upset of the Chiefs. This one is basically a pick ’em’ in my mind, so I’m going with the home team. Chargers in a venue call!

 

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Deshaun Watson

The Deshaun Watson Fiasco

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There’s been more talk about a potential Deshaun Watson trade from the Houston Texans to the Miami Dolphins over the past several days.

Or rather, the last couple of months.

Rumor Mill

Fox Sports NFL insider Jay Glazer recently reported that the Texans are starting to lower their asking price for the franchise quarterback.

CBS Sports HQ reporter and USA Today NFL Insider Josina Anderson updates us on the current trade rumors

What We Know

There is a growing sense that star QB Deshaun Watson will soon be traded to Miami. To repeat, here’s what we know up to this point:

  • Watson and his camp want Miami, ever since this initially began.
  • There are members of the Dolphins “brass” who are interested in pulling the trigger.
  • The current asking price for is around three 1st round picks and three additional assets.
  • Watson is not suspended or on the commissioner’s exemption list. In the event of a trade, he could play immediately.

Miami’s interest in Watson is not new.

What is known is that rumors will continue to pick up on this front despite Watson’s league situation which includes:

What’s New

In finance, this is what you would call a high risk, high reward scenario. His legal situation remains unsettled. Stephen Ross, a successful businessman, understand this very well.

Per source, Chris Grier does not want to bring in Deshaun Watson. Instead, it’s all about owner Stephen Ross wanting to bring him to Miami Gardens.

However, the Dolphins are trying to get more info on a possible suspension before any trigger is pulled. Whether something gets done on this front remains to be seen.

From Donno Daily on our YouTube network:

  • Texans and Dolphins discussing three 1st’s, one 2nd, and two 3rd round picks.
  • Possibility of Tua Tagovailoa on the move to Washington for a 2nd round pick.
  • Murmurs of Monday being the day of the trade(s)

Ross could direct general manager Chris Grier to make it happen ahead of the trade deadline. Ross is the power player in Miami. If he wants this to get done, there’s a good chance that it will happen.

The Dilemma

In this scenario, Tua would be traded to the Washington Football Team. The New NFL IR rules allow it to happen.

“Players on injured reserve can be traded if they were sent there after the aforementioned September 1 deadline. The acquiring team can then designate the player to return, or immediately activate the player if his previous team has already done so.”

Amidst the injury to Tua Tagovailoa and the losses to Buffalo and Las Vegas, Miami has fallen into a rut. Unquestionably, there is a lot of uncertainty regarding Watson, the health of Tua, Brissett’s production and the offensive line play.

The Miami Dolphins have everything needed to make a playoff push which includes a talented defense. However, it has not been up to standards. The current offense does not pull its weight.

The thought is that Deshaun Watson, arguably a top 3 QB in the league could mask deficiencies and would help, but comes with massive risk.

In year two of an already ahead of schedule rebuild, there is a risk for Tua’s development as a QB. Of course, shipping him off to a new team and giving away assets to secure Watson (with protections) will be questioned if Tua succeeds somewhere else.

“It could take up to 1 year or 2 for full adjudication in the Watson case. Though anything can always happen at any time with potential settlements talks, at this point an NFL owner has to decide to approve a trade w/o full clarity with action, not words.” 

The trade deadline is November 2nd.

Ross wanting Watson and with Chris Grier hesitant, things will be interesting in the upcoming days. After all, these are the Miami Dolphins.

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Goldie’s Week 3 Picks: Betting on Josh Allen, Russell Wilson… and Jacoby Brissett

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Goldie:

All Time Record: 144-67          Vs. Spread: 104-104

21-22 Season:  18-12                Vs. Spread: 15-15

Week 2 Record : 9-6                 Vs. Spread: 6-9

Guarantee All Time: 10-6         21-22 Season: 1-1

Upset All Time: 10-5                 21-22 Season: 1-1

 

Crazy Uncle Jeff 

All Time: 19-2              21-22 Season: 3-1       Week 2: 2-0

 

Goldie’s Guarantee

Seattle Seahawks (1-1) @ Minnesota Vikings (0-2)

Vegas Picks: SEA -1.5

Goldie’s Take: Seahawks Win 31-20

Although the Vikings are desperate for a win and at home, I’m still not comfortable betting against Russell Wilson. Especially considering Seattle is coming off a heartbreaking loss to Tennessee. Russ and the ‘Hawks bounce back and get a win in Minnesota… I GUARANTEE IT!

 

Upset of the Week

Crazy Uncle Jeff’s Lock of the Week: GB +3

Green Bay Packers (1-1) @ San Francisco 49ers (2-0)

Vegas Picks: SF -3

Goldie’s Take: Packers Win 30-24

For the third consecutive week Crazy Uncle is riding with the Packers. Rodgers has never been one to fold in primetime games, plus he’s still salty about the Niners passing on him in the draft years ago. Rodgers makes the Niners pay in an offensive showdown! UPSET!

 

Crazy Uncle Jeff’s Lock of the Week: BUF -7

Washington Football Team (1-1) @ Buffalo Bills (1-1)

Vegas Picks: BUF -7

Goldie’s Take: Bills Win 24-13

Along with not having a team name, Washington also decides its best not to have a quarterback. Heinicke is going to have a very tough time against a defense that just last week held the Dolphins to a goose egg. Bills stay hot and “circle the wagons” at home this Sunday

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Arizona Cardinals (2-0) @ Jacksonville Jaguars (0-2)

Vegas Picks: ARI -7.5

Goldie’s Take: Cardinals Win 36-21

Sorry to say it, but it’s going to be another long season for Jags fans. Kyler and the Cards are going to have a field day on this poor Jags D. ‘Zona stays undefeated with a beatdown in Jacksonville. 

 

Baltimore Ravens (1-1) @ Detroit Lions (0-2)

Vegas Picks:

Goldie’s Take: Ravens Win 31-17

Although I do admire the fight of this feisty Lions team, there’s no way they beat the Ravens this week. Baltimore is riding high after a momentous win against KC last week. Expect that momentum to carry right on into this one for a ‘Birds win. 

 

Indianapolis Colts (0-2) @ Tennessee Titans (1-1)

Vegas Picks: TEN -5

Goldie’s Take: Titans Win 28-24

The Titans looked a lot more like the Titans last week, feeding King Henry 35 carries for 182 yards and a TD. This guy is a monster. Expect a similar game plan this weekend against a desperate Colts team. Titans win a close divisional matchup at home. 

 

New Orleans Saints (1-1) @ New England Patriots (1-1)

Vegas Picks: NE -2.5

Goldie’s Take: Patriots Win 23-20

Jamies and the Saints came way back down to earth last week after obliterating the Packers in week 1. Usually I would take the Saints in a game like this, but they’ve been living out of a hotel for a few weeks now due to the hurricane that struck their hometown. Plus the Pats are at home. Safe play is the pats in this one, although I do expect Saints to keep it close. Venue call.

 

Los Angeles Chargers (1-1) @ Kansas City Chiefs (1-1)

Vegas Picks: KC -6.5

Goldie’s Take: Chiefs Win 40-27

Can you name a more unlucky professional sports franchise other than the LA Chargers? Last week a bad call cost them a win against the ‘Boys, and now they have to go into Kansas City to play an angry Chiefs team. Good luck. Patty and the Chiefs put on a show and get a divisional win for the home fans. 

 

Atlanta Falcons (0-2) @ New York Giants (0-2)

Vegas Picks: NYG -2.5

Goldie’s Take: Falcons Win 28-26

Only 0-2 vs 0-2 battle going on this weekend, and once again I’m puzzled on who to pick for the Atlanta game. This one seems like a pick ’em for me, so I’m going with the more experienced QB. Give me Matty ice and the Birds to pull off a road UPSET this weekend. 

 

Chicago Bears (1-1) @ Cleveland Browns (1-1)

Vegas Picks: CLE -7

Goldie’s Take: Browns Win 31-20

Rookie QB making his first career start against one of the best defenses in the league, AND it’s on the road in the DAWG POUND? The kid is going to struggle. Once again I say the Browns are legit this season. Brownies cruise to a victory at home

 

Cincinnati Bengals (1-1) @ Pittsburgh Steelers (1-1)

Vegas Picks: PIT -3

Goldie’s Take: Bengals Win 24-23

Here I go again picking the Bengals to upset for the second consecutive week. I see promise in this Cincy team, the offense has proven they can really move the ball in spurts. They just need to put it all together. Plus Big Ben and TJ Watt both iffy to play… could be just enough to put the Bengals over the hump for a road UPSET!

 

Miami Dolphins (1-1) @ Las Vegas Raiders (2-0)

Vegas Picks: LV -3.5

Goldie’s Take: Dolphins Win 21-19

Miami bias may be kicking in a bit on this pick, but hear me out. Yes, Tua is out, but how much of a downgrade really is Brissett from Tua. Brissett has proven he can win games in this league, plus he’ll be far more prepared for this one after taking first team reps all week in practice. I think the Raiders get knocked off their high horse this weekend as the ‘Fins D looks to steal them one on the road. UPSET!

 

New York Jets (0-2) @ Denver Broncos (2-0)

Vegas Picks: DEN -10

Goldie’s Take: Broncos Win 26-13

Denver has been gift wrapped the easiest first 3 games of any NFL team this season. Both New York teams and rebuilding Jacksonville. Broncos will get the win at home and improve to 3-0, but I can’t regard them as “legitimate” until they beat a good team. 

 

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-0) @ Los Angeles Rams (2-0)

Vegas Picks: TB -1.5

Goldie’s Take: Rams Win 30-28

Heavyweight bout on SNF includes the only 2-0 vs 2-0 matchup this week. Both of these teams have come out the gates ROLLIN. This very well could be an early season preview of the NFC championship. I think Matt Stafford is anxious to perform on the big stage after all of those years wasting away in Detroit. Plus, the home field advantage should play a factor in this one. Rams win a close one on Sunday night. 

 

Philadelphia Eagles (1-1) @ Dallas Cowboys (1-1)

Vegas Picks: DAL -3.5

Goldie’s Take: Cowboys Win 38-27

Interesting stat in this one: ‘Boys have lost 7 consecutive primetime games, whereas the Eagles are 4-1 in their past 5 Monday nights. I expect this game to serve as a trend breaker as I predict the Cowboys offense to score early and score often in this one. Cowboys win in a Monday night shootout. HOW ‘BOUT DEM COWBOYS!

 

Gators’ Dan Mullen Looks to Stay Undefeated Against Tennessee

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Coming off a close loss to top-ranked Alabama last week, No. 11 Florida is ready to move on and take on another SEC matchup at home against the Tennessee Volunteers. Florida has a 30-20 overall record against Tennessee, winning the last 15 of 16 games, and they’re favored by 18.5 points as of Thursday, September 23rd. 

 

Despite the spread, this game should be entertaining nonetheless. Florida is second in the nation in total rushing offense while Tennessee is fifth in rushing defense, allowing just 54.3 rush yards per game. This statistic might seem daunting at first glance but Tennessee has not even played an SEC team yet, with their first three games coming against Bowling Green, Pittsburgh, and Tennessee Tech. Florida also accounts for over 550 yards of total offense per game so far. 

 

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Florida’s defense through the first three games of the season has improved from last season as well, allowing 21.7 points a game, 960 total yards, and 17 third down conversions.  Coach Dan Mullen has an undefeated record against Tennessee at Florida (3-0) and I don’t expect that to change this Saturday.

 

What is your prediction for the Tennessee Florida game? Let us know in the comments below.

 

Tua Tagovailoa made his debut in a brief appearance, but the big story of the Miami Dolphins is their rise as a playoff contender.

Quick Takes after the Dolphins’ Debacle

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35-0… The score of the Miami Dolphins last game. That’s right. The Dolphins worst shutout loss to the Buffalo Bills OF ALL TIME. Although it’s difficult to see anything other than downsides from this game, I will provide 3 of the biggest ups and downs from this past two weeks for the Dolphins.

Let’s start with the 3 worst parts of the past two weeks.

1.      The Offensive Line.

That’s it. The offensive line left nothing to be desired on Sunday. Our O-Line gave up 6 sacks, 12 QB hits, and allowed Tua Tagovailoa to get injured.

2.      Our run defense.

We allowed 82 yards, 1 TD, and a 6.3 average per rush attempt for DEVIN SINGLETARY. Keep in mind, Devin Singletary only rushed for 154 yards all year last year. We allowed him to get more than half of that in just one week. We also allowed Zack Moss to score 2 rushing touchdowns. This week was overall a horrible display of our run defense.

3.      Butterfingers

Over the past two weeks, the Dolphins wide receivers have dropped 6 passes, muffed a punt, and fumbled once. In my opinion, the worst drop of our season so far was Devante Parker’s drop in the end zone. Considering he is arguably our best receiver, dropping an easy touchdown is unacceptable and if he must improve on that.

Continuing with the 3 best parts of the past two weeks,

1.      X MAN!!

Xavien Howard is proving that he’s worth the extra incentives the Dolphins provided for him this season. In week 1, Howard caused a fumble, and in week 2, he got an impressive interception. When the play is analyzed, you can see that Howard somehow perfectly covered a slant route (the most difficult route in all of football to cover), and he also reached in front Stefon Diggs (a top 3 receiver in the league) to pick it off.

2.      Jevon Holland

Through the first two weeks of the season, rookie Jevon Holland is the highest rated rookie of the year. Against the bills, Jevon Holland had three tackles, two quarterback hits, and a recovered fumble. If he can continue to grow, and keep making a large impact, the Dolphins defense will have a star-studded secondary.

3.      Jaylen Waddle

Okay. I know, I know. He muffed a punt. But, the past two games showed major upside for 6th overall draft pick, Jaylen Waddle. In the first two games, Waddle has racked up 10 reception, 109 receiving yards, and a touchdown. Along with how good these stats look on their own, the energy Waddle brings to the game is unmatched.

Even after a shutout loss to the Bills, the Dolphins can still be an elite team as long as some issues are fixed on both sides of the ball.

Will Fuller

Will Fuller could provide a jolt to the Dolphins offense

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The Miami Dolphins have gotten off to a very positive start to the season, having beaten the revamped New England Patriots in Week 1 and ruining Mac Jones’ rookie debut.

 

The Dolphins eked out a win by the slimmest margin, beating the Pats 17-16, with Xavien Howard forcing a turnover to preserve a precious lead.

 

“Every game I feel like I have to make something happen for the team and give the ball to the offense. My mindset was get the ball out,” Howard said after the game. “We needed it and it was crucial. So I made it happen.”

 

Howard led the NFL in forced turnovers last season and wasted no time enhancing his reputation as a threat in the defense. 

 

The Dolphins will play their first game at home against the Buffalo Bills next Sunday and are not favored to win. The NFL lines have them at 7/5 for a victory while the opposition, one of the Super Bowl favorites, have been attached to odds of 5/8.

 

Meanwhile, the Dolphins will be hoping to get maximum output from Will Fuller when he returns. The wide receiver has seen his career stunted by injuries, with various issues causing him to miss spans and also bringing an end to his campaigns prematurely.

 

The player is reported to have an undisclosed injury which could fashion another slow start to 2021. Fuller served out the last match of his six-game suspension for the use of performance-enhancing drugs when his team beat New England and he is eligible to play in the remaining 16 games of the season. However, coach Brian Flores is cautious over playing the WR who has caught 209 passes for 3,110 yards along with 24 touchdowns since he came into the league as a first-round pick five years ago.

 

Flores has noted that the player has been out from most practices since training camp began in July. He also worked out on his own during OTAs in the spring and it could possibly lead to chemistry issues between himself and quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, who has struggled with his own form at times.

 

“We’ll work him in and see how best to utilize him in the offense and see how things go during practice this week,” the coach said on Monday. “We have a lot of guys in that room.” 

 

Flores seemed to suggest that Fuller wouldn’t simply usurp Jaylen Waddle, DeVante Parker and Albert Wilson in the offense.

 

The aforementioned receivers were played quite heavily against the Patriots and they have all spent time working on their chemistry with Tagovaiola over the summer. Miami passed for a total of 202 yards in the first game of the season.

 

“We have an idea of where we want to play him. But at practice we got to get timing,” Flores added. “It’s not putting people on a page as far as drawing something up. Getting timing with the quarterback, getting timing with the run game. You have to practice.”

 

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Fuller did practice for two weeks before he had to take time away from the team due to the suspension he earned for taking a banned supplement while he was on the Houston Texans roster last year.

 

The Dolphins signed him to a one-year deal worth $10.5 million, plus incentives that should add on another $3 million. He joined the team as its biggest summer acquisition and Flores will hope he can give them the same playmaking and athleticism he gave the Texans whenever he was healthy.

 

Parker has gone through similar struggles with fitness and missed most of training camp, as well as pre-season, because of a shoulder injury. He has gotten off to a great start this term, however, making four catches for 81 yards against the Pats. Waddle, the sixth overall pick in this year’s draft, also caught four passes, resulting in 61 yards.

 

None of the team’s other receivers had a reception during the game, though.

 

As for Fuller, it remains to be seen whether he will be allowed any action in the Dolphins’ home opener against the Bills and it will also be interesting to see if he has an immediate impact should he play in the team’s second game of the season. 

 

The Dolphins would have to make room on the 53-man squad by either waiving a player and possibly signing him to the practice squad, putting an injured player on the injured reserve, or keep Adam Shaheen remain on the COVID-19 reserve list for an additional week. They announced having cut fullback Carl Tucker from the practice squad on Monday.

 

Shaheen, though, was dealing with a knee injury that would have kept him out for a few weeks anyway. Using his roster spot does seem like the option that makes the most sense.

Goldie’s Week 1 NFL Picks: Charging On, A-Rod Stars, Ride with Russ

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In Year 1, Goldie provided consistent winners and insight, paired with at least one Crazy Uncle Jeff LOCK of the week. Seriously, check out his record, Jeffy doesn’t miss.

 

YEAR 2. HERE WE GO!

 

You can bet all of this at BetUS.com using the code “five” for a promo bonus.

 

******

 

Goldie’s All Time Record: 126-55              Vs. Spread: 89-89

Goldie’s Guarantee: 9-5

Goldie’s Upset: 9-4

Crazy Uncle Jeff: 16-1

 

Goldie’s Guarantee

Los Angeles Chargers @ Washington Football Team

Vegas Picks: WAS -1

Goldie’s Take: Chargers Win 23-21

I truly believe the NFL landscape underestimates the LA Chargers. This team is loaded on both sides of the football. The Bolts virtually have no holes in their offense. Solid O line, receivers, and running backs all revolving around the second year stud QB Justin Herbert. LA’s defense also has a lot of playmakers such as guys like Derwin James and Joey Bosa. Washington will take some time to adjust to aging QB Ryan Fitzpatrick running the offense. I’m looking for the Chargers to make a lot of noise this season, and I definitely anticipate them to win this one in the nation’s capital, I GUARANTEE IT!!!

 

Goldie’s Upset of the Week

Baltimore Ravens @ Las Vegas Raiders

Vegas Picks: BAL -4

Goldie’s Take: Raiders Win 27-24

UPSET ALERT! The Ravens have been losing Running Backs left and right this preseason. They’ve had to scramble and sign 4 running backs in under a week’s span. This offense is going to be in disarray. In addition,it’s going to be the first full capacity Raiders game in Vegas. Raider fans have been waiting for this one since Gruden won with the Bucs, even longer maybe. Expect the Black Hole to come different Monday night.  As if this game needed another storyline, Derek Carr is out to prove why he’s one of the most underrated players in football. I like Gruden and the Raiders to end NFL Week One with a sneaky upset against the Ravens. Al Davis said it best, “JUST WIN BABY”

 

Crazy Uncle Jeff’s Lock of the Week: PIT +6.5

Pittsburgh Steelers @ Buffalo Bills

Vegas Picks: BUF -6.5

Goldie’s Take: Bills Win 24-17

After months of preparation and research, Crazy Uncle Jeff is finally back in the lab this week! Jeffy concludes that this is too hefty of a Week One spread for the Bills to cover. Big Ben and the Steelers are historically better early in the season, we saw this last season when the Steelers started red hot, winning their first ten games. Expect the Bills to win the game, as they are the better team, but don’t be surprised when this is a much closer game than many people anticipate.  Both offenses will struggle, but I expect a hard fought victory for Buffalo. After all ,”nobody circles the wagons like the Buffalo Bills.”

 

Crazy Uncle Jeff’s Lock of the Week

Green Bay Packers @ New Orleans Saints

Vegas Picks: GB -3.5

Goldie’s Take: Packers Win 34-21

Jeffy is cooking up a two lock special for Week1! The Saints will be missing one of their most valuable players this weekend… the Superdome. Unfortunately this game had to be moved to Jacksonville, Florida due to Hurricane Ida that recently devastated southern Louisiana. This is a huge factor for this matchup as the Saints have one of the most hostile home crowds in the NFL. Crazy Uncle and I both expect the reigning MVP to go into this one and prove why he’s still a top QB in this league. This game can easily be the Aaron Rodgers show from start to finish, although it will be interesting to see how Jameis performs at the helm of this Saints offense that’s trying to win one for the morale of Nola. Still, Pack by at least two scores.

 

New York Jets @ Carolina Panthers

Vegas Picks: CAR -4

Goldie’s Take: Panthers Win 28-20

Sam Darnold revenge game! The Jets traded Darnold away for a bag of chips and a loaf of bread this offseason. Expect Darnold to take this one personally, and be out for blood this Sunday. Plus I expect the rookie Zach Wilson to struggle on the road in his first NFL start. Carolina by at least a TD. 

 

Seattle Seahawks @ Indianapolis Colts

Vegas Picks: SEA -3

Goldie’s Take: Seahawks Win 30-23

I like both of these teams a lot. They’re both well run organizations with overall solid units on both sides of the football. In a game like this it could come down to one player who is the X factor. This matchup’s X factor is Russell Wilson. The biggest advantage in this game is the quarterback position. Wentz is coming off another injury and he’s not yet adjusted to his new offense. Expect a close game but in the end I’m not betting against Russ. LET RUSS COOK!

 

Jacksonville Jaguars @ Houston Texans 

Vegas Picks: JAX -3.5

Goldie’s Take: Jags Win 24-20

The toilet bowl of week 1 kicks off at 1PM in Houston this Sunday as the Jags face the Texans. Houston has been a wreck all offseason largely due to all of the chaos surrounding Deshaun Watson. At first it seemed as if he was getting traded, then for a while it seemed he was going to jail, now nobody knows what’s going on at all in Houston. The Jags, however, aren’t as much of a disaster at all, they’re just a rebuilding football team. I expect T-Law and Urban to start their NFL careers off right with a hard fought victory. 

 

Arizona Cardinals @ Tennessee Titans

Vegas Picks: TEN -3

Goldie’s Take: Titans Win 35-30

Both of these teams made big moves this offseason to try and elevate their roster to the next level. For Tennessee the big addition was on the offensive side of the football adding all-pro receiver Julio Jones to an already stacked offense. On the other hand, the Cards added all pro Defensive End JJ Watt to their front 7. Both veterans should do wonders to help each of their teams, but this weekend expect the Titans to come away with the win. This should be a high scoring affair between two high powered offenses, but at the end of the day I don’t think there’s a defense on the planet that has an answer for Titans RB Derrick Henry. T’s win in a shootout

 

Philadelphia Eagles @ Atlanta Falcons 

Vegas Picks: ATL -3.5

Goldie’s Take: Falcons Win 31-26

I honestly don’t have much faith in either one of these birds. Both teams are amidst a rebuild, and don’t have much expectation on them for this season.Give me the veteran Matt Ryan to get a win at home in week 1. Atlanta’s beautiful stadium will be rocking full capacity for the first time in a while. Venue call. 

 

Minnesota Vikings @ Cincinnati Bengals

Vegas Picks: MIN -3

Goldie’s Take: Vikings Win 31-26

Cincy’s QB Joe Burrow will be making his first start since the brutal injury he suffered that ended his Rookie year early last season. I think he’ll be a bit rusty, not to mention the struggles that rookie WR Jamarr Chase showed in preseason. I just think the Vikes are the more complete team in this one. Give me the Vikings to win and cover in Ohio this Sunday. YOU LIKE THAT?!?!

 

San Francisco 49ers @ Detroit Lions

Vegas Picks: SAN -8.5

Goldie’s Take: 49ers Win 24-20

The Niners situation is one of the more interesting ones across the league. Many forget that Jimmy G had this team leading in the 4th quarter of the Super Bowl just 2 seasons ago. Now his job is in jeopardy. The Niners are an overall very solid team but the incontinuity of the QB position does worry me. Also expect the Lions to come out with a lot of heart in front of the home fans. Detroit has an island of misfit toys that might just surprise some people this season. Expect the Niners to win but don’t be surprised if the Lions keep this one close. 

 

Cleveland Browns @ Kansas City Chiefs

Vegas Picks: KC -5.5

Goldie’s Take: Chiefs Win 31-30

The Chiefs are many expert’s favorites to win it all this season, and for good reason. The Kansas City roster is easily one of the most talented in the league. However, Cleveland also has one of the most talented rosters in the league. The Browns definitely are going to come out with a vengeance in this one to try and avenge the loss that the Chiefs handed them to end their season last year. I expect a back and forth down to the wire football game, but I’m making this one a venue call. Chiefs win a close one in KC. 

 

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Miami Dolphins @ New England Patriots

Vegas Picks: NE -3

Goldie’s Take: Dolphins Win 20-13

Although these teams both made moves in the offseason to improve their offenses, I still expect this game to be built solely around defense. Both teams have defensive minded head coaches, and two young starting quarterbacks. The Fins had one of the best defenses in the league last season, evident by the fact that they led the NFL in defensive takeaways. Miami’s D should pick up right where they left off and have a feast against brand new rookie QB Mac Jones. Expect the kid to struggle.This game was a very honorable mention to the Upset of the Week committee. Rookie quarterback Mac Jones is being thrown into the fire against one of the league’s best defenses? Fins are going to Foxborough and leaving with an ugly, low scoring, defensive victory. UPSET!

 

Denver Broncos @ New York Giants

Vegas Picks: DEN -3

Goldie’s Take: Broncos Win 21-17

The Teddy Bridgewater era begins this Sunday for the Broncos, and after a lot of thought it seems Denver made the safe call. Backup QB Drew Lock may have a higher ceiling than Teddy, but at least with Teddy you know what you’re going to get. A very consistent solid game manager. Additionally, I don’t trust Giants QB Daniel Jones at all. So far in his career he has performed like a bottom 10 starting QB in this league, and has shown little flashes of greatness. Expect Denver to win a defensive battle. 

 

Chicago Bears @ Los Angeles Rams 

Vegas Picks: LAR -7.5

Goldie’s Take: Rams Win 24-10

So many reasons why the Rams are going to win this game. First game with fans in the new stadium on Sunday Night Football, all momentum is with LA already. Also the Rams upgraded at the QB position by acquiring Matt Stafford this offseason. And finally the biggest reason the Rams are going to win this one is because the Bears are starting QB Andy Dalton. If Dalton couldn’t perform last season with all of the weapons on Dallas’ offense, how does Chicago expect him to thrive with lesser weapons on the Bears offense? The Rams should steamroll the Bears on Sunday Night

QB Controversy Brewing in Gainesville?

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This past Saturday, Florida played FAU in its first game of the season, defeating the Owls, 35-14.

 

Redshirt junior Emory Jones patiently waited his turn since 2018 to become the starter this year after Kyle Trask got drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Going into this season, Jones has played in 24 Florida games, making the FAU game his 25th game to play in and his first career start. There was a lot of preseason hype surrounding him, as he’s on the Johnny Unitas and in some conversations for the Heisman. This being said, Jones didn’t play as well as we all expected him to. He finished the night 17-27 with 113 yards, 1 TD pass and 2 interceptions. Jones did contribute to the team’s 400 rushing yards, with 74 total. The two interceptions were definitely surprising, with the first one a forced pass to the end zone. There was also confusion on 4th and goal in the first half when Emory ran a quarterback sneak with coach Dan Mullen visibly upset afterwards. 

 

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I’m not going to sit here and say Anthony Richardson, otherwise nicknamed as AR or AR15, was perfect when he came in but his energy was just great. He finished 3-8 for 40 yards passing but what stood out to me the most was his rushing attack, running seven times for 160 yards. Two of his carries were electric, which included a 73 yard rush touchdown and a run for a first down in which he hurdled over the defender, both coming in the 4th quarter. With AR in the game, the energy was just different and you could tell he needs to have playing time because he’s got something special.

 

After the game, coach Dan Mullen said, “Obviously Emory’s our starter.”

 

We certainly don’t want to count Emory out after just one game as a starter, but it will be interesting to see who will have the most playing time with a key game in just under two weeks against top-ranked Alabama. This weekend, Florida faces USF, who didn’t look great in their season opener against NC State, losing 45-0. Only time will tell but there’s definitely a quarterback controversy brewing in Gainesville.

 

Photo from Al.Com