Florida vs. Georgia: Three Key Matchups That Will Decide the Game

Which three personnel matchups will decide the game between Florida and Georgia?

Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Iron sharpens iron.

That's probably the best way to describe the upcoming SEC East showdown between the No. 6 Florida Gators (7-1, 4-1 SEC) and No. 8 Georgia Bulldogs (6-1, 3-1 SEC).

The winner of this game will likely gain the momentum needed to advance to the SEC Championship, probably against one of No. 1 LSU (8-0, 4-0 SEC) and No. 2 Alabama (8-0, 5-0 SEC).

Here are the three key matchups Florida needs to win in order to walk out of TIAA Bank Field victorious over their long-time arch-rival.

Note: All stats are via Pro Football Focus and ExpandTheBoxscore.com.

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D'Andre Swift in space vs. Florida's entire defense

Head coach Dan Mullen and company have said it: The Gators have an issue with making tackles. Those issues have led to allowing 435 rushing yards and 6.49 yards per carry over their last two contests against LSU and South Carolina. In those two games, the Gators missed 23 tackles, per Pro Football Focus.

On the season, Florida is missing 10.88 tackles per game, with linebackers David Reese II posting nine on the year, Ventrell Miller at seven, and James Houston IV at six.

On the contrary, Georgia running back D'Andre Swift - arguably one of if not the best running back in college football - is forcing 3.29 missed tackles a game by himself, with 407 of his 752 rushing yards (54.1%) coming after contact.

And Swift has only logged 45.6% of Georgia's carries this year - the team runs a true running back by committee.

The Gators' biggest defensive issue entering the bye week was their tackling and run fills - coming out on Saturday, Florida must prove that it was a point of emphasis as they prepared for the Bulldogs, or else... they'll look extremely unprepared for what the Bulldogs do well.

Georgia offensive line vs. Florida pass rush

The Bulldogs, behind one of the biggest and best offensive lines in the nation, are only giving up six quarterback pressures per game this season.

The Gators are creating 18.25 QB pressures per game, and have seen plenty of snaps off of the edge go to players not named Jonathan Greenard and Jabari Zuniga due to their ankle injuries - with them on the field consistently, that number goes up.

Something has to give.

This is the game that will tell us just how good Florida's pass rush is. They'll need to be disruptive in order to knock QB Jake Fromm off of his game-managing rhythm, as he's only completed 58.8% of his passes under pressure (34). Comparatively speaking, Fromm had completed 73% of his passes in a clean pocket.

Greenard and Zuniga could not have returned to health at a better time.

Kyle Pitts vs. middle-of-the-field coverage

Everyone knows it at this point: It's nearly impossible to stop Florida tight end Kyle Pitts.

Given Georgia's success in recruiting bigger, athletic linebackers scared me for a while regarding Pitts and finding someone to slow him down, but even five-star prospects will struggle with a 6-6, 240 lb. wide receiver playing tight end.

And honestly, the Bulldogs have some susceptible players in the middle of the field that Pitts can take advantage of. Pitts' thrives when targeting linebackers and safeties in their zones, with 25 of his 35 receptions coming in the short-to-intermediate levels of the field (from four-20 yards downfield)

Safety Richard LeCounte has allowed nine of his 11 targets (81.8%) to be caught 146 yards, giving up 16.2 yards per catch. Lining Pitts up in the slot and taking advantage of LeCounte struggling in coverage should lead to open seams and corner routes for Pitts whenever the two matchup.

And as for shorter routes like slants and digs, middle linebacker Tae Crowder is giving up plenty of receptions as well. Quarterbacks have gone 19/22 (86.4%) for 128 yards when targeting Crowder, averaging 6.7 yards per catch. If Pitts can get Crowder to cover him one-on-one towards the middle of the field, QB Kyle Trask will be licking his chops.