Florida/Vanderbilt: Some Thoughts Before the Game

This game doesn't seem like it'd have the makings of being worthy of a primetime slot on ESPN2, but alas, the bigwigs seem to think so, given that the game will be televised at 8PM on the station. Vandy's looking to become bowl eligible for the first time in over 20 years, and Florida is looking to make the SEC championship game for the second time in three years. Here's some things I'd like to see:

- Brandon James. The guy hasn't done much the past two games, so I'm eager to see if he gets involved on offense if Vandy manages to contain him on returns. Maybe a few sweeps, swing passes, or some catches in the slot to keep the defense honest.

- Florida's other receivers: Deonte Thompson and Aaron Hernandez. I want to see these guys get some touches. Harvin, Demps, and Rainey will get theirs, but these two are good players in their own right. It'll be interesting to see if they're involved in the offense against Vandy.

- I hope Florida is focused on this game and not looking ahead. They're on the road at night, and Vandy still has a lot to play for. They don't turn the ball over, and they play good defense (and they force turnovers). I hope the defense doesn't overlook Vandy's offense, either; their unit isn't good, but complacent play could turn into unnecessary points given up.

- Offensive execution from the running backs. UGA did a good job of bottling up Florida's run game, so I'm eager to see whether or not Demps/Rainey/Moody get back on track this week. One thing Florida didn't do was use the option to get speed on the perimeter; they should go to it early to test Vandy's defensive unit and determine whether or not they can handle the speed on the edges. If not, look for Rainey and Demps to have big games.

- Line play. The offensive and defensive lines for Florida have been solid all year, with the former playing lights out the past three weeks. They've protected Tebow well during that stretch. Let's see if it continues against a Commodores team that's going to be very motivated to play to win; they upset Auburn on national television earlier this year, so they've proven that they can win big games. I'm still taking Florida to win by double digits, but they could very well lose if they overlook Vanderbilt.