Sanctimonium: 2018

Florida begins its SEC schedule this weekend, so the table of statistics has been updated to accommodate for the results of the 2017 season.

Opponent	Games	Wins	Losses	Ties	Win %	First Meeting	Last Meeting
Georgia	95	43	50	2	0.463	1915	2017
Auburn	83	38	43	2	0.470	1912	2011
Kentucky	68	51	17	0	0.750	1917	2017
LSU	64	32	29	3	0.523	1937	2017
Florida State	62	34	26	2	0.565	1958	2017
Miami	55	26	29	0	0.473	1938	2013
Mississippi State	54	33	19	2	0.630	1923	2010
Vanderbilt	51	39	10	2	0.784	1945	2017
Tennessee	47	27	20	0	0.574	1916	2017
Alabama	40	14	26	0	0.350	1916	2016
South Carolina	38	26	9	3	0.724	1911	2017
Georgia Tech	38	9	23	6	0.316	1912	1981
Mississippi	24	11	12	1	0.479	1926	2015
Tulane	21	13	6	2	0.667	1915	1984
Arkansas	11	9	2	0	0.818	1982	2016
Missouri	7	3	4	0	0.429	1966	2017
Texas A&M	4	2	2	0	0.500	1962	2017
Florida Atlantic	3	3	0	0	1.000	2007	2015
UCF	2	2	0	0	1.000	1999	2006
South Florida	1	1	0	0	1.000	2010	2010
FIU	1	1	0	0	1.000	2009	2009

Starting from the top of the table, one notices Georgia is the Gators' most frequent opponent. Florida and Georgia have met 95 times between 1915 and today, and have been playing annually every year since 1926 (excluding two years during World War II, when UF suspended its football program). Georgia has defeated Florida more than any other of the Gators' opponents, although since 1950 UF has won 38 contests against UGA's 29 and one tie.
But perhaps Georgia should not be considered Florida's oldest rival. The first game against Auburn was played in 1912. Except for three years during the early Forties, the Gators and Tigers played every year from 1927 to 2002. When the annual UF-AU game was terminated after the 2002 season, Florida had played Auburn and Georgia 80 times each. In addition, Auburn is the closest SEC university to Gainesville. Auburn will still have played Florida more frequently than their arch-nemesis, Alabama, until they meet again this November.
Kentucky has played Florida more than anyone besides UGA and Auburn... this may be surprising considering the distance between Lexington and Gainesville. Indeed, for many years (1933 to 1992) UK was the farthest conference opponent from UF. Kentucky was also the northernmost SEC school (now Missouri), while Florida is the southernmost. Today, only Arkansas, Missouri, and Texas A&M are farther than Lexington. Nonetheless, they have played every year since 1967. This series has been terribly lopsided in the last half-century; since the teams began playing annually, Florida has won 46 times while Kentucky's won five.
Louisiana State is the Gators' most frequent opponent currently in the SEC's West division and still playing Florida annually. They had never played each other until both teams joined the SEC, but have played fairly regularly since 1953 (annually since 1971). When the conference split into East and West, it was decided that Florida would still play two western teams annually. While the Auburn choice was obvious (it was an old and competitive rivalry), LSU was neither the Gators' first- nor second-most frequently played western team. As a matter of fact, they were third, but that will be explained farther down. Nonetheless, the two southernmost schools in the SEC seem apt rivals, as the series is among the most competitive in the conference.
Not surprisingly, Florida State is the most frequent non-conference rival of the Gators. The game has been played annually since its inception in 1958. The two North Florida schools share an intertwined history that traces back the Seminary Act of 1851, while the Buckman Act of 1905 established the modern campuses of both institutions. Florida State has played each the Gators and the Miami Hurricanes 62 times. Although the Seminoles and the Hurricanes first met in 1951, they did not start annual play until 1969. That series is led by Miami 32-30.
Miami is the most frequent non-conference opponent that Florida no longer plays annually. Opinion among Gator fans is split as to whether this series or that with Auburn is the most unfortunate casualty of scheduling changes. Other than two years during the war, the Gators and the 'Canes played every year from 1938 to 1987. When the UF athletic department decided to cut its number of annual in-state opponents from two to one, it was decided that Florida State would be the one to remain. By that time, Florida State, the other large public university in North Florida, had displaced the smaller private school in South Florida as the Gators' #1 in-state rival.
When the conference split in 1992, the Gators needed two western schools to play annually. Auburn was the first, but who would be the second? Surprisingly, before the split Florida had played Mississippi State more frequently than any other western opponent besides Auburn (48 times to LSU's 39). However, that series had been far less competitive to that point (Florida had led it 30-16-2). The decision for Florida and LSU, whose series at the time was led by LSU 18-17-3, to play annually was made partially in the interest of balancing and competitiveness. Ironically, the series between UF and MSU has been split an even 3-3 while Florida leads LSU 15-11 since the divisional schism.
Of all series between current annual opponents, that with Vanderbilt is the most lopsided. It was played somewhat infrequently until the SEC East division was created in 1992, though at the time Florida only led 14-9-2. Florida has dominated since then, with 25 wins to Vanderbilt's single victory.
Although they first met in 1916, Florida and Tennessee have only been playing each other annually since 1990. Tennessee had previously dominated the series, though that changed after Tennessee-native-son-but-Gator-alum Steve Spurrier took the helm as Gator head coach. Florida has led 21-7 since the day Spurrier was hired. The series peaked in intensity during the 1990s, when both teams battled for domination of the SEC East.
Alabama has played Florida on 40 occasions. The Gators and the Crimson Tide have played infrequently since first facing off in 1916. Of their 40 meetings, nine have been SEC Championship games. In such games, the Tide lead with five wins to Florida's four. The Gators have a lower winning percentage against Alabama, the traditional hegemon of the conference, than they have against any other remaining SEC member.
Before South Carolina joined the SEC in 1992, they had only played the Gators on 12 occasions (and not since 1964), although their initial contest, a 6-6 draw in 1911, was Florida's first against any opponent that would later become a member of the SEC. Before the expansion, the Gators had led the series 6-3-3, but since have led 20-6. However, since Steve Spurrier was given the reins at South Carolina in 2005 (and later replaced by Will Muschamp, another former Florida head coach, in 2016), Florida has held only a slight 7-6 lead over Carolina.
It may surprise many that Florida has played Georgia Tech so frequently. As a matter of fact, the Yellow Jackets have played the Gators 38 times – as many or more times than five modern members of the SEC! However, the Gators did play Georgia Tech quite regularly from 1929 until the Jackets left the SEC after 1963. This is also the most lopsided series against the Gators of any opponent they have played more than ten times. The Orange and Blue only triumphed on nine occasions in 38 attempts against the Yellow Jackets. Had that series continued, one would imagine, that trend probably would have reversed. The Gators have not met the Yellow Jackets on the gridiron since a 27-6 triumph in 1981.
Despite both being charter members of the SEC, Florida and Mississippi have only met 24 times. Since first playing in 1926, the Gators and the Rebels have only played more than two consecutive years on one occasion (1944-1948). As of the most recent conference alignment, this is unlikely to change any time soon. The Gators have also defeated Ole Miss less frequently than any other charter member of the SEC still a member of the conference.
Like Georgia Tech, Tulane was once a member of the SEC and thus have some history playing the Gators. Until 1958, the Green Wave actually led the series with Florida 6-2-2. However, in 1958 the Gators won for the first time in 36 years and have not lost since. Since Tulane left the conference after 1966, they have only played Florida five times (the last being a 63-21 Gator victory in 1984).
Florida and Arkansas have played on 11 occasions – the first was in Houston for the Bluebonnet Bowl while two others were in Atlanta for the SEC Championship. Arkansas's two wins came in the 1982 Bluebonnet Bowl and the most recent competition in Fayetteville. Thus, this is the most lopsided series between Florida and any of their SEC opponents.
Missouri has only played the Gators seven times, though they are currently scheduled to play on an annual basis. The Tigers won the first match-up, the 1966 Sugar Bowl, despite a furious comeback-attempt led by quarterback Steve Spurrier. Since Missouri joined the conference in 2012, Florida and Missouri have split the series with three wins each.
Florida has only played Texas A&M four times, less than any other conference opponent. As members of different SEC divisions, they only play infrequently. The first game was played in 1962 and won handily by the Gators in Gainesville. The second game was the January 1977 Sun Bowl in El Paso. That game was won by the Aggies. The two opponents have each defeated the other once (at the other's stadium) since Texas A&M joined the SEC in 2012.
The Gators have played Florida Atlantic three times and UCF twice; they have only played South Florida and FIU once each. While generally competitive baseball series, the Gators have never lost to one of the four newer in-state programs on the gridiron. Florida Atlantic came close to taking down the Gators in 2015, when it took overtime for the Gators to put away the Owls in the Swamp.
Not included in the table above but also of note: Florida leads Sewanee (another charter member of the SEC who left in 1940 and now play in Division III) in their series, 7-2-0; UF leads Florida A&M 1-0-0, Florida Southern 13-1-0, Rollins 13-2-1, Stetson 15-2-2, and Tampa 5-0-0.

Wednesday, December 12, 2018

Bowl Predictions: 2018-19

Thursday, September 6, 2018

Gator Statistics: Conference and In-State Rivals