Gators News: Big football weekend also includes five other sports

We are just a day away from the annual World Largest Cocktail Party in Jacksonville when the Florida Gators take the field against the Georgia Bulldogs in one of the most storied rivalries in all of college football. But it is not just the gridiron gang facing UGA — the swimming and diving teams also host their SEC brethren in the O’Connell Center while the baseball team also travels to Jax to face the ‘Dawgs on the diamond.

Also on the agenda are the cross country and volleyball teams which travel to Columbia, Missouri, this weekend, and the soccer team which wrapped up its regular season and heads into SEC tournament play on Sunday. Here is everything you need to know to follow the Gators this weekend.

Soccer

The soccer team wrapped up its regular season at home against the South Carolina Gamecocks on Thursday, coming up short in a 2-1 loss. The Gators finish with a 4-11-3 record overall and a 3-6-1 mark in SEC play in head coach Tony Amato’s first season on the sidelines.

Florida opens up play in the SEC tournament against the Vanderbilt Commodores on Sunday, with kickoff slated for 2 p.m. EDT at the Orange Beach Sportsplex in Orange Beach, Alabama.

Swimming and diving

The diving team got a head start on this week’s dual meet with Georgia yesterday and the events kick into high gear on Friday. The No. 3 men and No. 12 women get going at 10 a.m. EDT in the O’Connell Center Natatorium, with live results available through the MeetMobile App.

Cross country

The cross country team returns to action on Friday at the SEC Championships held in Columbia, Missouri, on Friday. The men will take part in an 8k race starting at 11:08 a.m. EDT while the women are set to run in a 6k race at 11:50 a.m. EDT.

Baseball

The baseball team is one of three Florida sports programs facing the Bulldogs this weekend, with the Gators taking on their rivals from the north in Jacksonville on Friday night in an exhibition game. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. EDT.

Volleyball

The No. 23 volleyball team — much like the cross country team is also heading to Missouri — will face the Tigers on the court this Saturday with first serve slated for 6 p.m. EDT. The game will be broadcast on the SEC Network+ and can be heard on Gatorvision.

Football

Florida football looks to get back on the winning track this weekend in what is likely the biggest game this season for the Gators. UF comes into the game unranked while the Bulldogs are the top team in the country and heavily favored in the matchup. We can only hope that the Orange and Blue can spoil a perfect season for its hated rivals on Saturday when the game kicks off at 3:30 p.m. EDT.

• Florida Football 2021 Opponent History: Georgia Bulldogs

• 10 things you should know about the Florida-Georgia game

• Scouting the Georgia Bulldogs ahead of Saturday’s WLOCP

• Behind Enemy Lines: Getting the scoop from UGA Wire

• Gators Wire predictions: Does UF even have a chance vs UGA?

• Looking back at the last 4 winning streaks in the UF-UGA series

• CBS Sports picks Georgia, says Mullen should start Richardson

• REWIND: One of the biggest wins ever in the UF-UGA rivalry

• Here’s what The Athletic thinks of Florida’s chances vs UGA

• Mullen says Florida will continue to split QB load against UGA

Around the Swamp

• Kyle Pitts the highest-graded rookie pass-catcher through Week 7: Pitts has been dominant so far, reeling in 31 catches for 471 yards.

• Here’s where Kaiir Elam stands on Todd McShay’s latest big board: Since the conclusion of last season, one Florida player has stood out as a top draft option in 2022: cornerback Kaiir Elam.

• Former Gator Joakim Noah retires with Bulls on one-day contract: After 13 seasons playing in the National Basketball Association, former Gator Joakim Noah is retiring from professional basketball.

It's great to be a Florida Gator!

Follow us @GatorsWire on Twitter and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.

1

1