Florida Gators Cannot Afford Loss to Kentucky Wildcats

By Tim Letcher on September 10, 2014

Kim Klement, USA TODAY SPORTS

No coach in the SEC is on a hotter seat than Will Muschamp of the Florida Gators.

After Florida went 4-8 last season, Muschamp knows that his team must improve dramatically this season, or he will likely be out of a job. One thing that Muschamp simply cannot do is lose to one of the lower level teams in the SEC. Especially this week.

That’s because Florida hosts the Kentucky Wildcats on Saturday, a team that the Gators have had unprecedented success against over the last two decades. In fact, Florida has beaten Kentucky 27 times in a row, a record streak in the SEC. Not since 1986 have the Wildcats beaten Florida. Steve Spurrier never lost to Kentucky while he was at Florida. Neither did Ron Zook, Urban Meyer or Muschamp.

Florida has already experienced an odd start to the 2014 season. The Gators’ first game, a home contest against Idaho, was stopped after just one play. The game was cancelled three days later, leaving Florida with just 11 games. On Saturday, Florida started slowly against Eastern Michigan before finding its groove late in the first quarter and smashing the Eagles 65-0, a result that was expected.

The season would become much odder if Florida were to lose to Kentucky. The speculation about Muschamp’s job security would become out of control, and that would hang over the rest of the season for the Gators. Such an unhealthy environment could lead to even more losing, which could send the program into a complete spiral. It’s not likely to happen.

Despite Kentucky’s 2-0 start, the Gators still have better talent, as well as the home field advantage. Muschamp can’t let his team lose this one, and it’s not likely that they will.

Tim Letcher is a contributing writer for www.RantSports.com and a member of the Football Writers Association of America. Follow him on Twitter @TimLetcher , on Facebook or add him to your network on Google.