Steve Spurrier: South Carolina win gave Florida ‘new life’

Florida has turned its season around in a major way over the past several weeks, and rode into its bye last weekend with their eyes set on one goal: taking down No. 1 Georgia doing Week 9.

Bulldog game week is upon the Gators, and former head ball coach Steve Spurrier can’t wait to see what his former team can do against arguably the nation’s best.

“We do have new life. That comeback win over South Carolina really gave us the boost that we desperately need,” Spurrier said Wednesday on the Paul Finebaum Show. “It looked like it hurt South Carolina a little bit. I think the Gators believe that they can play with Georgia. First of all, you have to believe that you can beat those guys. If we have that belief and we play a little bit better then we do have a chance.”

Florida trailed the Gamecocks by 10 points more than midway through the fourth quarter. Two touchdown drives later — and an inconsequential safety for South Carolina — the Gators pulled off the improbable 41-39 comeback, much to the dismay of the crowd inside Williams-Brice Stadium.

After the game, Florida head coach Billy Napier said that the win over South Carolina was a testament to the toughness and resolve that his team has shown over the last few weeks. Florida came into Week 7’s matchup with something to prove — and they did exactly that by never giving up until the final whistle.

Now, Florida is 5-2 and all of a sudden, sits tied for second place in the SEC East with No. 16 Missouri at 3-1 each. That’s ahead of No. 21 Tennessee — and Kentucky, who is Florida’s lone blemish on their conference record. Now, the season-opening loss to Utah is looking a lot better now that they defeated USC at home.

Still, the Gators have four of their final regular season games against ranked opponents, including two College Football Playoff contenders. With Georgia and in-state rival Florida State still on the docket along with LSU and Missouri before the postseason. It will be an uphill battle for the Gators from here on out, but at least the worst of it will be done first.

Saturday’s opening kickoff is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. ET live from Jacksonville on CBS. The Bulldogs are 14.5-point favorites over Spurrier’s former ball club, per Vegas Insider. The over.under is set at 47.5 points.