Sports - The Independent Florida Alligator

Eight Gators beat writers pick eight college football games against the spread.

SPORTS | COLUMNS

Picks Column Week 9: Hate Mail Edition

Oct. 27, 2017

What a week it’s been for Florida football coach Jim McElwain.

Malik Davis runs with the ball during Florida's 38-24 win against Vanderbilt Saturday at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Malik Davis: Exceeding expectations before they were set

By Ethan Bauer | Oct. 26, 2017

Malik Davis squeezed the handoff and darted around the right side of the Robinson defense. He rocketed down the field, spraying black turf pellets at the trailing defenders with each stomp and huffing air through his vampire-toothed mouthpiece. He arrived in the end zone 30 yards later, and the game stopped.

Lindsey Rogers watched as both of her parents dealt with cancer. Tonight at 7, the Gators will participate in the annual ‘Dig Pink’ match, which aims to raise funds and increase awareness for breast cancer.

SPORTS | VOLLEYBALL

Fight of their lives: How cancer has affected the family of UF volleyball player Lindsey Rogers

By Andrew Huang | Oct. 26, 2017

Shock is all Steve Rogers felt when he heard the news, as he was lying in his hospital bed, recovering from surgery on his ruptured pancreas.

Georgia running back Sony Michel (1) out runs Missouri linebacker Cale Garrett (47) to score a touchdown during the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 14, 2017, in Athens, Ga. Georgia won 53-28. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Gators focused on stopping Georgia backs Chubb and Michel

By Matt Brannon | Oct. 26, 2017

Michel and Chubb. Chubb and Michel. The more you hear those names in Saturday’s game, the more it means the No. 3 Bulldogs (7-0, 4-0 SEC) are doing what they want. Running backs Nick Chubb and Sony Michel are the focal points of a Georgia offense that will face Florida (3-3, 3-2 SEC) at 3:30 p.m. Saturday in Jacksonville. The two backs blow through tackles, break defenses with long runs and rank top 10 in the SEC in rushing yards per game.

Sacramento Kings guard Buddy Hield, right, hits the ball out of the hands of New Orleans Pelicans forward DeMarcus Cousins, center, as Kings center Willie Cauley-Stein defends during the first quarter of an NBA basketball game Thursday, Oct. 26, 2017, in Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli)

SPORTS | COLUMNS

Column: Taking the time to appreciate some good ol’ NBA dumpster fires

By Skyler Lebron | Oct. 26, 2017

The 2017-18 NBA season is now well underway, and already we’re witnessing some great things. Rookies across the league are having profound impacts, and several conference powerhouses are coming to form as they work through the growing pains of the early season.

UF soccer coach Becky Burleigh talks with her team following Florida's 5-2 win against Iowa State on Aug. 19, 2016, at James G. Pressly Stadium.

SPORTS | SOCCER

Gators soccer team drops final regular-season game to Gamecocks, 1-0

By Morgan McMullen | Oct. 26, 2017

Elexa Bahr dribbled left, cut right and prepared to shoot.

UF coach Emily Glaser will put redshirt freshman Elin Esborn and freshman Addie Baggarly into the top two spots in the lineup for the Landfall Tradition.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS GOLF

Florida freshman bringing “firepower” into final women’s golf tournament of fall

By Tyler Nettuno | Oct. 26, 2017

Over the course of its fall schedule, the Florida women’s golf team has had opportunities to win but hasn’t taken advantage of them.

The women's cross country team is dealing with numerous injuries ahead of the SEC Championships. "I don’t know exactly where that’s gonna leave us at the SEC meet," assistant coach Chris Solinsky. "This year, I think leaves us a little bit further behind where we would hope to be in a year."

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS CROSS COUNTRY

UF women’s cross country team battling injuries before SEC Championships

By Alana Gomez | Oct. 26, 2017

After finishing their last two meets of the regular season within the top five of the leaderboard, the Gators men’s and women’s cross country teams will compete in the SEC Championships in Athens, Georgia, this morning.

The Florida-Georgia swimming and diving meet started on Thursday with the diving event. The swimmers will compete today at 10 a.m.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS SWIM AND DIVE

Brooke Madden kick starts Gators meet vs. Bulldogs with diving win

By River Wells | Oct. 26, 2017

The moment sophomore Brooke Madden broke the surface after completing a dive, there was only one thing on her mind.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Callaway, Scarlett agree to enter pretrial intervention program

By Matt Brannon | Oct. 26, 2017

Seven of Florida’s nine players accused of credit card fraud are taking the first steps back to becoming eligible to rejoin the team. Receiver Antonio Callaway, running back Jordan Scarlett, defensive lineman Keivonnis Davis, receiver Rick Wells, linebacker James Houston, linebacker Ventrell Miller and defensive lineman Richerd Desir-Jones have agreed to enter a pretrial intervention program, which would lead to the dismissal of charges if completed, according to court documents posted by Alachua County public records.

UF coach Jim McElwain watches on during UF's Orange and Blue Debut on April 7, 2017, at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.

SPORTS | COLUMNS

Column: Anti-drinking game rules for Florida-Georgia

By Matt Brannon | Oct. 26, 2017

Substance abuse. Parking lot fights. Port-a-potties as far as the nose can smell. No, it isn’t graduation at Florida State, it’s the Florida-Georgia game.

Kadarius Toney carries the ball during Florida's 28-27 victory over Kentucky on Sept. 23, 2017, at Kroger Field.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Notebook: Gators’ Kadarius Toney, Tyrie Cleveland probable to play against Georgia

By IAN COHEN | Oct. 25, 2017

Kerry Dixon saw it in the spring.

After being named SEC Male Swimmer of the Week, Switkowski reached the podium in three separate events during the Gators swimming and diving teams' win against Alabama in Tuscaloosa.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS SWIM AND DIVE

Gators men’s, women’s swim teams top Alabama in Tuscaloosa

By River Wells | Oct. 25, 2017

On Wednesday, UF senior Jan Switkowski showed why he’s already earning awards just weeks into the season.

UF midfielder Sarah Troccoli scored her first goal of the season against Kentucky on Thursday in Daytona Beach. "It came at a good time because it was nice to go into the locker room with a lead instead of 0-0," coach Becky Burleigh said.

SPORTS | SOCCER

Gators soccer team bumping heads with ‘Cocks on Senior Night

By Mark Stine | Oct. 25, 2017

Coming off an impressive victory at then-No. 11 Tennessee on Sunday, the UF soccer team has momentum going into its final game of the regular season.

The Florida-Georgia rivalry will be rekindled this weekend in Jacksonville, Florida. The Bulldogs defeated the Gators handily a season ago after suffering three straight losses in the rivalry game.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

With history on their side, Gators have no fear of Georgia

By Matt Brannon | Oct. 24, 2017

Jeremiah Moon knows how important a win on Saturday is.

Shortly after the news conference ended, the University Athletic Association then stepped into the fray, releasing a statement that didn’t exactly stand behind the leader of its football program. “The University Athletic Association takes the safety of our student-athletes, coaches, staff and families very seriously. Our administration met with Coach McElwain this afternoon and he offered no additional details.”

SPORTS | COLUMNS

Column: How legitimate is UF coach Jim McElwain's claim about death threats?

By Dylan Dixon | Oct. 24, 2017

I’ve always been someone who tries to give people the benefit of the doubt.

J.C. Deacon looks on during the 2016 SunTrust Invitational at the Mark Bostick Golf Course.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS GOLF

Florida men’s golf team finishes tied for second in final fall tournament

By Tyler Nettuno | Oct. 24, 2017

After Round 2 of UF’s final fall tournament, Florida was in position to make a push for the lead. The men’s golf team held sole possession of second place and sat only two strokes behind the leader, Illinois.

UF coach Mary Wise talks with her players during Florida's 3-1 win over Marshall on Sept. 17, 2016, in the Lemerand Athletic Center.

SPORTS | VOLLEYBALL

Gators volleyball team continues to improve following season’s first loss

By Andrew Huang | Oct. 24, 2017

The Gators are beginning to bounce back from their biggest disappointment of the season.

UF head coach Gregg Troy (right) and associate head coach Jeff Poppell (left) celebrate during Florida's 183-117 win against Tennessee on Jan. 28, 2017, in the O'Connell Center.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS SWIM AND DIVE

Gators swim and dive teams compete at Alabama today

By River Wells | Oct. 24, 2017

Between the All-Florida Invitational and a double meet with Texas and Indiana, the Gators had 25 days of rest. For their next competition, they got four.

Gordon Neale crouches during round two of the SunTrust Gator Invitational on Feb. 21, 2016, at the Mark Bostick Golf Course.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS GOLF

Gators golfers John Axelsen, Gordon Neale in reach of first place heading into last round at Tavistock Collegiate Invitational

By Tyler Nettuno | Oct. 23, 2017

On Sunday, Gators’ freshman John Axelsen carded six birdies on the front nine, which led UF to second place on the leaderboard behind Illinois and gave Axelsen a share of the individual lead.