Final from Cowboy Stadium: Michigan 33 Florida 17

[jbcarol]

 Kevin Brockway‏ @gatorhoops 21h21 hours ago

Rare big-game opener throws Florida right into the fire http://www.gatorsports.com/2017/09/rare-big-game-opener-throws-florida-right-fire/ ... via @GatorSports.com

Call it the Michigan effect. No. 17 Florida's season opener Saturday against No. 11 Michigan at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, will be one of the showcase games of the opening college football weekend. For the short-handed Gators, it will provide the kind of immediate test that could benefit the team beyond week one.

At stake is UF's string of 27 straight season-opening wins, the longest in Division I. The last time Florida lost a season opener, in 1989 against Ole Miss, Kyle Morris was the quarterback, George H. Bush was president and stonewash jeans were still in fashion.

Michigan, led by eccentric coach Jim Harbaugh, will present an entirely different challenge. Florida is opening the season against a ranked team for the first time since 1987, when it lost 31-4 at No. 20 Miami.

[jbcarol]

 Ryan Young‏ @RyanYoungSEC 12h12 hours ago

Spurrier: "(Michigan) fans will show class and their team has class. They're not going to be chippy and mouthy the way those LSU guys were."

[jbcarol]

 MLive Sports‏ @MLiveSports 47s47 seconds ago

Michigan Gameday: Wolverines begin new chapter in 2017 vs. Florida

After another 10-3 mark and bowl appearance for the Michigan football team, the Wolverines will take the field for the first time in 2017 today.

GAME INFORMATION

* Who: No. 11 Michigan vs. No. 17 Florida
* When: 3:30 p.m. ET
* Where: AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas
* TV: ABC
* Radio: Michigan IMG Radio Network (WWJ-AM 950 Detroit; WTKA-AM 1050 Ann Arbor; WOOD-AM 1300 Grand Rapids; WQTX-FM 92.1 Lansing); Sirius Ch. 81, XM Ch. 81, Internet Ch. 80
* Twitter: Follow Aaron McMann and Ryan Zuke
* Live updates: Join the MLive conversation
* Latest line: Michigan -4 1/2
* Series record: Michigan leads, 3-0

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

Five must-reads before kickoff:

[jbcarol]

UM 10  UF 10  12:00 2nd

[jbcarol]

UM 10  UF 17  10:00 2nd

UM QB change after another pick six

Holly Rowe is spinning that the QB change was always "part of the plan"

[jbcarol]

Florida blocks a punt and Gators are in business in Wolverine territory

[jbcarol]

Pineiro with a 47 FG attempt which is wide left

[jbcarol]

UM 13  UF 17  4:15  2nd

[jbcarol]

QB change for UM.  Starter comes back in to burn clock and end the half deep in their territory

[jbcarol]

Halftime in Arlington

Michigan 13  Florida 17

[Darren DeLoach]

Can not stand Michigan. I had to turn the channel; Griese and his Big Ten hype.

[jbcarol]

 Edgar Thompson‏Verified account @osgators

Once again, incredible offensive balance by Michigan: 215 rushing, 218 passing.




I know. I know.

[jbcarol]

Ryan Young‏ @RyanYoungSEC

Instant analysis column: #Gators' much-anticipated debut results in only more questions:

ARLINGTON, Texas — There were a number of ways one could have envisioned this much-anticipated season opener with No. 11 Michigan ending poorly for No. 17 Florida.

But the way this 33-17 loss unfolded on Saturday had to be the worst-case scenario.

The offensive line was anything but the strength of the team that coach Jim McElwain trumpeted from the spring through the preseason. Perhaps, in hindsight, that was more motivational ploy than honest assessment. Either way, it was disappointing.

The play-calling again underwhelmed. One ballyhooed slot weapon, Dre Massey, caught 1 pass for 2 yards. The other, freshman Kadarius Toney, didn't touch the ball until there was less than 4 minutes left in the game. Intriguing freshman running back Malik Davis, who rushed for 8 yards on his first collegiate carry, didn't receive another handoff.

And then there was the quarterback situation...

[jbcarol]

 Edgar Thompson‏Verified account @osgators 3h3 hours ago

Going to a long week back in Gainesville. Big questions to answer pretty much everywhere. Little to build on here.

[jbcarol]

Frankie Frangie‏Verified account @Frank_Frangie

My column on the abysmal UF offense.   You want to know why the Florida offense is so bad? It's the play-calling

In the aftermath of Michigan's 33-17 throttling of Florida on Saturday, you will hear about how the Wolverines physically beat up the Gators. You will hear that UF's offensive line, from which so much was expected, is overrated. You will hear that the suspension of 10 players not only took away the Gators' two best offensive players but caused distractions they couldn't overcome.

And it all will be a bunch of bunk.

OK, yes, Michigan was more physical. But there is a reason, the deep dark secret that I get the sense nobody on the inside wants to admit: The offensive plan, the play-calling, the rhythm – or lack of it – remain so abysmal that the players, frankly, don't have a chance. It's the same offensive plan and play-calling that couldn't get the Gators ranked in the top 100 in total offense in either of the past two seasons.

[jbcarol]

 Robbie Andreu‏ @RobbieAndreu Sep 2

It's just a hopeless situation for the Florida offense. The line, which Mac has been calling a team strength, is getting manhandled.

[jbcarol]

Michael Carvell‏ @Michael_Carvell

Critiquing Doug Nussmeier's offensive game plan for Florida-Michigan

Florida had one of its worst offensive performances under coordinator Doug Nussmeier in Saturday's loss to Michigan.

In the latest edition of Chomp Chat, Abolverdi and Cardozo gives their thoughts on Nussmeier's game plan as well as Florida's offensive line and quarterback struggles...