Skip Holtz on Bulls vs. Gators: 'It's finally here'

Tampa - Am I sensing a little insecurity among Gator fans heading into this Saturday's game vs. USF?

Considering they didn't do the usual pounding in their opener against Miami (Ohio), Gator Nation just might have a fractured psyche.

I'll say this: to not have a center who can snap the ball is more than surprising. To have special teams problems is also bewildering. That should never be a problem for a team of Florida's stature.

If I am USF, I find those fractures in Florida's football team an opportunity. Can they be rectified in a week? Special teams, maybe. Center, I would say no.

By the way, Quarterback John Brantley didn't play badly. He could use a wide receiver who can catch the ball. Even Tim Tebow couldn't control that part of the game.

The very good news for Florida is that this game is at home. That's the bad news for USF, a team now under the direction of Head Coach Skip Holtz.

As Holtz said last night, "It's finally here." Yes it is.

Well before Holtz took over the program, there was an outcry for Florida to schedule USF. Miami did, FSU did, and then Florida finally relented. It's too bad these two teams couldn't have met when they were both hot.

The line is not out yet, but I'm assuming that Florida will be a favorite somewhere in the high teens, low 20's.

Oh, and don't be so surprised Gator fans your team didn't cover vs. Miami (Ohio). They're not a bad team. They're just from a lower level conference foe that plays solid football. At least Florida played someone in week one.

What Florida needs to make sure of is that they don't look ahead to Tennessee and forget about USF. The Bulls offense can move the ball. I was not impressed with the fact that Stony Brook actually led before USF rolled off 50-plus points.

I can say without trepidation, Gators Head Coach Urban Meyer and Gator Nation want to win this game badly. Not by a few, but by plenty.

Remember that "Big Four" talk that has ebbed and flowed from the tongue of Bulls fans; it is still on life support.