[JRL]

By Marc Weiszer | Staff Writer | Story updated at 11:13 PM on Monday, October 22, 2007

Extra preparation time for coaches and more downtime for players have brought Georgia success under coach Mark Richt, who is 13-4 with more than a week to prepare for a game.
For the first time in Richt's seven seasons, No. 20 Georgia will get to experience what that's like going up against No. 9 Florida, which has owned the Bulldogs winning 15 of the last 17.
Georgia heads into Saturday's game against the Gators in Jacksonville, Fla., off an open date for the first time since 1991. Florida is coming off a 45-37 nationally televised win over then No. 8 Kentucky.
"(With) them coming off a big game last week ... a lot of them are beat up and we're fresh," Georgia safety Kelin Johnson said Monday night. "So put that in your mind. We're fresh and you play like you're fresh. That's huge." Richt can't be sure if it will make a difference in the rivalry game.
"I don't know," Richt said. "Let's hope so, huh?" Florida has enjoyed a bye week before the game in 13 of the previous 14 seasons.
"Technically, we've got the edge if you think about it," Georgia cornerback Thomas Flowers said. "We've got the bye week. We've got an extra week to prepare. We've got the edge."
Georgia last beat the Gators in 2004, 31-24, after the Gators lost to Mississippi State the previous week and Ron Zook coached after being told he was fired.

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