Cocktail Thursday: Cocktail Party Edition

If your Georgia Bulldogs are a 14 point favorite headed to Jacksonville and you are just now coming to grips with all the reasons that might be a horrible thing, you could probably use a drink. I can help you with that.

You have every reason to believe that the University of Georgia will defeat the University of Florida in this weekend's football game. The Georgia defense is statistically among the best in the nation and has certainly encountered better quarterbacks than Felipe Franks. The Georgia offense behind an increasingly confident Jake from is clicking on all cylinders. And Georgia may in fact have the most reliable special teams in America, if not the best.

"It's different this time." An old saying holds that this is the most dangerous sentence on Wall Street. The one that has preceded a series of financial meltdowns.

It has preceded a meltdown or two along the banks of the St. John's River as well. Yeah, it was different when Ron Zook won two out of three in the series, too. It was different when Terrance Edwards dropped that pass. It was different when Stafford and Moreno returned in 2008 to reprise their dance moves from 2007. It's always different this time, except when it isn't.

In Florida I see a team with passable talent that is led by a suddenly embattled coach and which has taken on a bit of a siege mentality. It is the Gators against the world, and there's no more dangerous opponent than the one who takes that stance.

Look, I will admit there's a real chance the outmanned Gators get run out of the stadium early. I just can't bring myself to count on it. These Gators could in fact just be a strawman, a team (editor’s note: ninjas!) just as bad as their record implies just waiting to be thumped by a superior football team.

And what is the drink of choice when you're hoping that the Gators fall over like a sack of straw? A StrawGator. Made by Abita Brewing of Louisiana, it's a lager with a touch of hoppiness, finished with a little strawberry juice that gives it a fruity scent without being overly sweet.

Enjoy one or two while you're waiting for the Jacksonville hex to be lifted. Until later...

Go 'Dawgs!!!