Date & Time: Saturday, November 16th, 2024, 2:30 PM

Location: Ben Hill Stadium, Gainesville, FL

Spread: LSU -4

O/U: 55

TV: ABC

Saturday afternoon, LSU and Florida will meet for the 71st time on the football field. LSU leads the series 34-33-3. The Tigers had to vacate the 2013-2015 games. The 1st matchup between these 2 schools was in 1937, and the Tigers came away with a 19-0 victory.

Florida, 4-5, 2-4, is coming into its 7th SEC game of the season. The Gator offense is 12th in the SEC in total yards per game (383.3), 10th in the SEC in passing yards per game (232.2), and 10th in the SEC in rushing yards per game (151.1). The Gators have played 3 quarterbacks this season: Graham Mertz, Aidan Warner, and DJ Lagway. Mertz is out for the season, Warner is a redshirt freshman transfer from Yale, and Lagway injured his hamstring, but he may be back for this game. Florida will use multiple running backs. Jadan Baugh (411 rushing yards & 6 TDs), Ja'Kobi Jackson (343 rushing yards & 5 TDs), and Montrell Johnson Jr. (373 rushing yards & 4 TDs). Johnson Jr. is a bit dinged up. The top 2 pass catchers for the Gators are Elijah Badger (560 receiving yards & 2 TDs) and Chimere Dike (523 receiving yards & 2 TDs). The Gator defense is 15th in the SEC in total yards per game given up (401.4), 13th in the SEC in passing yards per game given up (216.6), and 15th in the SEC in rushing yards per game given up (150.8). The defensive line is led by Tyreak Sapp (3.5 sacks & 27 tackles), George Gumbs Jr. (3 sacks & 24 tackles), and T.J. Searcy (2 sacks & 24 tackles). The linebacker room is led by Shemar James (37 tackles), Grayson Howard (37 tackles), and Jaden Robinson (36 tackles). The defensive backfield is led by Trikweze Bridges (45 tackles), Jordan Castell (40 tackles & 5 PBUs), and Jason Marshall Jr. (4 PBUs).

LSU (#22), 6-3, 3-2, is entering its 6th SEC contest of the season. LSU's offense is 5th in the SEC in total yards per game (436.3), 2nd in the SEC in passing yards per game (322.3), and 16th (LAST) in the SEC in rushing yards per game (114). Garrett Nussmeier is the leader of this Tiger offense. Nuss is in the top 12 in the nation in passing yards (2866), completions (235), and passing TDs (21), but he is tied for the 2nd most interceptions thrown in the nation (11). The Tigers will use 2 running backs, Josh Williams (250 rushing yards, 141 receiving yards, & 3 TDs) and Caden Durham (460 rushing yards, 202 receiving yards, 6 rushing TDs, & 2 receiving TDs). The top pass catchers for the Tigers are Kyren Lacy (46 receptions, 697 receiving yards, & 7 TDs), Aaron Anderson (39 receptions, 641 receiving yards, & 4 TDs), and Mason Taylor (43 receptions, 419 receiving yards, & 2 TDs). Lacy, Anderson, and Taylor are all in the top 12 in the SEC in receptions. Lacy and Anderson are in the top 8 in the SEC in receiving yards. Lacy is tied for the most receiving TDs in the SEC. The Tiger defense is 13th in the SEC in total yards per game given up (367.8), 10th in the SEC in passing yards per game given up (216.6), and 14th in the SEC in rushing yards per game given up (150.8). The defensive line is led by edge rushers Bradyn Swinson (8 sacks) and Sai'vion Jones (4.5 sacks). Swinson has the 4th most sacks in the SEC. The leaders in the linebacker room are Whit Weeks (89 tackles) and Greg Penn III (66 tackles). Weeks and GP3 are in the top 10 in the SEC in tackles. The defensive backfield is led by Ashton Stamps and Zy Alexander. Stamps has the 4th most PBUs in the SEC, and Alexander has 2 INTs this season.

KEYS TO THE GAME

- Can the Tigers keep their playmakers involved?

- Can you stick with a game plan in this one?

- If DJ Lagway is back, can you contain him? If he sits, this is a perfect matchup for the Tigers.

- This Gator defense is one before last in rushing yards per game given up. You have to get something going on the ground.

Fun Fact: Florida coaches Russ Callaway and Jabbar Juluke have both been on LSU's football staff in the past.

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