BATON ROUGE – The two winningest programs in the Southeastern Conference since the turn of the century will square off on Saturday as ninth-ranked LSU travels to Gainesville to face 12th-ranked Florida in The Swamp.
LSU and Florida go into Saturday’s contest as the two most decorated programs in the SEC since the start of the 2000 season. Over the past 10-plus seasons, both teams have won 104 games and combined to win four BCS National Championships and five conference titles. The 104 victories by both LSU and Florida are the most in the SEC over the past 11 years.
Kickoff between these two college football powerhouses is scheduled for 6:36 p.m. CT and the game will be televised to a national audience on ESPN and ESPN3.com with Joe Tessitore, Todd Blackledge and Holly Rowe on the call.
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LSU GameDay Info LSU at Florida LSU will wear white jerseys and will occupy the east (opposite the press box) sideline. TV: ESPN Kickoff: 6:36 p.m. CT Driving Directions (Baton Rouge to Gainesville, Fla. — 588 mi.; 9h, 38m) Timeline Friday Saturday |
The game can also be heard on the LSU Sports Radio Network and in the Geaux Zone on LSUsports.net with the Voice of the Tigers Jim Hawthorne, Doug Moreau, Jordy Hultberg and Jim Nickel on the call.
LSU goes into the game with a perfect 5-0 overall record and a 3-0 mark in conference play. The Tigers are coming off a 16-14 win over Tennessee last week in a game that saw LSU score the game-winning points on a play that was considered an “un-timed” down. LSU is 5-0 for the second straight year and for the third time under head coach Les Miles. Florida has handed LSU its first loss of the year in each of the past two seasons.
Florida is 4-1 overall and 2-1 in league play following a 31-6 loss to top-ranked Alabama last week.
“We recognize that Florida is a very talented football team,” LSU coach Les Miles said. “We watched the Alabama game, and that was two very talented football teams competing. Florida was in the redzone a number of times and did not score. They outgained Alabama in terms of total yards and their defense held Alabama to just 273 yards.
“We understand that they have great speed and that they have tremendous athletes on both sides of the ball. This will be a great challenge for us, but I’m looking forward to taking my team on the road and lining up against a very good Florida team.”
LSU goes into the Florida game with a defense that ranks first in the SEC in total yards allowed (246.6) and rushing yards (79.0). The Tigers are allowing just 12.4 points a contest, second in the league and fifth in the nation. In its three SEC games, LSU has allowed a combined 24 points, the fewest by the Tigers since giving up 23 points over that span back in 1972.
The Tiger defense will face a Florida offense that is led by quarterback John Brantley (902 passing yards, 9 TDs) and running back Jeff Demps (414 rushing yards, 2 TDs). The Gators also feature a wildcat quarterback in Trey Burton, who scored six touchdowns against Kentucky two weeks ago. Burton has rushed for seven TDs, caught a touchdown pass and thrown for 42 yards this year.
As a unit, Florida is averaging 31.4 points and 339.8 total yards per game.
Offensively, the Tigers are coming off their best game of the season statistically with 434 total yards (219 rushing, 215 passing) against Tennessee. LSU will once again us a dual quarterback system against the Gators as Jordan Jefferson and Jarrett Lee will both get snaps on Saturday.
Last week, Lee tossed for 185 yards and Jefferson rushed for 100 yards, including an 83-yard score, in the win over the Vols.
LSU running back Stevan Ridley leads the SEC in rushing with 557 yards (111.4 ypg). Ridley, who scored the game-winning touchdown against Tennessee, has rushed for 100 yards or more three times this year. He rushed for 123 yards against the Vols and was named the SEC’s Offensive Player of the Week.
“The good news is we have played two games on the road, so how we travel and what we do on the road has already been established,” LSU coach Les Miles said. “That is certainly a nice feeling, especially for coaches. The fact that we have played some quality opponents help you in a game like this. We understand that this is a great challenge to us. Florida has a very talented team and it’s going to take great effort and execution for four quarters.”