BATON ROUGE – Top-ranked LSU continued to prepare for 17th-ranked Florida on Wednesday as the Tigers are expecting to get the Gators’ best shot even though they come to Tiger Stadium without their starting quarterback.
LSU and Florida square off a 2:39 p.m. on Saturday in what will be a sold out Tiger Stadium. The game will be televised nationally on CBS. LSU is 5-0 overall and 2-0 in conference play following last week’s 35-7 win over Kentucky. Florida is 4-1 overall and 2-1 in league play.
“We’ve had a good week of practice so far,” LSU coach Les Miles said following Wednesday’s workout. “There’s been a great commitment to practice this week and making sure that we are getting it right. We are still a ways away from being ready to play. We need to polish and the put the finishing touches on the game plan tomorrow and Friday.
“I like the position that we are in. We are getting back to full strength in terms of the health of our team. We are excited to be back in Tiger Stadium for the second straight week and we are looking forward to playing a very good Florida team.”
Miles said that guard T-Bob Hebert and running back Spencer Ware have practiced this week and that both players will be ready to go on Saturday. Hebert missed the Kentucky game after suffering a leg injury against West Virginia, while Ware had to leave last week’s game with an injury in the first half.
Miles said that his team is very aware of what’s at stake on Saturday against Florida and that his team is focused on nothing but the Gators.
“There are no other games of any significance that we’re paying attention to,” Miles said. “Right now it’s Florida. Everyone knows what’s at stake, and Florida is a very talented team. It’s going to be physical game and we understand that.”
Florida will be without starting quarterback John Brantley on Saturday as the senior suffered a high ankle sprain in the Gators’ 38-10 loss to Alabama last week. Florida is expected to start true freshman Jeff Driskel at quarterback on Saturday.
“He’s a quality player who is very capable of leading their team,” Miles said of Driskel. “We are preparing to get Florida’s best shot and we are expecting them to come in here and play well, no matter who’s playing quarterback for them. They have a very talented team with outstanding players all over the field. They are well coached and they have a great scheme. It’s going to take a 60-minute effort of quality football to be successful on Saturday.”
The Tigers will practice again on Thursday followed by a walk-thru on Friday afternoon.