Florida vs. LSU
LSU hosts the Florida Gators this Saturday in Baton Rouge in a game that will determine which team is officially eliminated from the BCS National Championship picture. Outside of national championship implications, LSU can’t afford another conference loss if they plan to make it to the SEC championship (LSU still has to play Alabama and Texas A&M). Florida is just trying to get people to believe they belong in the conversation for a possible league championship.
The Gators will use a physical running game and try to run right at the Tigers, who have shown to be susceptible to giving up yards on the ground. Florida lost its starting quarterback Jeff Driskel to inury three games ago but Tyler Murphy has been solid in relief. His dual-threat capabilities may give the LSU defense fits. How he handles the pressure of 100,000 screaming Tigers fans will be key to whether the Gators are successful. Jeremy Hill is just starting to gear up after sitting out the opener. Hill ranks second in the SEC at 118 yards per game also scoring nine touchdowns. The Gators will run the ball early and often to control the clock and keep LSU’s offense off the field.
LSU has moved the ball with relative ease against every opponent this season, but the matchup with the Gators offers entirely new level of quality defenders. Zach Mettenberger has been fantastic this season ranking 4th in the nation in passing efficiency. He’ll count on Odell Beckham and Jarvis Landry to get open against a very talented Florida secondary. 
What will happen: This is going to be another fantastic SEC showdown – par for the course when these two teams meet. LSU doesn’t need to score a lot of points to win. Florida will likely try to sit on the ball and keep it away from the quick-striking Tiger offense. LSU has more playmakers and at some point the LSU defense will force Gators quarterback Tyler Murphy into making a game-changing mistake.
Prediction: LSU 27 Florida 14
The Play: LSU -7
2013 ATS Record: 9-5-1
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