The Bengal Tigahs are coming off one of their worst defensive performances in recent memory, a 17-55 beatdown at the hands of the Alabama Crimson Tide. In that game TJ Finley was 14/28 for 144 yards and 1 TD (72.7 QBR) and Max Johnson was 11/17 for 110 yards (71.3 QBR). LSU did manage 98 rushing yards, but a fumble did not help their cause. Against common opponent Texas A&M registered nearly identical stats as they did against Alabama, but with more interceptions on their way to a 7-20 loss. LSU managed an entire 36 yards rushing against the Aggies. Compare that against the Gators' 90 yards rushing against A&M and 312 yards passing in a much closer 38-41 loss and by the transitive property one could assume the Gators should have a good day against LSU. LSU's other common opponents include a 41-7 victory against Vanderbilt (back when they had Brennan at QB), a 41-45 loss to Missouri, a 52-24 victory over South Carolina, a 24-27 loss to Arkansas, and the aforementioned loss to Texas A&M.
The Fightin' Gators are 33-30-3 all-time against the Bengal Tigahs in a rivalry that goes back to 1937. The Gators and the Tigers have split the last two--a 27-19 victory in 2018 and a 28-42 loss in 2019 that was closer than the score shows. Florida leads the series in the Swamp 16-13-3 and are tied in Baton Rouge at 17-17.
Look for the Gators to spread the ball around, as they are the only team in the nation with three players with 8+ touchdown receptions (Kyle Pitts, Tre Grimes, and Kadarius Toney). Only the 1996 Gators were this diverse with Reidel Anthony, Ike Hilliard, and Jacquez Green. The Gators are #7 in the nation with 7.35 yards per play. The only other team from Florida that averaged more than 7.1 was the 1995 Gators at 7.4 yards per play. Last year the Gators averaged 6.47 yards per play, which was good for #16 in the nation. The last time the Gators were close to 7 yards per play was in 2009. With a struggling running game, you can bet the Gators are going to take to the air. Florida's 376.7 yards per game leads the FBS and puts them on pace to be #2 in Gator history to the 2001 team (405.2). That 2001 team was the only team in school history to lead the nation in passing offense. If Trask keeps on this pace he will shatter the Gator record for passer rating with his current rating being 190.5. Daniel Carl Wuerffel currently holds the UF record with 171.8, set in 1995. Trask's 38 TD passes leads the nation by 8 and is #3 in FBS history behind Houston's Andre Ware (40 in 1989) and Hawaii's Colt Brennan (39 in 2006). Trask is on pace to break school records held by Rex Grossman with passing yards per game (360.3 vs 354.2) as well as the aforementioned passer rating held by Danny Wuerffel. Kyle Pitts' 11 TD catches are the most by a Gator in one season since Jabar Gaffney hauled in 13 in 2001. Pitts is also #2 in the Gators' single season TD reception list. Although the offensive juggernaut has slowed down a bit these past few weeks, they are still #10 in points per game with 42.
I predict that the Gators will mount 500+ yards of offense on the hapless LSU Tigers and cruise to a 45-17 victory, assuming the Gators do not get caught looking ahead to Alabama.
Last edited: