No. 6 LSU is 5-0. Unranked Florida is 3-3.
LSU is favored by 10 points this weekend against Florida.
LSU is trying to improve to 6-0 for the first time since 1973. Florida is trying to salvage its season.
All are indications of two football programs going in different directions. The two football programs will meet at 2:30 p.m. in front of a national audience on CBS Saturday in Tiger Stadium.
In a series traditionally dominated by Florida in the last 15 years, the tides may have suddenly turned in the opposite direction.
Even though Florida has been victorious in 13 of the last 15 games against the Tigers, it seems the Gators are not getting much respect from anyone for this weekend’s matchup. But LSU coach Nick Saban said Florida still holds much esteem in college football circles and should be treated with as much respect as the past.
“This is a good team that we are playing,” Saban said Wednesday at his press gathering. “Florida is one of the elite teams, I think, in our conference in terms of tradition and the kind of football players they have and the capabilities they have.”
Saban pointed out that two of the Gators’ three losses have come to teams either in the Top 10 or once ranked in the Top 10, including Miami and Tennessee.
“I think it’s human nature to some degree for people to think that just because they lost a game or two to some very good teams incidentally, that all of the sudden they’ve got big time problems,” Saban said. “I see them as a team that’s very capable, and I think we’re going to have to bring our ‘A’ game and we’re going to have to control the intensity level that we play with throughout the game to be able to be effective.”
Even though Florida has struggled this season, the talent is still at a high level.
Starting receiver Carlos Perez has only 12 catches on the year, but he is averaging 19.5 yards per reception with three touchdowns, while fellow receiver Kelvin Kight has compiled 24 catches for 339 yards and two touchdowns.
Maybe most dangerous of all is 6-foot-5 tight end Ben Troupe, who has 21 catches for 299 yards and two touchdowns.
Troupe presents major problems and is a dangerous threat over the middle of the field.
“He’s an outstanding player,” Saban said of Troupe. “People have trouble tackling him after he catches the ball because he’s a big target, he’s got running ability, he stiff arms the little guys so they can’t get to them, he’s got really good hands and good athleticism running routes and they utilize his abilities well.”
Florida coach Ron Zook said the Gators try to get the ball to Troupe as much as possible.
“You try to get him the ball as many times as you can,” Zook said at his weekly press conference. “Earlier in the year, we didn’t get him the ball at times when there were chances. Before every game we talk about whose hands we want the ball in and we obviously want the ball in his hands as much as possible.”
Leading Florida’s offense is true freshman quarterback Chris Leak, who will be making his third start against LSU.
Leak is 68-for-111 on the year with six touchdowns and seven interceptions. Despite some freshman mistakes, Saban said he thinks Leak has done a wonderful job under the conditions he has faced.
“I think Chris Leak has done a good job of making choices and decisions about who he throws the ball to and he’s done it accurately,” Saban said. “He hasn’t been affected by the blitz that much, he’s got a lot of athleticism and has gotten out of trouble at times scrambling. I’m kind of amazed at how well the guy has done. He does not look like a freshman playing quarterback.”
Offensive lineman Andrew Whitworth said regardless of the circumstances and the records, he is just ready to play after a bye week last weekend.
“It’s a little hard to get back because you’ve been relaxed for a week,” Whitworth said. “We’re just ready to get out there and get the game going and just playing another one.”