LSU Tigers at Florida Gators
Saturday, 10/9/10, 7:30 PM EDT, TV: ESPN
Opening Point Spread: Florida -7.5
Current Betting Line: Florida -6
Opening Total: 43
Current Total: 42
Current Moneyline: Florida -250/LSU +210
Odds taken from Bookmaker Sportsbook
LSU puts its undefeated record on the line against the Florida Gators at the Swamp in Gainesville, Florida on Saturday night. The Tigers will need to perform at a higher level than it showed in its last victory, a 16-14 home win over the Tennessee Volunteers last Saturday. Head coach Les Miles knows that he must prepare his team better situationally moving forward stating, “I understand the responsibility of the way we managed the back end of the game is mine.” The team committed four turnovers with nine penalties in the contest. LSU still is 5-0 for the second straight year and for the third time under Miles’ direction and he’s 56-15 overall as the head man in Baton Rouge. It’s important to point out that the Tigers are an incredible 40-4 in night games and 13-2 in those games away from Tiger Stadium during his tenure, with one of those losses coming at tonight’s venue.
The Tigers rely on a strong defense that leads the SEC in total defense and rushing defense, while sitting second to only Alabama in scoring defense at 12.4 points per game. LSU has been especially difficult to score upon in the first quarter, allowing just seven points all season, with the score coming in last week’s game against Tennessee. Offensively, the team will use a steady dose of running back Stevan Ridley, who leads the SEC in rushing with 557 yards. Despite scoring only 16 points against the Volunteers, LSU had its best game statistically by gaining 434 total yards. For the first time since 2004, the squad used dual quarterbacks in the game as Jordan Jefferson and Jarrett Lee split time. Over the last three years, LSU has garnered a 10-19 ATS mark in all lined games.
Florida welcomes the Tigers to The Swamp and currently hold a 4-1 record following its 31-6 road loss to top-ranked Alabama last week. Tonight’s game marks the 57th meeting in series history with the Gators holding a 30-23-3 advantage all-time, including a 3-2 mark under the direction of head coach Urban Meyer. The team snapped the Tigers’ Saturday night 32-game winning streak with a 13-3 victory, holding the hosts to just 162 yards of total offense. “You don’t have to be pumped to play LSU at night in The Swamp,” defensive lineman Duke Lemmens said. “It’s another SEC game and we have a chance to either go downhill or uphill with that game.” The Gators have won the last two meetings in Gainesville and are 37-2 at home since losing to them in October 2004, holding opponents to an average of 12.5 points.
The Gators offense is hoping to have quarterback John Brantley available after suffering a rib injury in last week’s game. “I’m a little sore like any other game, but nothing major, nothing that’s going to stop me from doing anything,” he said. If he’s unable to perform, freshman Trey Burton will move under center, who has thrown two passes all season. He does lead the team with eight total touchdowns and is often running formations out of the Wildcat. Florida actually outgained Alabama, 281-273, putting up more or equal yards against all five opponents this year. The squad is 1-0 ATS as a home favorite of 3.5 to 7 points the last three years and 9-1 against the college football point spread in the situation in its last 10 chances.
Bettors will be interested in playing the Tigers due to their 20-11 mark in games against ranked opponents under Miles, including 2-0 this year. Florida has put together a 12-4 mark against AP Top 10 opponents under Meyer.
Maddux Sports doesn’t have an opinion on this game but does have 7 strong winners for Saturday, get these picks including a rare 20 unit play on our college football expert picks page of the site.
