College Football’s Top 25 Games in 2011: Florida @ LSU

For years, the Florida Gators and the LSU Tigers have put on some absolutely epic performances, including a number of upsets of teams ranked No. 1 in the country. This year, the Bayou Bengals could be sporting an awfully high ranking when the once mighty Gators come to town, and this should be a clash that you won’t want to miss, as both of these teams could be vying for their respective places in the SEC Championship Game as a result.

Florida Gators @ LSU Tigers Picks & Info
Florida Gators @ LSU Tigers Date: Saturday, October 8th
Florida Gators @ LSU Tigers Location: Tiger Stadium, Baton Rouge, LA
Florida Gators @ LSU Tigers Spread: LSU Tigers -7.5

This could be the start of an ugly decline to the season for the Gators, as this in the second of four straight horrendous games on the slate. Head Coach Will Muschamp knows that QB John Brantley is going to be under the gun going against a stout LSU defense, and that this will be his toughest task of the season. The biggest problem that UF has is that there is no time to prepare for this game, which comes just a week after the home date with the Alabama Crimson Tide. The defense for UF is going to have to be big in this one, because if the Bayou Bengals get into the high 20s or the low 30s, this one is as good as finished.

Florida Gators vs. LSU Tigers Past Games (Since 1995)
2010: LSU 33 – Florida 29
2009: Florida 13 – LSU 3
2008: Florida 51 – LSU 21
2007: LSU 28 – Florida 24
2006: Florida 23 – LSU 10
2005: LSU 21 – Florida 17
2004: LSU 24 – Florida 21
2003: Florida 19 – LSU 7
2002: LSU 36 – Florida 7
2001: Florida 44 – LSU 15
2000: Florida 41 – LSU 9
1999: Florida 31 – LSU 10
1998: Florida 22 – LSU 10
1997: LSU 28 – Florida 21
1996: Florida 56 – LSU 13
1995: Florida 28 – LSU 10

We’re going to talk a lot about the Tigers in these Top 25 games this year, as they have a slew of big time games that could decide their season. This is a spooky spot for Head Coach Les Miles and company, though. Florida is going to be a vitally dangerous opponent, and with games having already been played against Oregon, Mississippi State, and West Virginia, this could be a huge letdown spot in the schedule. Even with the loss of DB Patrick Peterson, the Bayou Bengals are still going to be amongst the top teams defensively in the nation, and we expect to see even better numbers than the 311.9 yards per game that this unit allowed last season. This is a game that the Tigers shouldn’t lose, but the way that this series has gone with a slew of road teams winning over the years, you just don’t really ever know.

Florida Gators @ LSU Tigers @ 5Dimes Sportsbook (as of 7/17/11):
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Florida Gators (+7.5) @ LSU Tigers