Big games have returned to the Swamp, as Florida hosts LSU this week in another SEC clash. This is a huge game for both teams, as Florida wants to prove that it’s back, while LSU wants to prove that it still belongs in the upper echelon nationally. The questions marks abound in this game, with LSU needing to show something that it’s rarely shown this season. The Tigers have mostly struggled against sub-par competition. Now, they will step up a class against a good Florida team who comes in as a less than field goal underdog.

LSU has been on the road once this season, filing away an unimpressive performance where they nearly lost to an average Auburn team. They scored twelve points in that one against an Auburn club that had been torched by Clemson, Mississippi State, and Louisiana-Monroe in the preceding weeks. This brings up some major questions about what LSU has on offense. New QB Zach Mettenberger struggled to get things going through the air. The line was weak, too, as LSU couldn’t really run the football the way it normally does.

Florida, on the other hand, is battle tested. Earlier this season, it got big SEC road wins back to back. The Gators first went to Texas A&M in front of a tough crowd and a pulled out a hard, comeback victory. They then went into Tennessee for a night game and outgained the Vols by more than 200 yards. Texas A&M has since punished all teams on its schedule, showing that the Florida win might have been better than anyone could have expected. What does this mean? It means that perhaps Florida’s defense and running game are for real. It means that the Gators might be the better team on the field when LSU comes calling.

Florida has had a bye, so they should be well-rested and well-prepared for this game. The Gators are looking to keep up the ball-hawking defense in an effort to force LSU into costly turnovers. The crowd is sure to be loud, and this is a game that the Gators might just run away with. The betting public has favored LSU slightly, but the line has not moved up. This might be an indication that Florida is the right side here. If they play their best, LSU will need a very good performance to come away with a win.

Posted by Wunderdog’s trusty sidekick ” Wundercat “