Florida vs. Florida State: Gators' Spotty Offense Will Be Exposed vs. Seminoles

How the Florida Gators are ranked No. 4 in the most recent BCS standings is bewildering, mainly because of their staggering ineptitude on offense in the past three weeks. Expect the battle for the Florida Cup against the 10th-ranked Seminoles in Tallahassee to expose just how awful the Gators truly are on that side of the ball.

Sure, Will Muschamp's bunch has still managed to pull out victories over the past few weeks, but it appears the computers haven't taken into account how ugly the team has looked in doing so.

It all started with a near-disaster against SEC bottom-feeder Mizzou, who gave the Gators all they could handle at home before falling short, 14-7. If not for four interceptions by Tigers quarterback James Franklin, an upset special just may have been in the works.

After typical QB Jeff Driskel went down in the Louisiana-Lafayette game, backup Jacoby Brissett played well, but Florida still needed a blocked punt to escape with a 27-20 victory.

Last week, FCS opponent Jacksonville State managed to limit the damage to a 23-0 defeat, which was hardly impressive for the Gators. Yet they still find themselves somehow staying in the conversation for the top two teams in the nation.

How is an offense like this even in consideration for such elite status?

Driskel will be back for the FSU game (h/t USA Today), but the Gators can't take much solace in that.

The Seminoles sport two extremely dangerous pass-rushers in Tank Carradine (10.5 sacks) and Bjoern Werner, a uniquely athletic defensive end who will do his best to give Driskel nightmares.

Thankfully for the Gators, Driskel brings a running element to the QB position, which the Seminoles will have to be prepared for. But when Driskel takes to the air, he will have serious difficulties, especially throwing toward FSU CB Xavier Rhodes.

There simply aren't enough weapons for the Gators on the outside to compete against one of the best defenses in the country in the Seminoles. The one-dimensional nature of the Florida attack will also lend itself to long-yardage situations and passing downs that Driskel won't be able to convert.

Meanwhile, his counterpart, EJ Manuel, leads a very balanced Seminole offense and should be able to dominate time of possession. If FSU jumps ahead—which it should—the Gators aren't built to come from behind.

Also important to factor in is the home team's eagerness to prove itself against SEC competition as an ACC team. A one-point loss to NC State is the only blemish on the Seminoles' record, yet they sit below some two-loss teams in the nation's best conference.

Playing spoiler to their in-state rival's national title aspirations will drive Florida State as well.

They may be in the national title conversation for now, but after Saturday's showdown and ultimate loss, the Gators will become an afterthought in deciding college football's BCS champion.