LSU Tigers vs. Florida Gators Complete Game Preview

LSU and Florida have average football teams in 2014. For the first time in the Les Miles era, the two traditional powerhouses will meet with both teams unranked.   

LSU is 4-2 and winless in conference play. The Tigers have been dominated on both sides of the ball by Auburn and Mississippi State. Miles will look to avoid his first 0-3 start in SEC play in his illustrious career. 

Florida is 3-1 on the season, with a 2-1 conference mark. The Gators were fortunate to defeat Kentucky in triple overtime in mid-September. Last week, true freshman quarterback Treon Harris led a late charge to beat Tennessee 10-9.

Florida will be without Harris on Saturday though, as he has been suspended indefinitely by the program, per The Orlando Sentinel. The true freshman is being investigated by the University of Florida Police Department for sexual assault.  

Nevertheless, Gators head coach Will Muschamp will take comfort in being in "The Swamp" on Saturday. The home team has won this annual cross-divisional rivalry the past three seasons. 

Here is a preview of this week's matchup.

What You Need to Know

Time: 6:30 p.m. CT 

Place: Ben-Hill Griffin Stadium; Gainesville, Florida

TV: SEC Network

Radio: LSU Sports Radio Network, Gators IMG Sports Network

Spread: LSU by 1, via Oddsshark.com

LSU Keys to the Game

USA TODAY Sports

LSU allowed Cameron Artis-Payne and Auburn 298 yards on the ground.

Stop the Run

LSU will not win a game this season if its defense does not improve. The Tigers are last in the conference in run defense, allowing 300 yards per game on the ground against SEC opposition. 

Florida workhorse running back Matt Jones is averaging more than 100 yards per game on the ground in conference play. LSU must load up to stop Jones and make the Gators beat them through the air.

Find a Quarterback and Stick with Him

LSU freshman quarterback Brandon Harris had a rough starting debut against Auburn. Harris was 3-of-14 for 58 yards and also suffered an ankle sprain. 

Sophomore Anthony Jennings took over in the third quarter and was an average 5-of-10 for 84 yards. Jennings started the previous four games for LSU. 

Miles must find the leader of his team. If not, the Tigers offense will continue to struggle against powerful SEC defenses. 

Florida Keys to the Game

Joe Robbins/Getty Images

Florida defensive end Dante Fowler, Jr.

Dominate Line of Scrimmage

Florida's offensive line played better when Harris replaced quarterback Jeff Driskel against Tennessee. Driskel will likely be the starter on Saturday, so the Gators' front must play like they did in the fourth quarter against the Vols. The group should feel confident facing LSU's porous defensive line. 

Miles will need his offensive line to play their best game of the season against Florida. The Gators pass rush is led by Dante Fowler Jr., who has 1.5 sacks, six quarterback hurries and four tackles for loss. The crowd noise will give the group issues, but they must overcome it to help LSU's struggling offense.

The Gators will win this game if they take over in the trenches.

Prevent the Big Play 

Florida's secondary could be the most talented in the SEC. Cornerback Vernon Hargreaves III and safety Keanu Neal will both be in contention for All-SEC honors this season. 

The Gators played poorly against Alabama, having allowed quarterback Blake Sims to throw for 445 yards. The Tigers have the weapons on the outside in Travin Dural and Malachi Dupre to inflict similar damage on deep passes. 

Harris and Jennings have a long way to go as quarterbacks, but one thing they both do well is throw the deep ball. The Gators pass rush will need to be at the top of its game to help the secondary prevent Dural and Dupre from making game-breaking plays. 

LSU Players to Watch

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LSU right tackle Jerald Hawkins

Jerald Hawkins

Fowler Jr. tore apart Tennessee's right side of the offensive line. LSU left tackle La'el Collins is the most talented player on the Tigers offense, so Fowler will likely challenge right tackle Jerald Hawkins. 

Crowd noise in "The Swamp" gives offensive tackles nightmares. Fowler Jr. can, and will, use that to his advantage when challenging Hawkins, who has had an average season. 

Davon Godchaux

LSU's defensive tackles have been pushed around this season. True freshman Davon Godchaux has been thrown into the fire quickly and has had to play a high volume of snaps. 

Godchaux and fellow starting defensive tackle Christian LaCouture will have a tough challenge in stopping Florida running back Matt Jones. If they do not play better, the Tigers could be in for another long game. 

Florida Players to Watch

Rob Foldy/Getty Images

Florida receiver Demarcus Robinson

Demarcus Robinson 

Florida's Demarcus Robinson has 383 receiving yards this season, which is 272 yards more than any other Gator. But Robinson has accumulated a measly five catches for 44 yards in the past two games combined. 

Robinson controversially went to Twitter last week to voice his displeasure with Driskel's quarterbacking acumen. Now that Harris is out of the picture, Robinson must reestablish the rhythm he had with Driskel in Florida's opening two games. 

The LSU secondary is gifted, but they had issues against Mississippi State and Auburn. Robinson will need to make plays to help the Gators' vertical offense. 

Antonio Morrison 

Gators linebacker Antonio Morrison has 32 tackles, a sack, an interception and a fumble recovery on the season. No other Florida player has more than 21 tackles on the season.

LSU will look to establish the run up the middle with running backs Leonard Fournette, Kenny Hilliard, Terrence Magee and Darrel Williams. No matter who is carrying the ball, Morrison will likely be the guy tackling them.  

What They're Saying

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LSU quarterbacks Anthony Jennings (No. 10) and Brandon Harris (No. 6)

Miles said at his weekly press conference that he has yet to make a decision at quarterback, per The Advocate's Ross Dellenger:

"

Miles says #LSU will let Anthony Jennings and Brandon Harris compete in practice.

— Ross Dellenger (@DellengerAdv) October 6, 2014"

Miles has told his team to block out the distractions after their slow start, per WAFB's Jacques Doucet:

"

"Don't read the papers. Don't listen to sports radio. Don't pay attention to perimeter. That's my message to my team." #LSU Les Miles

— Jacques Doucet (@JacquesDoucet) October 6, 2014"

Miles said LSU's game plan doesn't change after the suspension of Florida's Harris. He continued by saying that Driskel is a capable playmaker, per Tiger Rag's James Moran:

"

Miles: There's an athletic element to Jeff Driskel as well, and we'll prepare for "Florida's best stuff"

— James Moran (@SmartestMoran) October 6, 2014"

Muschamp had no problem with boasting about his victory over Tennessee last Saturday to the SEC Network's Maria Taylor. 

"

Will Muschamp wastes no time throwing shade at Tennessee fans #Gators #Vols https://t.co/2dBAMqZxhX

— Woody Wommack (@RivalsWoody) October 4, 2014 "

Prediction

Gerald Herbert/Associated Press

Florida head coach Will Muschamp (left) and LSU head coach Les Miles (right)

LSU and Florida will play an ugly game on Saturday, so neutral fans who want fireworks would be wise to look elsewhere. 

Driskel has been pitiful at quarterback, but he did lead the Gators to a victory the last time the Tigers visited Gainesville. For LSU, do not be surprised if Miles plays Harris and Jennings. Whichever way Miles plays it, the Tigers will need more consistency at the position if he wants to win. 

Florida's 2-1 conference record is a tad deceiving. The Gators got a favorable no-call against Kentucky that helped them win in triple overtime. A bruised and battered Tennessee team squandered a late lead that opened the door for a Gators comeback. LSU's two conference opponents of Mississippi State and Auburn are far better teams than the Wildcats and Volunteers. 

Florida won both of their SEC games because they wreaked havoc in the backfield. Fowler Jr. and Bryan Cox Jr. can take over football games with their relentless pressure. LSU's offense consists of four of five returning starters from last year's team. They have yet to dominate on the road in their five conference games away from Tiger Stadium, but their best game of 2013 was against the Gators.  

LSU had success on first down against Auburn but was an appalling 0-of-13 on third down. Third-and-longs could be devastating for the Tigers against the Gators pass rush. 

LSU's defense has played dominant football when facing a quarterback that is stationary. While Driskel can make plays with his legs, he is not near the caliber of player as Mississippi State's Dak Prescott and Auburn's Nick Marshall. Tigers defensive coordinator John Chavis should have success when the Gators are forced to pass. 

The game is a close one to call. Both teams have similar strengths and weaknesses. Ugly games come down to the team that makes fewer mistakes. Usually the safe way to go is with the home team, but the Gators' unfortunate news of the Harris suspension and the forced reinsertion of Driskel will ultimately cost them. 

Miles wins. Barely.  

Score: LSU 17, Florida 14