Game of the Week Breakdown: Florida vs. LSU

The Florida Gators will travel to Death Valley to face the LSU Tigers in Week 6. The Tigers enter the game 5-0. The Gators sit at 4-1, after a humbling defeat to Alabama in Week 5.

Any matchup involving two SEC powerhouses is a must-watch. This game will be no different.

LSU has been dominant through five games. Currently ranked No.1, the Tigers have three victories against Top 25 opponents. Offensively, the Tigers are averaging 38 points per game. The Tigers are surrendering just under 13 points per outing.

The Gators come in ranked No. 17. Their margin of victory is similar to the Tigers, but the level of competition is not.

The Tigers and the Gators both want to make a statement.

LSU needs to maintain their current path. The Gators need a big bounceback win.

Here's how this epic SEC matchup breaks down:

The Quarterbacks

Jarrett Lee and Jeff Driskel were not the anticipated starters when this matchup was set before the season. However, both will need to control the pace of the game for their respective teams on Saturday.

Lee has done a very good job for LSU so far this season. He has thrown for 793 yards and seven touchdowns. More encouraging is his one interception and quarterback rating of 140.5.

The Tigers need Lee to manage the game. That is just what he does. Lee does not have the "wow" factor, but he is a smart presence under center.

If Lee takes care of the ball the Tigers can beat anyone, anytime, anywhere.

Driskel is in a much tougher spot for the Gators. Regular starting quarterback John Brantley will miss Week 6 with a leg injury.

That leave Driskel to grow up in front of one of the most hostile crowds in the nation.

Driskel was rated the top pro-style quarterback in the nation coming by Rivals.com in 2010. He has struggled in limited action this season. He is 7-16 with two interceptions.

Lee is more prepared for a game of this magnitude. If LSU's defense can get in Driskel's kitchen right away, it will be a long day for Gators' fans.

The Running Backs

The LSU Tigers use a solid, grinding ground attack in combination with their ferocious defense. This lethal combination makes beating the Tigers in a possession battle nearly impossible.

Spencer Ware and Michael Ford lead a two-pronged ground game for Les Miles' team. The two have combined for over 600 yards and nine touchdowns.

Ware and Ford are both great runners between the tackles. However, both have enough shake to get free in the open field. Working as a tandem allows both to stay fresh for 60 minutes every Saturday.

Alfred Blue has also added three touchdowns on the ground. He is not a primary option, but a solid option if depth becomes an issue.

The Gators use three homerun hitters in the backfield.

Chris Rainey and Jeff Demps have combined for over 700 yards and six touchdowns. They do not provide the same power as Ford and Ware, but they are as dangerous as anyone in the open field.

Mike Gillislee and hybrid fullback Trey Burton are also options on the ground for the Gators. Gillislee averages over seven yards per carry. Burton is a versatile athlete.

The Gators have several speed options. The Tigers have more slower, but more consistent options.

Consistency is the answer in an SEC battle.

The Wide Receivers and Tight Ends

The LSU Tigers have a talented trio of receivers despite their 100th ranked passing offense through Week 5.

Rueben Randle is Jarrett Lee's top target. He currently has 19 catches for 319 yards and three touchdowns. Randle is a big, athletic target. He stretches the field vertically, allowing LSU's slot receivers to work underneath.

Odell Beckham and Russell Shepard will be working underneath. Beckham leads the Tigers with 20 catches. Shepard has elite speed and quickness. He has three catches this season after serving a suspension to start the year.

Tight end DeAngelo Peterson also has eight catches for one touchdown.

The Gators' leading receiver is also their leading rusher. Chris Rainey has 14 catches for 246 yards and two touchdowns. He is not a natural receiver, but his natural athleticism makes up for any shortcomings.

Andre Debose and Deonte Thompson give the Gators more speed on the outside. Neither has 10 catches yet this season but the potential is there.

Jordan Reed gives the Gators another athlete at tight end. He has nine catches. His athleticism creates matchup problems among any linebackers or safeties for the opposition.

The Gators group is talented. However, Jeff Driskel's inexperience will stop any pending damage from taking place.

The Offensive Lines

The LSU Tigers and the Florida Gators both have experience and talent on the offensive line. 

The Tigers are led by their two talented interior lineman, Josh Dworaczyk and P.J. Lonergan. Both are returning starters. Their efforts in the middle allow LSU's ground attack to control the clock. The Tigers are very tough in the trenches.

Florida also returns experience on the offensive front.

Left tackle Xavier Nixon is a force on the blind side. He became a starter in 2009 as a true freshman. This experience will give him an advantage on many pass rushers throughout the season.

Jon Halapio leads the way on the Gators' interior line. Halapio became a full-time starter last season at right guard. In his first full season as a starter, Halapio continues to develop into a major role in Gainesville.

Both offensive lines are talented, but LSU holds a slight edge. Expect the battle in the trenches to play a major role in Saturday afternoon's outcome.

The Defensive Lines

The LSU Tigers have arguably the best defense in college football. That vicious attack starts with the front four.

The Tigers are young at defensive tackles. Josh Downs, Michael Brockers, Benny Logan and Chris Davenport form a formidable four-man rotation. None has a takeover presence, but all four are capable run stuffers.

Barkevious Mingo, Lavar Edwards, Sam Montgomery and Ken Adams will rotate at defensive end. Mingo has scary speed although he is severely undersized. Montgomery and Edwards are the most consistent presences off the edge for the Tigers.

Omar Hunter and Jaye Howard form a solid duo in the middle for the Gators. They have 29 starts between them. This experience will pay dividends throughout the rugged SEC schedule.

Shariff Floyd has moved from defensive tackle to defensive end. His move gives the Gators more grit and strength along their front four.

The Gators are talented but lack quality depth outside of Christian Green at defensive end. The Tigers have deep rotations, and the talent to go with it.

The Linebackers

The LSU Tigers and the Florida Gators both bring a lot of talent to the field at linebacker. Both sides are well equipped with speed and athleticism in the middle of their defense.

The Tigers have tremendous depth on the outside. Ryan Baker, Karnell Hatcher, Stefoin Francois and Lamin Barrow all saw significant time last season. Baker had seven sacks last season to lead the Tigers. 

Kevin Minter will start in the middle for the Tigers. He is only a sophomore but has experience. He will be expected to read and diagnose the Gators' offense.

The Gators do not have the depth of LSU.

However, Jonathan Bostic, Ronald Powell and Jelani Jenkins form a very talented trio.

Bostic is a strong tackling presence in the middle. Jenkins and Powell give Will Muschamp two great athletes on the outside. Jenkins is the Gators' most talented linebacker. Powell plays a hybrid defensive end/linebacker position because of his versatility.

Both teams have a ton of talent at linebacker. The Gators have depth but at the same quality as the Tigers.

The Tigers hold the advantage here, but not by much.

The Secondaries

The LSU Tigers are deep at many areas on both sides of the ball. Their secondary is the deepest of the deep.

Cornerbacks Morris Claiborne and Tyrann Mathieu are among the best at the position. Both are superb playmakers with excellent ball skills. Mathieu is very versatile and is a darkhorse Heisman candidate at this point in the season.

Ron Brooks and Tharold Simon round out the best group of cornerbacks in the nation. With Jeff Driskel starting at quarterback for the Gators, the Tigers' corners could be in for a big game.

Safeties Brandon Taylor, Craig Loston and Eric Reid provide protection in the secondary. All play well against the pass and against the run.

The Gators use Marcus Roberson, Moses Jenkins and Jeremy Brown at cornerback. All three have experience but are relatively unproven.

Matt Elam and Josh Evans patrol the Gators' safety positions. Elam was a 5-star recruit entering Gainesville in 2010. Based on talent, he leads the Gators' secondary.

The Gators have talent on the back end, but the Tigers have more than anyone else in the nation.

The Kickers

The LSU Tigers and the Florida Gators both have quality kicking games. Chances are both will play an important role on Saturday.

Drew Alleman kicks for the Tigers. He is 6-8 with a long of 44 yards. He missed his only opportunity over 50 yards.

Corey Sturgis is the Gators' placekicker. Sturgis is 12-13 with a long of 51 yards.

Sturgis' long-range ability gives him an edge in this matchup. If given the chance to hit a big kick, don't expect Sturgis to falter.

Conclusion and Prediction

The SEC is the best conference in college football. The Tigers and the Gators are two of the most talented squads in their powerhouse conference.

Florida has a chance in this game if the offensive line can protect Jeff Driskel. Driskel needs to manage the game and avoid turnovers against the ball-hawking Tigers' defense.

The Gators will need to utilize their versatility on offense and their athleticism on defense to grab momentum in front of the hostile LSU crowd.

However, don't expect a Gators' victory.

The Tigers are very solid on offense assuming Lee continues to take care of the ball. Defensively, the Tigers are nearly flawless.

Expect a heavy dose of Spencer Ware and Michael Ford for the Tigers' offense.

The run game combined with the staunch defense gives the Tigers a Week 6 victory.

Prediction: LSU 27, Florida 7