Halo

Two national powerhouses put their BCS title hopes on the line, as the top-ranked Florida Gators travel to Baton Rouge to take on the fourth-ranked LSU Tigers on Saturday. The matchup will easily be the toughest test for either team thus far in the 2009 season.

LSU (5-0, 3-0) enters the game after 20-13 road win over the Georgia Bulldogs a week ago. Tigers’ senior running back Charles Scott had an impressive game for LSU, scoring his first two rushing touchdowns of the season with less than three minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, the second of which put the Tigers ahead for good. Scott’s performance in LSU’s victory earned him SEC Offensive Player of the Week honors.

LSU sophomore quarterback Jordan Jefferson struggled against the Bulldogs, giving up an interception while failing to throw for a touchdown. Jefferson and the LSU passing game have yet to break loose, averaging a modest 186.2 passing yards per game. Junior receiver Terrance Toliver leads the Tigers in receiving yards with 342 on 23 catches. LSU’s main scoring threat is senior receiver Brandon LaFell, who has caught 5 touchdown passes this year.

On the ground, the Tigers are gaining 135.4 yards per game. Scott is the leading ball carrier for LSU, rushing for 274 yards on 62 carries. Senior running back Keiland Williams has also chipped in with 195 yards rushing and two scores.

Defensively, LSU will rely on senior defensive end Rahim Alem to apply pressure to Florida’s quarterback. Alem leads the team with two sacks and 4.5 tackles for a loss. In the secondary, sophomore cornerback Patrick Peterson has been exceptional in pass defense with one interception returned for a touchdown and six pass breakups for the season.

The Gators (4-0, 2-0) should be well rested after having an open date last week. Florida’s previous game was an easy 41-7 win over the Kentucky Wildcats on Sept. 26 in Lexington. Florida, however, suffered a huge blow, as 2007 Heisman trophy-winning quarterback Tim Tebow suffered a concussion in the third quarter and left the game in an ambulance. Tebow’s status for Saturday’s game is yet to be determined and he will likely be a game-time decision. If Tebow is unable to play, sophomore backup quarterback John Brantley is expected to make his first collegiate start for the Gators.

LSU’s defense will have the daunting task of slowing down Florida’s high-powered offense, which has averaged over 300 rushing yards per game and over 525 yards of total offense. Sophomore running backs Jeffery Demps and Chris Rainey lead Florida’s rushing attack with 304 and 261 yards respectively. Demps is averaging an astounding 10.9 yards per carry. Tebow has also contributed to the running game with 271 yards and five touchdowns.

Florida’s defense has been stingy to say the least. Opponents, on average, have gained a mere 212.8 yards of total offense through four games (120 passing, 92.8 rushing). The Gators also have only allowed two touchdowns on defense and 29 total points for the year. Florida is led defensively by junior safety Ahmad Black, who leads the team in total tackles with 22. Standout senior linebacker Brandon Spikes has also been solid for the Gators with 21 tackles.


Florida leads the all-time series over LSU, 29-23-3. The last time these two teams met, Florida manhandled the Tigers on their way to a 51-21 victory in Gainesville a year ago. The Gators’ last trip to Tiger Stadium resulted in a 28-24 win for LSU in 2007. LSU has won 32 consecutive Saturday night games in Tiger Stadium. For the past three seasons, the winner of the LSU-Florida game has gone on to win the BCS National Championship. Florida won the championship in 2006 and 2008, while LSU won in 2007.

(1) Florida Gators (4-0) at (4) LSU Tigers (5-0)
Date:
Saturday, October 10th

Kickoff:
7 p.m. (ct)

Site:
Tiger Stadium (92,400) -- Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Surface:
Natural Grass

Home Record:
Florida 3-0; LSU 2-0

Away Record:
Florida 1-0; LSU 3-0

Conference Record:
Florida 2-0; LSU 3-0

Current Road Win/Loss Streak:
Florida 7W

Current Home Win/Loss Streak:
LSU 2W

Television:
CBS

Announcers:
Verne Lundquist, Gary Danielson and Tracy Wolfson

All-Time Series:
Florida (29-23-3)

Last Meeting:
October 11, 2008 (Florida, 51-21 at Florida)

Series Streak:
Florida has won two of the last three meetings.

* STATS VIA THE SPORTS NETWORK

Season Schedule/Results
Florida Gators

Sep 5 - W vs. Char Southern, 62-3
Sep 12 - W vs. Troy, 56-6
Sep 19 - W vs. Tennessee, 23-13
Sep 26 - W at Kentucky, 41-7
Oct 3 - Open
Oct 10 - at L-S-U, 7:00 PM
Oct 17 - vs. Arkansas, TBA
Oct 24 - at Miss State, TBA
Oct 31 - vs. Georgia, 2:30 PM
Nov 7 - vs. Vanderbilt, TBA
Nov 14 - at So Carolina, TBA
Nov 21 - vs. Florida Intl, TBA
Nov 28 - vs. Florida State, TBA

LSU Tigers

Sep 5 - W at Washington, 31-23
Sep 12 - W vs. Vanderbilt, 23-9
Sep 19 - W vs. UL Lafayette, 31-3
Sep 26 - W at Miss State, 30-26
Oct 3 - W at Georgia, 20-13
Oct 10 - vs. Florida, 7:00 PM
Oct 17 - Open
Oct 24 - vs. Auburn, TBA
Oct 31 - vs. Tulane, 7:00 PM
Nov 7 - at Alabama, TBA
Nov 14 - vs. Louisiana Tech, 7:00 PM
Nov 21 - at Ole Miss, TBA
Nov 28 - vs. Arkansas, TBA

Linkback: NewOrleans.com

dwiley21

Anyone have extra tickets? if so please call 727-453-8864. A huge TIGERS fan from Gainesville looking to see his first game in DEATH VALLEY!

SmashMouth

Yep ... right here ...

LSU Tigers vs Florida Gators Football Tickets [10/10/2009] at StubHub!