Florida State @ Florida preview

Last Meeting ( Nov 27, 2010 ) Florida 7, Florida State 31

THE STORY: Good friends Jimbo Fisher and Will Muschamp have reason to commiserate prior to Saturday’s annual rivalry game between Florida State and Florida. Injuries to quarterbacks E.J. Manuel and John Brantley in both teams’ biggest games sabotaged promising seasons. The fans can’t be happy about the state of their once-proud programs, either. This is the first meeting since 1986 in which both teams are unranked. The Gators had won six straight prior to last season’s 31-7 loss in Tallahassee. Florida, which is seeking a fourth straight win in Gainesville, leads the all-time series 33-20-2.

TV: ESPN2, ESPN3.com. LINE: Florida State -1.

ABOUT FLORIDA (6-5): Florida became bowl-eligible for a 21st straight season with a 54-32 victory over FCS foe Furman last week. The Gators’ defense has been solid most of the season (17th at 318.1 yards), but it was gashed for 233 rushing yards last week. Muschamp called the performance “unacceptable.” Brantley masked the poor defensive effort by throwing for career highs of 329 yards and four touchdowns. Florida was ranked seventh when Brantley left a loss to then-No.3 Alabama with an ankle injury on Oct. 2. The Gators managed only 17 points in 10 quarters without him and fell out of the rankings.

ABOUT FLORIDA STATE (7-4): Florida State’s season has followed a similar narrative to that of Florida’s. The Seminoles were ranked fifth when Manuel (2,352 yards, 16 touchdowns, eight interceptions) suffered a sprained AC joint in a loss to then-No.1 Oklahoma on Sept. 17. Florida State lost three straight to fall out of the Top 25 before ripping off five straight wins upon Manuel’s return. That streak ended with a dramatic 14-13 loss to Virginia last week. Dustin Hopkins, the ACC’s all-time leading scorer, missed a 42-yard field goal at the end of regulation after a replay reversal gave the Seminoles a second chance. Florida State’s defense has been the one constant in a turbulent season. It ranks seventh in the nation in total yards (282.8) and third against the run (84.3).

EXTRA POINTS:

1. Unlike the Bobby Bowden-Steve Spurrier years, there is no animosity between first-year Florida coach Muschamp and Fisher, who are buddies from their days as assistants at Auburn and as coordinators at LSU under Nick Saban.

2. Florida State is seeking to beat both in-state rivals Miami and Florida in consecutive seasons for the first time since 1998-99.

3. This is the first time since 1976 that the teams meet with a combined nine losses.

PREDICTION: Florida State 23, Florida 17 - The Seminoles’ defense helps it bounce back from a tough loss and earn its first win in Gainesville since 2003.