Louisiana State @ Florida preview

Last Meeting ( Oct 8, 2011 ) Florida 11, Louisiana State 41

When No. 11 Florida hosts No. 3 LSU on Saturday – the ninth straight time both teams are ranked entering the game – points will be at a premium. The Tigers are giving up 12.6 points per game, the Gators 12.8. Florida was off last week while LSU turned in an uninspiring performance, beating FCS foe Towson 38-22 at home. Florida leads the all-time series 30-25-3, but LSU has won the last two meetings, including 41-11 in Baton Rouge last year. This game features first-year starting quarterbacks in Florida's Jeff Driskel and LSU's Zach Mettenberger. Driskel has been far more efficient thus far.

TV: 3:30 p.m., ET, CBS. LINE: LSU -2

ABOUT LSU (5-0, 1-0 SEC West): The Tigers fumbled five times, losing three, in the win over Towson. They shockingly gave up 188 rushing yards to an FCS school and allowed the junior Mettenberger to be sacked four times. Coaches have been shuffling the offensive line ever since left tackle Chris Faulk went down with a knee injury after the first game. Wide receiver Odell Beckham was a bright spot Saturday, catching five balls for 128 yards and two touchdowns. LSU’s defense continues to get great penetration. The unit has 41 tackles for loss, including 11 sacks. Defensive end Sam Montgomery has 6.5 tackles for loss, while defensive tackle Anthony Johnson and linebacker Kevin Minter have 5.5 apiece.

ABOUT FLORIDA (4-0, 3-0 SEC East): Senior running back Mike Gillislee has run for 402 yards and five touchdowns, both second-best in the SEC. The sophomore Driskel has thrown for four touchdowns and run for another while throwing one interception, posting a 158.0 rating. The already stout defense could get a lift from the return of outside linebacker Jelani Jenkins, who had a pin removed from his fractured right thumb. Florida has not allowed a point in the fourth quarter and has outscored opponents 64-13 after halftime. The Gators are allowing 4.82 yards per pass attempt, which ranks fifth nationally.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Since 1990, the Gators are 24-10 at home against SEC West teams.

2. LSU won 33-29 in its last visit to The Swamp when the Tigers pulled off a fake field goal in the fourth quarter to extend the game-winning drive.

3. The Gators have gone 1-7 in October the past two seasons, seeing hot starts fade when the schedule gets tougher.

PREDICTION: Florida 20, LSU 17