Florida State @ Florida preview

Last Meeting ( Nov 24, 2012 ) Florida 37, Florida State 26

The task for host Florida is simple - knock No. 2 Florida State from the ranks of the unbeaten Saturday in the annual Thanksgiving weekend matchup between the rivals. The Gators have won seven of the last nine meetings but come in off one of the worst defeats in program history against FCS program Georgia Southern. "Obviously, one of the great rivalries in all of college football," Florida coach Will Muschamp said. "Jimbo Fisher has done an outstanding job there. He's obviously a guy I worked with at Auburn and LSU, and I've got tremendous respect for him and the job that he does."

The Seminoles appear to have a ticket to the BCS National Championship in hand if they can just win their final two contests, including the Atlantic Coast Conference championship game on Dec. 7. Fisher's team has made even good opponents look bad, winning by an average margin of 43 points. "I like where we're at as a team, I like our attitude," Fisher said. "Looking forward to a great game this week. Very big game and always a difficult place to play. (Florida) will be ready to play. They will bring their A game, and we are going to have to bring ours."

TV: Noon ET, ESPN. LINE: N/A

ABOUT FLORIDA STATE (11-0, 8-0 ACC): Embattled quarterback Jameis Winston seemed no worse for wear in throwing for 225 yards and four touchdowns as the Seminoles broke a school record by scoring 80 points against Idaho. The freshman, who currently is being investigated on a sexual assault charge, has thrown for 3,163 yards and 32 touchdowns this season. "The football field is a sanctuary to me," Winston said after the win over Idaho. "And it's like that for all of our teammates. When all of us are on the field, everything is zoned out. We focus."

ABOUT FLORIDA (4-7, 3-5 SEC): As if the losses were not enough, the Gators also will see a lot streaks come to an end this season, including 22 straight years of playing in a bowl game. The six-game losing streak is their longest in 34 years and assures them of their first losing season since 1979. "I just don't feel we're that far off," Muschamp said. "We need to perform better on the field, and that's my responsibility. I'm excited about Saturday and our guys getting out there and competing again."

EXTRA POINTS

1. The Gators snapped a two-game losing streak with a win at Florida State last year and lead the series 34-21-2.

2. Prior to the Georgia Southern game, Florida's last non-conference loss at home to a team other than Florida State or Miami occurred in 1988.

3. Georgia Southern's 429 rushing yards were the most against Florida since 524 by Nebraska in the 1996 Fiesta Bowl.

PREDICTION: Florida State 59, Florida 17