Florida (5-4, 3-3 SEC) at No. 18 LSU (6-3, 4-2, No. 19 CFP), 7:30 p.m. EST (SECN).
Line: LSU by 13 1/2, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.
Series record: Tied 33-33-3
WHAT’S AT STAKE?
After a loss at Alabama that virtually dropped the Tigers out of contention for an SEC title, LSU needs to win to remain in the AP Top 25 Poll and receive the most attractive possible bowl bid. The Gators need a win to become bowl eligible for the second consecutive year under second-year coach Billy Napier. With a daunting late-season schedule that also includes No. 16 Missouri and fourth-ranked Florida State, Florida will have to upset one of its three remaining opponents to make that happen.
KEY MATCHUP
LSU’s star receiver duo of Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas against a Florida pass defense that ranks fifth in the SEC, giving up just 209.2 yards per game.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Florida: WR Ricky Pearsall leads the team with 55 catches for 773 yards and four touchdowns. He also has a scoring run and 126 yards on 11 punt returns. Pearsall was teammates with LSU QB Jayden Daniels at Arizona State for three years (2019-21).
LSU: Nabers leads the nation in yards receiving with 1,152 on 66 catches, including 10 TDs.
FACTS & FIGURES
LSU has won four straight against the Gators and seeks its first five-game winning streak in the series that dates back to 1937. … Florida’s Eugene “Tre” Wilson leads all true freshmen in FBS with 6.4 receptions a game and ranks third in receiving yards, with 416. … Florida has rushed for 100 yards or more in seven consecutive games against LSU and 11 of the past 12 meetings. … The Gators have lost 14 of their last 16 games away from home. … Florida has scored in 445 consecutive games, an NCAA-record streak that began in 1988. … Daniels was cleared to practice this week after leaving last Saturday’s game at Alabama with concussion symptoms. If coaches decide he can play, he’ll look to improve on his 2,792 yards and 27 TDs passing to go with 684 yards and six TDs rushing, numbers which have placed him in the Heisman Trophy discussion. … Thomas leads LSU with 11 TDs receiving and is second in yards receiving with 768. … LSU has rushed for 200 yards in five straight games.
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AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/college-football and https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll
