Saturday night's SEC showdown between No. 9 Florida and No. 1 LSU lost a bit of luster with the Gators' upset home loss to Auburn last week, but it's still one of the marquee games of the season with big-time national championship implications.
It was expected by most that this would be the first of two meetings between the teams this season ? with the second being the SEC Championship Game on Dec. 1. That's still possible, but a Gators' loss would give them two in conference and severely hamper their hopes of getting to Atlanta, much less a shot at defending their national championship.
"I think every human being is measured when they get hit," said Florida coach Urban Meyer, who hasn't lost back-to-back games since he was at Bowling Green in 2002. "I tell people all the time: It's easy to walk upstairs, walk in my office and pick up that championship trophy. That's not hard. When you get hit right square, how do you react? We got hit square."
LSU, meanwhile, will play as the No. 1 team in the country for the first time since 1959, and the Tigers haven't lost since last year's 23-10 setback in Gainesville. The Tigers, 7-point betting favorites at WagerWeb.com, know that if they win out they'll be playing in New Orleans for the national championship on Jan. 7.
"This is an opportunity," LSU coach Les Miles said of Saturday's showdown. "And our players are excited about it."
This should be a classic battle between Florida's offense, which is averaging 42.8 points and 476 yards per game, against an LSU allowing 2.89 yards a play. The Tigers have the only defense in Division I-A giving up fewer than 3 yards a play. Led by tackle Glenn Dorsey, LSU has surrendered the nation's fewest yards (174.6 per game) and second-fewest points (6.4).To stop Florida, you must stop Heisman trophy contender Tim Tebow. The sophomore QB has thrown for 1,297 yards and 11 touchdowns and has rushed 433 yards and eight TDs.
"He's kind of hard to defend," Dorsey said. "It's like having an extra guy you don't have accounted for. It will be a challenge for our defense."
LSU has gone to a two-quarterback system with starter Matt Flynn and backup Ryan Perrilloux. Flynn is more of the traditional passer, completing 56 percent of his throws for 673 yards, three touchdowns, two interceptions, while Perrilloux has rushed for 143 yards and has thrown six TDs. LSU has plenty of offensive balance, with 14 players having scored at least one touchdown and six scoring two or more.
"[The two-quarterback system] works because they are both great players," Meyer said. "It gives you a dimension that the other team must prepare for. It's a factor. No question about it."
Personnel-wise, there is good news for Florida: UF should get top receiver Andre Caldwell back, who has missed most of the last three games with a sprained knee. And felony burglary charges against safety Tony Joiner were dropped, and he will play. LSU will be without its top receiver, Early Doucet, who is out with a groin injury. (NCAA Football injury reports)
The lowdown: LSU probably learned a bit from Auburn last week and this game is at night in the Bayou, which makes a big difference. Don't believe me? Since 1960, LSU is 203-59-3 in night games at Tiger Stadium. In that same span, LSU is 20-22-3 in day games. "At night, it seems like the ceiling is a little shorter in the stadium," Miles said. "It may be the most festive atmosphere in college football. [A night game] gives our fans time to celebrate getting to their seats." And those fans will be as pumped up as they ever have been, and LSU's defense will be too much for the Gators.
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