Sound the alarms! The Tigers are officially on upset alert. Yes, another pro- Florida Gators football blog. Two in the same week..don’t ever call me a biased fan. How much harder can I get on LSU this season? Putting them on upset alert will do the trick. Here are some key aspects as to why Florida can upset LSU this weekend.
The Swamp
If you have ever been to a game in The Swamp then you understand how electric this environment is. The game against LSU this weekend is arguably Florida’s most pivotal game that they’ve had in over five years. With so much being on the line, we can expect this game to be LOUD from kick-off to the final whistle.
This is a game that Florida fans look forward too every year and is considered a rivalry in many circles. While the 2016 game was played in Baton Rouge, who could forget the infamous goal line stand?
Florida Defense
After Week 5, the Florida Gators are currently ranked 2nd in the nation in pass defense allowing opponents only 140.0 yards per game. Pretty impressive as most of their opponents thus far have been from the SEC. LSU’s offense bounced back against by putting up 45 last weekend against Ole Miss. Even so, the Tigers are still currently ranked 92nd in passing yards per game (204.6) and it is hard to imagine they have success against this touted Florida secondary.
Things look a little bit different as far as rushing the ball goes. LSU has put up an average of 192 rushing yards per game (52nd) compared to Florida’s rushing defense giving up 172 rushing yards which is 87th in the nation. If the Tigers look to jump on them early they will need to establish the run game and continue to hammer the ball down field. Big 10 style.
Felipe Franks
Felipe Frank’s journey at Florida has been a complete rollercoaster. From becoming a huge disappointment to Florida’s savior, things have never been more up and down. Franks desperately needs to play up to his potential for the Gators to pull off an upset in Gainesville on Saturday. While only putting up an average of 203.4 yards per game, (93rd right behind LSU) Franks is ranked 14th in the country in passing touchdowns with 12 on the year so far.
It is no surprise to anyone that Frank’s can make some bonehead decisions when it matters most. Anyone remember last year against Florida State?
Frank’s suffered from: an early fumble recovery to the house, Two interceptions in the first half, one being a pick six, and another dummy throw in the second half that was a pick six only to be called back for showboating. Any performance similar to the one against FSU last season will guarantee them a loss this weekend. If Franks can keep his head calm, make good throws while avoiding turnovers, and properly managing this game then the Gators have their best shot.
Bottomline
The game on Saturday will come down to a lot of different factors but these three stand out the most. Can Florida use The Swamp to their advantage? Can the Florida Defense continue to be a menace to quarterbacks? Last but not least, Can Franks minimize turnovers while managing a good game? We will see all of these story lines play out in the classic SEC 3:30 game on CBS. Don’t sleep on these gators though, because they’re coming out to play.
