When you’re winning, the games get bigger as you go. Following momentum-building wins over Tennessee and Mississippi State, the No. 22 ranked Gators return to the Swamp for their biggest test yet against No. 5 LSU. Florida is coming off its first win over a ranked team in then-No. 23 Mississippi State. The Bulldogs have since dropped from the rankings.
The 5-0 Tigers are the only team in CFB play to beat two ranked opponents this season. In the first week, LSU routed then-No. 8 Miami 33-17. In week three, the Tigers topped then-No. 7 Auburn 22-21.
Regardless of the outcome, this game will be a test for the Gators. Can Mullen’s Gators measure up to an elite opponent? Will Feleipe Franks finally break out? And just how good is Florida’s defense?
Grantham Grit
As the season rolls on, one thing is becoming more clear: Even when Florida’s offense isn’t moving the chains, the defense is not only a game-changer, but a game winner. Case in point, safety Donovan Stiner’s 4th-and-back-breaking sack on Miss. St. quarterback Nick Fitzgerald.
BALLGAME!!! DONOVAN STINER BLOWS UP NICK FITZGERALD AND THE #GATORS HAVE COME ON THE ROAD TO STARKVILLE AND PULLED OFF THE UPSET!!! pic.twitter.com/5TeR7VZlRw
— InAllKindsOfWeather.com (@AllKindsWeather) September 30, 2018
Ever since Defensive Coordinator Todd Grantham came to Gainesville, last year’s raw, but talented defense is transforming into one of the best in college football. For example, Florida ranks first in turnovers gained (14)… with no chains or backpacks in sight.
#GatorStandard ➡️ #WallpaperWednesday #GoGators 🐊 pic.twitter.com/tKxyuCUx6s
— Florida Gators Football (@GatorsFB) September 26, 2018
Another testament to Grantham is that the Gators have jumped up 60 spots in team defense from 69 to 9. Florida is also outscoring opponents 178-70, despite ranking 92nd in total offense.
Will the Real DBU Please Stand Up?
However, there is one caveat for Florida’s defense.
And no, it’s not even that LSU quarterback Joe Burrow’s touchdown-interception ratio is 6:0. By comparison, Franks is 12:3… or 4:1.
The Gators pride themselves on being a little something called a Defensive Back University (DBU). In college football, a DBU is a self-bestowed title describing supremacy in molding high-caliber DBs into NFL-ready talent.
Florida is onto something with that claim…
#DBU – Florida has had the MOST defensive backs taken in the #NFLDraft since 2016. #GatorMade pic.twitter.com/5lL9GU5hcn
— Florida Gators Football (@GatorsFB) May 3, 2018
But, the LSU Tigers also carry some defensive back clout.
https://twitter.com/318photo/status/988116319907311616
The lengthy history of the DBU rivalry is well-documented. But, neither Vernon Hargreaves nor Tyrann Mathieu will be able to break up a pass this weekend.
What matters going in is 2018 and 2018 only. This season, Florida has the best passing defense in the SEC and ranks second nationally. In the same category, LSU is tenth in the conference and ranks 79th nationally. Also, the Gators and Tigers are tied for picks (5).
However, Florida is averaging slightly more points (35.8) than LSU (33.8). Florida is also allowing less points per game (14) than LSU (15).
Based on these stats, both teams are DBU. But when it comes to answering who will wear the DBU crown this weekend, each team will be pushing to prove itself for the answer.
Do They Like to See You Winning, Florida?
The Gators are expecting a big turnout for the LSU game. In addition to getting the chance to possibly see a major upset, the Gators and Tigers are historically bitter rivals. But for the last two years, small mistakes have decided the outcome of the game. The 2016 meeting in Baton Rouge went Florida’s way on a 4th-and-goal stop. Last year’s matchup went to LSU, after a rare missed PAT attempt by Florida.
This year, the Gators are looking to extend their all-time 32-29-3 record over the Tigers. And while fans will definitely be “Packing the Swamp,” and getting rowdy, one fan of considerable fame has made it known how much he wants to see a Florida win.
The headline, of course, is in reference to the song Tunnel Vision by rapper Kodak Black. Kodak, a Broward County native, is a Gators fan, as evidenced by his Twitter…
https://twitter.com/KodakBlack1k/status/928291271885623301
But, the love is mutual. Florida football players are in on the fun.
Apparently, Coach Mullen is too.
The Toney trick-play, which was the only touchdown scored by either team during the Mississippi State game.
It’s a screen to Kadarius Toney… no, no it’s a double pass… and IT IS A TOUCHDOWN TO MORAL STEPHENS!
And the #Gators LEAD Mississippi State in Starkville! pic.twitter.com/pnIwRVgcCS
— InAllKindsOfWeather.com (@AllKindsWeather) September 30, 2018
The bulk of the outcome of this week’s game will obviously depend on how Florida is able to measure up against LSU. But, it doesn’t hurt that the Gators might have a superstar cheering them on in the Swamp. A Gator motivator, if you will.
Final Thoughts
All in all, this game is cooking up to be a good one. Dan Mullen is looking to be the first first-year Florida coach to top LSU since Steve Spurrier did it in 1990.