 | 7 p.m. ET Gainesville, Fla. Ben Hill Griffin Stadium at Florida Field (88,548) |  |
SEC: 1-2 XM: N/A Sirius: N/A | [Clay Matvick, play-by-play; Herm Edwards, analyst; Chris Spielman, analyst; Jessica Mendoza, sidelines] | SEC: 2-2 XM: 199 Sirius: 219 |
THE COACHES
Dan Mullen is in his second season at MSU and overall with a record of 9-9 (.500). Les Koenning serves as the offensive coordinator and the co-defensive coordinators are Manny Diaz and Chris Wilson.
Urban Meyer is in his sixth season at Florida with a record of 61-12 (.836) and 10th overall with a record of 100-20 (.833). The Gators’ offensive coordinator is Steve Addazio and the defensive coordinator is Teryl Austin.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR WHEN MISSISSIPPI STATE HAS THE BALL
At the halfway mark of the 2010 season, 11 different offensive players have at least one rushing attempt and 14 different players have at least one reception. Vick Ballard has scored at least one touchdown in each game, and leads the SEC with both a total of 72 points and 11 rushing touchdowns. Two weeks ago, Chad Bumphis caught nine passes for 133 yards, both career highs. Last week at Houston, he led the team with seven catches for 79 yards. Last weekend at Houston, Chris Relf rushed 14 times for 96 yards.
Florida leads the nation with 13 interceptions in 2010. Justin Trattou has 2.5 tackles for loss and leads UF’s defensive line with 12 tackles. He tallied a career-high nine tackles against LSU, including one tackle for loss. Jonathan Bostic has three interceptions this season, tying for the team lead. He has 28 tackles this season. A.J. Jones has 25 tackles, including two tackles for loss, and two pass breakups this season. Janoris Jenkins paces the league with seven passes defended. Ahmad Black leads the team for the season with 50 tackles and has three tackles for loss, as well.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR WHEN FLORIDA HAS THE BALL
State has allowed only seven touchdowns in 19 times the ball has reached inside its 20 yard line. Chris White leads the squad and ranks seventh in the conference with 7.5 tackles for loss. He also leads the team and is sixth in the SEC with 46 total tackles. K.J. Wright has been all over the field making plays for the Bulldog ‘D’ this season. The senior has 42 total tackles and leads the SEC with seven pass breakups.
John Brantley has completed 105 of 169 passes (62.1 percent) for 1,056 yards and six touchdowns with four interceptions for a passer rating of 121.6. Jeff Demps leads the Gators with 414 rushing yards through six games, averaging 6.5 yards per carry. Deonte Thompson leads the UF receving corps with 23 receptions for 328 yards (14.3 avg.), an average of 54.7 yards per game. Over the span of four games, Carl Moore has 12 catches for 221 yards (18.4 avg.).
SPECIAL TEAMS
The Bulldogs are next-to-last in the SEC in kickoff coverage. Heath Hutchins may not be leading the nation in punting yards, but the senior has punted 21 times and allowed only 10 return yards. After dropping 11 punts inside the 20 a year ago, Hutchins has already pinned opponents inside the 20 eight times this season. State ranks 26th nationally and third in the SEC in net punting. Return danger Leon Berry is out for the season.
Demps leads the SEC with a 32.5-yard kick return average. He has returned eight kicks for 260 yards with a long of 54. He had a kickoff return of 40-plus yards in each of the first three games this season. Andre Debose recorded an 88-yard kickoff return for a touchdown against LSU. -Chas Henry leads the nation in yards per punt with a 49.8 average (min. 15 punts). He also has helped the Gators to the second-best net punting average in the nation at 44.0 yards. Henry had three punts of 50-plus yards against LSU, averaging 52.5 yards with a long of 58.
SERIES/GAME NOTES
Record: UF, 33-18-2
It marks the 54th meeting in series history with UF holding a 33-18-2 advantage all-time... Florida is 2-0 against Mississippi State under head coach Urban Meyer, including a 29-19 win in Starkville last season...This will be Dan Mullen’s first game at Florida since leaving the Florida staff after the 2008 season.
