Florida at Florida State
Florida football team gets ready to face off against Florida State football in Sunshine State rivalry.
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In the football crazed state of Florida, bragging rights go a long way and Florida State hasn’t beaten Florida in six years. Christian Ponder and the rest of senior Seminoles are tired of hearing about it and this is their best chance to reverse the trend.
Florida State (8-3, 6-2) will try to claim the state title and — with some help — the ACC, too. The Seminoles, who already beat Miami, haven’t beaten both state schools since 1999. If they win and Maryland beats North Carolina State, the No. 21 Seminoles play in the ACC championship game on Dec. 4 against Virginia Tech in Charlotte.
The Gators (7-4, 4-4) hope to close out an inconsistent season with a win. A 48-10 win over Appalachian State last week hasn’t stopped the locals, who are used to conference and national championships, from questioning what’s wrong with the Gators. With quarterback John Brantley and the offense yet to play up to expectations, coach Urban Meyer has increasingly turned to hybrid quarterbacks Jordan Reed and Trey Burton to jumpstart the offense.
The Gators not only have routinely beaten the Seminoles; they’ve beaten them badly. The last three years, Florida has won by a combined 127-37 (37-10 last season, 45-15 in 2008 and 45-12 in 2007). This year’s teams appear to be pretty evenly matched, with neither doing anything exceptionally well, at least not consistently. Both teams enter the game scoring a shade above 31 points a game and defensively, Florida State allows 18.8 points a game while Florida gives up 20.2.
If the Seminoles are going to end their six-game losing streak, they’ll have to convert in the red zone, where they’ve scored just one touchdown in their last six trips. It won’t be easy; Florida is ranked 10th in total defense.
Brantley has thrown for 1,968 yards, completing 188 of 304. He has just eight touchdowns and eight interceptions. Jeffery Demps, who hasn’t shown the same explosiveness since an early-season foot injury, is probable. He leads the Gators with 487 yards rushing. Burton (316 yards), Chris Rainey and Reed all get carries.
For the Seminoles, Ponder has 1,817 yards passing (167 of 270) with 17 touchdowns and eight interceptions. Chris Thompson (645 yards) is the primary running threat with Jermaine Thomas doubtful with a knee injury.
Florida cornerbacks Janoris Jenkins (concussion) and Jeremy Brown (hamstring) are questionable. Florida State receiver Willie Haulstead (concussion) is probable.
