No. 22 Florida football opens as short home underdog vs. No. 5 LSU

By Adam Silverstein
October 1, 2018
No. 22 Florida football opens as short home underdog vs. No. 5 LSU
Football

Image Credit: @GatorsFB / Twitter

No. 22 Florida Gators football, ranked for the second time this season, welcomes the No. 5 LSU Tigers to Gainesville, Florida, on Saturday in a showdown that will continue the ongoing and somehow still growing rivalry between the two Southeastern Conference foes.

What was once simply a strong, extended cross-division rivalry got personal a few years ago when Hurricane Matthew forced the near-cancellation and eventual postponement of a game between the programs; the result saw the Gators give up a home game in order to get the contest in yet still prevail on the road over the Tigers. It also meant Florida would host LSU in consecutive seasons.

The second of those home meetings comes Saturday as the Gators welcome the Bayou Bengals to town once again. But despite both teams being ranked, there is a lot of love for the surging LSU this season. Ranked in the top five nationally and looking to have finally found a quarterback in Joe Burrow, the Tigers are expected to triumph over the homestanding Gators and are thus considered a three-point favorite entering Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

The last five meetings between Florida and LSU have been decided by a touchdown or less, though the Tigers are 4-1 in those contests. The Gators still lead the all-time series 32-29-3, but LSU has won six of the last eight and nine of the last 14 meetings.

Be sure to check back with OnlyGators.com for a pick and prediction before the game, which will air live at 3:30 p.m. ET on CBS in the SEC on CBS Game of the Week.

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