College Football Match-Up: Florida Gators Vs. LSU Tigers

Looking back, 2005 was a pivotal year for the University of Florida and Louisiana State University. Florida welcomed in Urban Meyers as their head coach, while Les Miles took over the same position with LSU. Since then, the two head coaches have combined for three national championships and jump started a rivalry game that has been one of the best in recent years.

Urban Meyer and Les Miles have squared off four times and each coach has won two of the contests when the game was played on their home field. The 2009 meeting filled with BCS implications between Florida and LSU will take place in Baton Rouge during prime time television.

If the Florida Gators and Urban Meyers are going to be victorious it will be because of their defense which is ranked fourth in scoring, allowing only 7.3 points per game while allowing only 212 total yards of offense. They will be matched up against a LSU offense that has scored 28.8 points per game while averaging 310 yards per game.

For the LSU Tigers to find success in this rivalry game, their defense and their ability to limit the damage done by the Gators quarterback Tim Tebow. So far this season Tebow has passed for 643 yards with 6 touchdowns and 1 interception. On the ground he has rushed for 251 yards with 5 touchdowns. Tebow will have time to recover from the concussion he suffered against Kentucky and should be at full strength by game time.

If the Tigers are going to be able to stop Tebow, he will need the front four of his defensive unit to have career days. Players like Rahim Alem and Drake Nevis will need to contain Tebow and be responsible for making the tackles when he breaks for a run.

The wildcard in this contest could be the special teams play. LSU is averaging 13.5 yards for every punt return while Florida is only managing 3.9 per return. This would mean Urban Meyers and Les Miles will need to think about the importance of field position when they fail to convert the third down.

While the home field advantage goes to the Tigers, the Gators will be able to counter with a dominant defense and the best player in college football. In the end Urban Meyers his Florida Gators are going to be too much for LSU and become the first team in five years to win a game on the road.

Resources

http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/football