Florida Football: 5 Pivotal games for Gators in 2017
Florida vs LSU – October 7, 2017
Homecoming in The Swamp. This is always a fun one for the folks in Gainesville.
With the schools clashing in recent years over which university is “DBU” (Defensive Back University) and the chaos of rescheduling the game last year, the story line creates for a showdown in Gainesville (which makes some people think this game should be higher on the list).
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Florida’s OT Martez Ivey gave his thoughts about this game being scheduled for homecoming, “That makes it even more interesting for people to blow this game up.”
However, this game doesn’t decide the rest of the season for the Gators. If they enter this game at 3-0 in conference play, it isn’t a must-win game.
The Gators take pride in their defensive backs and their ability to shut down opposing teams air attacks, but in recent years the Gators have struggled stopping the run, giving up 144 yards/game a year ago.
With Derrius Guice and Darrel Williams returning in the backfield for the Tigers, the Gators young defense must control the gaps well and play disciplined defense in order to minimize the rushing attack of LSU.
Guice ran for an SEC high 1,387 yards and 15 touchdowns as a sophomore. With the departure of Leonard Fournette to the NFL, Guice should see more carries and could surpass 1,500 yards this year.
Even though this is 4th on my list, this is still a huge game for the Gators.