Florida football: All you need to know for tonight’s game with Florida State
Bragging rights, a 10-win season, possible New Year’s 6 bowl, whatever the biggest stakes, Florida football hosts Florida State tonight.
It’s not necessarily for all the marbles, but there is a lot riding on tonight’s game between No. 8 Florida football and Florida State.
You have a consecutive 10-win season for head coach Dan Mullen, in-state bragging rights, along with the possibility of restoring order with the Seminoles at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.
The Gators have not beaten Florida State at home since 2009. It could also mark the first time since 2008 Florida football has beaten both Miami and Florida State in the same season.
That could all change tonight as a sold-out crowd could watch as Mullen makes history as the only Florida football coach to win 10 games in his first two seasons as head coach.
They could also watch as Florida takes a step closer to a New Year’s 6 bowl game — which is a possibility, but certainly not an absolute.
Here’s all you need to know for tonight’s game:
The info
- Time and Date: 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 30.
- Where: Ben Hill Griffin Stadium (Gainesville).
- TV: SEC Network with Tom Hart, Jordan Rodgers and Cole Cubelic.
- Radio: Gator IMG Sports Network with Mick Hubert, Lee McGriff and Tate Casey.
- Satellite: Sirius Ch. 134/XM Ch. 190.
The headlines
FSU’s road to The Swamp through tweets
Florida Gators scouting report vs. Seminoles
Florida State injury report ahead of Gators’ game
The Gator defense vs. Seminoles’ offense
Gator injury report ahead of Florida State
The odds
According to The Action Network, Florida football is -17 at home to Florida State. There are some betting houses that have Florida -17.5. At -17 it is one of the biggest spreads in this rivalry in recent memory.
The points
Florida football is one of four FBS schools with three players — Shawn Davis, Donovan Stiner and Marco Wilson — with at least three interceptions this year.
The Gators are the only SEC team with five players having at least 3.0 sacks — Jonathan Greenard (6), Zachary Carter and Mohamoud Diabate (3.5), Jeremiah Moon and Jabari Zuniga (3). Six others have 2.0 sacks this year — Khris Bogle, Trey Dean III, James Houston IV, Ventrell Miller David Reece II and Adam Shuler.
The Florida football offense has six 300-yard passing games in a season for the first time since 2002. Five of those games are against Southeastern Conference opponents.
Tight end Kyle Pitts is one of just four FBS tight ends with at least 45 catches, 500 yards and five touchdowns this season.
Florida is one of six FBS teams that feature at least four receivers with 425-plus yards, 30-plus receptions and at least three touchdowns. The others are Eastern Michigan, Indiana, Texas Tech, USC and Washington State.
Florida football quarterback Kyle Trask has a completion percentage of 66.5% since the fourth quarter against Kentucky when he came in for injured Feleipe Franks. Trask has 21 touchdowns and 2.253 yards passing this season.
The last line
This is a perfect opportunity for Florida to stake its claim as the best football team in the state. But, more importantly, this is a perfect springboard into the bowl season and next year when the Gators return three quality quarterbacks and solid pieces on both sides of the ball.
Mullen has done nothing short of pulling a rabbit out of his hat with a weak offensive line and a backup quarterback who had not taken a competitive snap since his seventh-grade year and turned it into a potential 10-game winner.
While a New Year’s 6 bowl game is likely more of a pipe dream than anything else, the Gators can set the table for whatever bowl game they get and get ready for what could be a dominating 2020 season.
Next. Give thanks for every Mullen-led touchdown against FSU. dark
No. 8 Florida will host Florida State at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.