Gators Online Gameday Predictions: Florida Gators vs. LSU Tigers

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — After a disappointing home showing against the Arkansas Razorbacks, the Florida Gators will look to rebound this weekend against the LSU Tigers. LSU is coming off a loss of its own to the Alabama Crimson Tide. Saturday’s game will break a 33-33-3 series tie between the two schools. Who will come out on top on Saturday night in Death Valley?

Gators Online staff writers Zach Abolverdi, Nick de la Torre, Corey Bender, and Keith Niebuhr, will pick every game this season and we will keep track of our staff picks and predictions as the year goes on.

Zach Abolverdi

The last time the Gators traveled to LSU, they found themselves in a 49-42 shootout as Anthony Richardson had a coming-out party in the loss. Florida will likely have to score in the 40s again to compete in this year’s matchup against the Tigers.

LSU ranks in the top 10 nationally and leads the league in every major offensive statistical category except rushing offense, which is the second-best in the SEC. Florida’s defense has allowed an average of 40.3 points and 477.3 yards in its last three games.

The Gators need to hold LSU in the high 30s or low 40s and have their offense play the way it did in their last SEC road game at South Carolina. UF is definitely capable of putting up points against the Tigers, but I don’t think it will score enough to beat them.

Prediction: LSU, 45-31

Corey Bender

I’m expecting both offenses to have plenty of success moving the ball. However, I’m not sure if the Gators can keep that pace for four quarters.

Another major factor is the venue and kickoff time, as winning a night game inside Tiger Stadium is a difficult task for any away team. On top of that, the Gators have lost seven of their last nine games in Baton Rouge and have not won there since 2016 (a 1:00 pm ET kickoff). All in all, UF has fallen short on the road more often than not since Billy Napier became head coach. That has been a major issue.

Graham Mertz should produce another solid outing, especially with the Tigers battling plenty of injuries in the secondary. But I just don’t think it will be enough to keep up with LSU’s offense and Heisman Trophy candidate, Jayden Daniels.

Prediction: LSU, 48-31

Keith Niebuhr

LSU’s offense vs. Florida’s defense is a matchup that probably has every Gator fan from Key Largo to Chiefland scared. And it should. Led by quarterback Jayden Daniels, LSU is No. 3 nationally in scoring offense (45.2); Daniels has 27 touchdown passes and only four interceptions. Meanwhile, Florida hasn’t stopped anyone in a while. 

Also, LSU is at home — and we all know how bad the Gators have been away from The Swamp

Now for the positive side of things: LSU just lost to Alabama in an intense rivalry game, and now has three losses. For a team that was preseason top 5 and had big-time aspirations, that stings. So perhaps the Tigers won’t be as focused and hungry as they were a few weeks ago. Meanwhile, LSU’s defense isn’t great and has been burned a lot through the air.

So, yes, Florida might — MIGHT — have a chance.

But let’s be honest; right now it’s hard to pick the Gators, who couldn’t beat two-win Arkansas at home, to win in Death Valley.

Prediction: LSU, 38-27

Nick de la Torre

The overall series for the Gators and Tigers is gridlocked at 33-33-3. However, LSU has owned this series of late taking four in a row, five of the last six and 13 of the last 20. That includes a couple of LSU wins when Florida was favored.

Florida’s defense has worn down and they have been much worse on the road (34.8 points per game) than at home (16.6 points per game). The Tigers’ offense, with Heisman hopeful Jayden Daniels, has no problem scoring. There has been a lot of talk about how the LSU defense has been bad this season, but they rank right around Florida in every major statistical category.

So, if the defenses are a wash or close to that, are the offenses close? No, not really. While Florida’s offense has improved, LSU has been one of the best offenses in the country this season.

Prediction: LSU, 45-29

Tracking the picks

Game	Abolverdi	Bender	Niebuhr	de la Torre
Season Record:	7-2	5-4	7-2	7-2
Utah	Utah ✅	Utah ✅	Utah ✅	Florida ❌
McNeese	Florida ✅	Florida ✅	Florida ✅	Florida ✅
Tennessee	Florida ✅	Tennessee ❌	Florida ✅	Florida ✅
Charlotte	Florida ✅	Florida ✅	Florida ✅	Florida ✅
Kentucky	Florida ❌	Florida ❌	Florida ❌	Kentucky ✅
Vanderbilt	Florida ✅	Florida ✅	Florida ✅	Florida ✅
South Carolina	Florida ✅	South Carolina ❌	Florida ✅	Florida ✅
Georgia	Georgia ✅	Georgia ✅	Georgia ✅	Georgia ✅
Arkansas	Florida ❌	Florida ❌	Florida ❌	Florida ❌
LSU	LSU	LSU	LSU	LSU
Missouri				
Florida State