FSU Seminoles look to spoil the Florida Gators BCS Championship Dreams

Written by Benton Vale

Friday, 24 November 2006

The Florida Gators and Florida State Seminoles finish out the regular season for both schools on Saturday Nov.25, in a noon kickoff from Doak Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee, Fl.

Florida, the SEC Eastern Division Champion enters the contest with an overall record of 10-1 and an SEC mark of 7-1. Florida State is 6-5 overall and is 3-5 in the ACC.

Florida State comes into the season finale having become bowl eligible with a 28-20 win over Western Michigan at home last week. The Florida game will be FSU's eighth home game of the season, but FSU must beat Florida to have a winning home record this season.

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FSU’s running game took a hit last week when sophomore tailback Antone Smith dislocated his elbow on the first carry of his very first start. Drew Weatherford will start for the Seminoles against Florida this week, but head coach Bobby Bowden said Xavier Lee will see playing time.

The Gators enter today’s game looking to win three-straight in the series for the first time since 1984-86. UF is also looking for back-to-back wins in Tallahassee for the first time since 1984 and 1986 and the eighth time in school history. Florida quarterback Chris Leak won on his last trip to Tallahassee (20-13, 2004) and is in position to join Kerwin Bell as the only two Gator starting quarterbacks to win in Tallahassee twice in their careers.

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Florida has already passed its 2005 season total of 47 plays of 20-or-more yards with 63 through the first 11 games of this season (21 runs and 42 receptions), 15 of which have gone for touchdowns. Last season, the Gators had 42 (11 runs and 31 receptions) of 20-or-more yards through the first 11 games. In addition, Florida managed only one run of 20-or-more yards following the Georgia game last season. The Gators have had seven already this year. All but three offensive TD UF have scored this season has contained at least one run of 12-or-more yards or a pass of 16-yards or more on the TD drive.

Leak’s 19 touchdown passes through 11 games are one short of the 20 he threw last season. In records dating back to 1955, he has thrown for more or matched the UF leader in passing touchdowns from 35 of 50 years. The Gators are favored by a -9.0 chalk by most Vegas and offshore sports books.

Florida has failed to cover the betting line in seven of its last eight football games. The Gators have been accused of playing down to competition and narrowly escaping tight games. This might play into the hands of those betting on the Seminoles in this rivalry game.