Florida vs. Florida State: Prediction, pick, line, odds, live stream, watch online, TV, game preview

By Adam Silverstein
November 25, 2017
Florida vs. Florida State: Prediction, pick, line, odds, live stream, watch online, TV, game preview
Football

The Florida Gators took a step in the right direction last week and now hope to close their season with two wins in a row when they host the rival Florida State Seminoles on Saturday in what actually stands as the second-best game being played in the Sunshine State this weekend.

Here’s what you need to know and how you can watch Gators-Noles.


Viewing information

Date: Saturday, Nov. 25 | Time: 12 p.m. ET
Location: Ben Hill Griffin Stadium – Gainesville, Florida [Capacity: 88,548]

TV: ESPN (Beth Mowins, Anthony Becht, Rocky Boiman)
Live stream:WatchESPN.com | Watch ESPN apps
SiriusXM: 137/190 | Radio: Gator Radio Network [Affiliates]

Live Updates:@OnlyGators on Twitter

Tale of the tape

Florida Gators Florida State Seminoles
Head coach Randy Shannon Jimbo Fisher
Record 4-6 4-6
Conference Southeastern American Athletic

Three things to know

1. This is it: Saturday is the end of an era error for Florida as the Jim McElwain tenure officially comes to an end. Sure, McElwain has not been on the sideline in weeks, but the Gators have remained under the shadow of his coaching regime despite his absence. Shannon has done a fine job as an interim coach in his stead, but he’s not a legitimate candidate for the full-time job, which means the coaching staff as you know it is going to be overhauled heading into the 2018 season. Florida also does not have a bowl game for which to play, which means it can play the ultimate spoiler for Florida State — a rival that went ahead and rescheduled a nonconference game lost due to Hurricane Irma in order to try and sneak into bowl eligibility and continue its nation-leading streak. The Gators can halt all of that with a victory at home in The Swamp.

2. Show us what you got: From redshirt freshman quarterback Feleipe Franks to Florida’s second-year linebackers and extremely young secondary, this game will serve as their last chance to put their play on film for the new coach. Anyone who takes over the Gators should evaluate the players on an even basis, and with no bowl preparation or game to watch, that coach will be looking closely at how these players performed late in the season in a rivalry game. If Franks wants to return as Florida’s starter in 2018, it would behoove him to prove it on Saturday.

3. Under the radar game: Perhaps it is good for UF that the coaching search has completely overshadowed the end of arguably its worst season in four decades. If FSU does win on Saturday, it would give the Noles a five-game winning streak in the series for the first time in history. If the Gators can spoil what’s left of their rivals’ season, they will be doing so without too many recruits in attendance on official visits, but it will be something to brag about going forward. Either way, for Florida-Florida State to kick at noon is a rarity, and for both teams to enter the game unranked (first time since 2011) is as well.

Prediction and analysis

Spread: Florida +6 | O/U: 45

On the base level, it would seem like Florida State — despite its terrible season — would enter Saturday’s game with the healthier and more talented squad considering Fisher’s years of successful recruiting. But if you watched the Seminoles this season, you know that is not necessarily the case. In fact, I expect the Gators to not only cover but win this game — and Florida getting six points at home for a noon kickoff is a gift.

Does that mean UF is guaranteed to win? Absolutely not. Anything can happen in this game between two awful rivals. But if you’re looking for a side to take, the home team is the one. And considering the state of both offenses, I expect this to go under the total.

2017 records: ATS picks 5-5 | O/U picks 8-2

Injuries and absences

Suspended (9): WR Antonio Callaway, RB Jordan Scarlett, DL Keivonnis Davis, DL Richerd Desir-Jones, DL Jordan Smith, WR Rick Wells, LB James Houston IV, LB Ventrell Miller, OL Kadeem Telfort

Questionable (2): DL Jachai Polite (shoulder), DL Elijah Conliffe (ankle)
Out (17): OL Antonio Riles (undisclosed), QB Malik Zaire (knee), ATH Kadarius Toney (shoulder, leg), DL Jachai Polite (shoulder), QB Jake Allen (back), DB Quincy Lenton (knee), LB Nick Smith (knee), WR James Robinson (heart), OL T.J. McCoy (leg – season), OL Brett Heggie (knee – season) RB Malik Davis (knee – season), DB Nick Washington (shoulder – season), DE Jordan Sherit (hip – season), DB Garrett Stephens (knee – season), QB Luke Del Rio (collarbone – season), DB Marcell Harris (Achilles – season), QB Kyle Trask (foot – season)

Game notes

» Florida is 34-25-2 all-time against Florida State, and UF holds a 20-11-1 advantage in Gainesville.
» After the Gators won six straight from 2004-09, the Seminoles have won four straight and six of the last seven meetings, holding UF to seven points or fewer four times. The Noles have outscored the Gators by 105 points in those seven meetings, 15 per game and 19.3 in FSU’s wins.
» Florida has never lost five straight games to Florida State.
» This is the seventh time in series history dating back to 1966 — first time since 2011, second time since 1987 — that both teams enter the game unranked. It’s the second time that both teams enter the game with a losing record (1959).
» UF is 215-13 since 1990 when an opponent scores 21 points or fewer in a contest, including 20-2 over the last 2+ seasons.
» Since 2014, the Gators are 19-5 against unranked opponents and 4-8 against ranked opponents. UF is 17-1 when outrushing an opponent, 19-5 when scoring first, 17-3 when leading at half and 11-2 when winning the turnover battle. UF is 9-3 in one-possession games and 14-11 in games decided by eight points or more.
» Florida owns the nation’s longest streak of returning either a kickoff or punt for a touchdown, doing so in 12 consecutive seasons. It has yet to do so in 2017 and is in danger of seeing that streak come to an end.
» The Gators have the second-most wins in the nation since 1990 (262).
» Florida has scored in 371 straight games, the longest active streak in the nation and longest streak all-time.

Uniforms

Florida will wear orange jerseys, white pants and white helmets on Saturday.

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