2 » It is obvious that the red zone is where the Gators are struggling the most this season. They are only 7-of-26 from it in SEC play. And no one is more frustrated about it than Meyer, who was very succinct when asked about it after the game. “I didn’t coach very well,” Meyer said. “I put Tim in some tough situations down in the red zone. Our red zone offense right now is really an issue and something we’ll get on during the plane ride home. For years, I can’t think of when we’ve never not lead the SEC or been in the top three [in red-zone production]. And we’re not. We have to evaluate what we’re doing.”

3 » Senior linebacker Brandon Spikes (groin) was dressed as if he would play Saturday night, yet he never stepped on the field. Florida sure could have used him in the interior, but did well enough without him to justify him standing on the sideline. It is almost decided that Spikes will return this week for the Georgia Bulldogs game. In other injury news, running back Jeff Demps (neck) was wearing a neck brace after the game, though Meyer told reporters there is no structural damage. Chris Rainey played well in his stead. Cornerback Wondy Pierre-Louis pulled his hamstring on a return and should miss some time. The Gators hope to have Moses Jenkins back on returns next week, though his recovery from a concussion sustained against the Kentucky Wildcats is coming along slowly.

4 » Playing without three starters last night, the Gators defense still put together a great game. It is obvious the unit is adjusting to the extra responsibility being heaped on it not only by its own injured players and an offense which has been slow to get off the ground all season. “They’re playing with a lot of pride,” Meyer said. “That’s an experienced group now. That’s a group of grown men there.” Cornerback Joe Haden agrees. “Everything was clicking, defensive line, secondary, linebackers,” he said. “The main thing we did was wrap up No. 24 [Anthony Dixon]. We didn’t want him to make big plays against us.”

5 » Two noticeable improvements over last week’s performance were ball security and creation of turnovers. Florida worked hard on this all week during practice and it was successful – at least as far as fumbling goes. Last week, the Gators gave up four fumbles and produced zero turnovers of their own. This week, the defensive unit grabbed three interceptions – two by linebackers. On offense, the team held onto the ball and kept it off the ground; however, Tebow threw two interceptions, one that was returned 100 yards for a touchdown and another out of his own endzone also returned for a touchdown.

6 » Yes, the Gators won Saturday night. But for the second week in the row, it was not satisfying one bit. Too many ups-and-downs, too many mistakes, too many missed opportunities.

Florida’s defense held Mississippi State running back Anthony Dixon to a season-low 53 yards. The Bulldogs’ defense did their job, too, stymieing the Gators in the red zone all night long. Florida was kept out of the end zone on their first four trips in the area. Tebow scored a 26-yard rushing touchdown early to tie Georgia Bulldogs RB Herschel Walker‘s SEC rushing touchdown record (49), and RB Chris Rainey scored an eight-yard touchdown after the Bulldogs muffed a fake punt. Rainey would also block a punt in the game. Linebacker Dustin Doe intercepted the ball and returned it for a touchdown, though he seemed to fumble near the goal line when showboating. The touchdown was upheld by the officials.

Mississippi State’s two interception returns for touchdowns were from cornerback Jonathan Banks, who brought back one for 100 yards and caught another when Tebow’s arm was hit mid-throw in the Gators’ end zone. Tebow had just one pick-six in his collegiate career prior to Saturday night’s game. Florida linebacker A.J. Jones caught his first career interception in the game, safety Major Wright added one of his own, and kicker Caleb Sturgis missed both a 37-yard field goal and an extra point.

In the second quarter, Florida RB Jeff Demps injured his neck and has undergone X-rays to determine the extent of his injury; cornerback Wondy Pierre-Louis was also injured, aggravating his hamstring. Head coach Urban Meyer said during his post-game press conference that he is not sure of the health status of the two players. Senior middle linebacker Brandon Spikes was dressed for the contest but did not play while nursing a sore groin.

The Gators continue to own the nation’s longest winning streak at 17 games and, with their latest win, have extended their SEC road game winning streak to nine straight games. Florida will travel to Jacksonville, FL, next weekend for their annual meeting against Georgia (4-3, 3-2 SEC) in the World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party. The game will air live on CBS at 3:30 p.m.

Location: Davis Wade Stadium – Starkville, MS [Capacity: 55,082]
Time: 7:30 p.m. (EST)
Weather Forecast: 52°F – Clear skies

TV: ESPN
Online: Live for FREE at ESPN 360.
Sirius: 121; XM: 141

Odds: Florida -22.5, O/U 49.5
Head-to-Head Stats: Gainesville Sun

KEEP AN EYE ON…
- Florida Gators quarterback Tim Tebow…who is currently second all-time to former Georgia Bulldogs running back Herschel Walker in Southeastern Conference rushing touchdowns with 48. He needs one more to tie Walker’s record. Tebow has also thrown a touchdown pass in 32 of his 33 career starts.
- The UF secondary…which had its streak of grabbing an interception in 17 straight games snapped last week. It will be interesting to see if the unit, especially cornerback Janoris Jenkins, rebounds from last week.
- Florida’ Urban Meyer…who can become the first Gators head coach since Galen Hall in 1985 to win in Starkville.
- Mississippi State Bulldogs running back Anthony Dixon…who set a new school record in career rushing yardage last week when he eclipsed 3,299 yards.
- Head coach Dan Mullen, offensive line coach John Hevesy, strength and conditioning coach Matt Balis and graduate assistant Angelo Mirando…all of whom previously worked for the Gators but are now on the Mississippi State coaching staff.
- Gators tight end Aaron Hernandez…who had career highs in receptions (seven) and yards (92) last week vs. Arkansas Razorbacks. He has led Florida in receptions four times this season.
- Florida kicker Caleb Sturgis…who made three of four field goals last Saturday including a 51-yarder and game-winning 27-yard shot with nine seconds left.

STREAKS:
- The Gators are in the middle of the longest winning streak in school history with 16 consecutive victories. They also hold the longest active winning streak in the NCAA and the longest in the SEC since the Auburn Tigers won 20 straight from 1993-94 .
- With a win Saturday, Florida will go 3-0 in the SEC West for the first time since 1998.
- Florida is on an 8-0 road game winning streak, dating back to 2007. Their two best played games this season – against the Kentucky Wildcats and LSU Tigers – were both on the road.
- Florida leads the all-time series vs. Mississippi State 32-18-2, though the Bulldogs lead the series at their home 7-3.
- The Gators lead the SEC in total offense (470.5), rushing offense (259.8), scoring offense (36.3) and third-down efficiency (.514).
- Florida has converted 48.6% of its offensive drives into points in 2009, best in the SEC.

Read OGGOA’s complete Florida vs. Mississippi State preview after the jump…

No. 1 Florida Gators vs. Mississippi State Bulldogs Preview

Scratching by with a close win last week, the No. 1 Florida Gators (6-0, 4-0) hit the road, traveling to Starkville, MS, to take on the Mississippi State Bulldogs (3-4, 1-2) at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Davis Wade Stadium. The game will air live on ESPN.

Florida senior quarterback Tim Tebow and sophomore kicker Caleb Sturgis led the Gators to victory on a 14-play, 69-yard drive that ended with a 27-yard field goal with only nine seconds left on the clock. While the win was marked with questions about officiating and the Gators inability to stop the Arkansas Razorbacks on defense, Florida went on to win their 16th straight game. This week, the Gators go into their contest against their former offensive coordinator and new Bulldogs head coach Dan Mullen with a depleted defense (as many as three starters may be out) and concerns about the viability of an offense run by coordinator Steve Addazio.

Out for Saturday’s game are defensive end Justin Trattou (shoulder/bicep), wide receivers Carl Moore (back) and T.J. Lawrence (scoped knee), cornerbacks Moses Jenkins (concussion) and Jeremy Brown (back), linebacker Brendan Beal (neck) and safety Dorian Munroe (knee). Defensive tackle Lawrence Marsh (ankle) is doubtful for the game [he will not play], while his linemate Jaye Howard (knee bruise) is questionable, though many believe he will miss game action, too. Senior middle linebacker Brandon Spikes (groin) is listed as questionable [most expect him to play], and DE Jermaine Cunningham (groin) is probable and a go.

Coach Mullen and the Bulldogs believe they have a plan to stop the Gators and were extremely confident toward the end of the week. Both went as far as to say that, if they played their game, victory was certainly a possibility against the BCS No. 1-ranked team in the nation. Mullen’s familiarity with the Gators is a concern, though both he and Tebow have said it is not that much of a factor in the grand scheme of things. Florida’s offensive signals were changed this week, and the Gators coaching staff will attempt to avoid falling into any trends that Mullen might recognize.

But Mullen is not the only one in Starkville, MS, trying to turn up the intensity for Saturday. His players are just as pumped up and confident that a victory over the BCS No. 1-ranked Gators is possible.

“You can just feel it everywhere you go,” senior running back Anthony Dixon said. “The intensity in that stadium is going to be like nothing you’ve ever seen around here. It’s going to take us and the fans, the whole Mississippi State program, for us to pull this off. I don’t want to say much because I want to keep [the game plan] a secret. [Mullen] just told us that we have a chance, that we can beat them. I don’t want to say too much else and don’t want to give away our secret plan of knocking off the champs. But if we go out there and play hard and play our game, we can win this game.”

Having won four straight games against the Gators in Starkville is reason enough for the Bulldogs to be confident, but they have never faced a Florida team as talented as this one – even with the potential for three starting defensive players to miss the game. And they have yet to face head coach Urban Meyer at home, either.