Location: Doak Campbell Stadium – Tallahassee, FL [Capacity: 82,300]
Weather Forecast: 65°F, clear skies
Time: 3:30 p.m. (EST)

TV: ABC/ESPN
Online Video: ESPN3.com
Sirius/XM: 212/198
Online Audio: Yahoo!
Live Updates: @OnlyGators

Odds: Florida State -2; O/U 51

HISTORY and STREAKS

» Florida leads the all-time series with Florida State 33-19-2. The Gators have won six straight games against the Seminoles including going 5-0 under Meyer with a 2-0 mark in Tallahassee. UF has won the last six meetings between the two teams by an average of 21.8 points and the last three by an average of 30 points.
» The Gators are 17-1 in rivalry games under Meyer including nine consecutive wins and a 5-0 mark against the Seminoles.
» UF is tied for the national lead with 17 interceptions on the season. Seven have been returned for more than 30 yards – three for touchdowns.
» Florida is back out of the BCS, Associated Press and USA Today top 25 after returning to the rankings three weeks ago. This season is the first time the Gators have been unranked in all three under Meyer. Florida had been listed in every poll since he took over in 2005 until they lost to Mississippi State three weeks ago.
» The Gators’ offense has seen 15 different players overall score a touchdown this year – including defense and special teams.
» Florida is the only school in the nation that has four players with at least three interceptions. Overall, eight Gators have at least one interception.
» The Seminoles slightly out-rank the Gators in all four major statistical averages; however, their statistics come against what many would consider inferior ACC competition. Florida State is 63rd in passing yards (212.6), 33rd in rushing yards (183.4), 37th in points scored (31.7) and 14th in points against (18.8) compared to Florida being 70th in passing yards (202.8), 49th in rushing yards (161.4), 40th in points for (31.3) and 26th in points against (20.2). The teams have not faced a common opponent this season.
» UF under Meyer is 42-1 when holding an opponent under 16 points, 29-3 when shutting an opponent out in the fourth quarter, 38-3 when holding an opponent to 35 percent or less on third down, 39-2 when giving up two or less big plays (15-yard run/25-yard pass) and 33-3 when the Gators defense scores or creates three turnovers.
» FSU’s Fisher has faced UF 16 times while an assistant at Auburn, LSU and Florida State; Florida is 11-5 in those contests (4-2 vs. Auburn, 4-3 vs. LSU, 3-0 vs. LSU).
» Gators defensive coordinator Teryl Austin, while defensive backs coach at Wake Forest (1991-93), faced the Seminoles three times and won every meeting.
» Florida freshman offensive lineman Chaz Green and Florida State’s Christian Green both attended Tampa Catholic High School. Gators defensive lineman Glen Watson and the Seminoles’ Anthony Porterfield both went to Escambia High School. FSU WR Jared Haggins attended Lakeland High School with a number of UF’s seniors.

KEEP AN EYE ON…

FLORIDA
» Redshirt junior quarterback John Brantley…who had thrown 156 consecutive passes without an interception dating back to 2009, now has an 8-8 TD/INT ratio this season after throwing an interception last week. He has completed 188-of-304 passes (61.8 percent) for 1,968 yards and has a passer rating of 119.6.
» Freshman QB Trey Burton and redshirt freshman tight end Jordan Reed…both of whom will spell Brantley at quarterback in Florida’s new three-QB system. Burton set a school record and SEC freshman record by scoring six touchdowns in a single game against Kentucky. He has 12 scores on the season, has played five positions and is second on the team in rushing (64 carries for 316 yards). Reed got his first meaningful snaps behind center two weeks, going 16-of-29 for 180 yards with three touchdowns and a pick. He also ran 40 times for 186 yards with five more scores.
» Junior running back Jeff Demps…who is averaging 6.3 yards per carry and still leads the Gators in rushing (487 yards) after missing two full games and being limited in six others. He was Florida’s leading rusher in its first five games of the season.
» Redshirt junior wide receiver Chris Rainey..who returned to action for the first time in over a month against Georgia and has 34 carries for 227 yards (along with 18 receptions for 173 yards) and five touchdowns this year.
» Redshirt freshman WR/kick returner Andre Debose…who set a school single-season record with his second kickoff return touchdown two weeks ago. With an 88-yard return against LSU and a 99-yard return against South Carolina, he is the only freshman nationally with two in 2010 and one of only two players nationally with two in 2010. He is one of the reasons why the Gators rank No. 5 nationally and No. 1 in the SEC in kickoff returns with a 26.4 average.
» Sophomore WR Frankie Hammond, Jr.…who is quickly becoming one of Florida’s most important pass catchers. He was the team’s leading receiver against Mississippi State and caught three passes for 46 yards against Georgia and another three passes for 49 yards and a touchdown against Vanderbilt the following week.
» Senior punter Chas Henry…who is the end-all be-all of Florida’s kicking game now that he has taken over for junior Caleb Sturgis (back) as the team’s field goal kicker. Henry had missed five-straight field goal attempts (one negated by penalty) before nailing back-to-back kicks in the fourth quarter and overtime a month ago.
» Florida’s secondary…which has intercepted 13 balls this season. Starters senior safety Ahmad Black (three), junior CB Janrois Jenkins (three), redshirt sophomore CB Jeremy Brown (three), and junior S Will Hill (three) have accounted for all but one of the unit’s picks.
» Black…who has led Florida in tackles seven times this season: vs. South Carolina (career-high 16), LSU (13), Georgia (12), Miami (10), Mississippi State (10), USF (8) and Vanderbilt (4). He is tops on the team overall with 96 tackles, including nine for loss.

FLORIDA STATE
» QB Christian Ponder…who leads his team in offense having passed for 1,817 yards and 17 touchdowns to go along with eight interceptions. He has also rushed 88 times for 159 yards and four scores. Ponder did not play in last year’s game due to injury.
» WR Bert Reed…who is Ponder’s top pass catcher hauling in 50 balls for 514 yards and two touchdowns this season.
» RBs Chris Thompson and Jermaine Thomas…who have combined for 1,128 yards and 11 touchdowns on the ground.
» LB Nigel Bradham and DE Brandon Jenkins…who lead the Seminoles, respectively, with team bests in tackles (80) and sacks (10).

INJURIES

» Active: Senior C Mike Pouncey (lightheadedness)
» Probable: Junior RB Jeff Demps (foot), junior CB Janoris Jenkins (concussion), redshirt sophomore CB Jeremy Brown (hamstring), redshirt senior LB A.J. Jones (hamstring), sophomore LB Dee Finley (fractured collarbone)
» Questionable: Redshirt freshman WR Andre Debose (ankle)
» Inactives: Redshirt sophomore LT Matt Patchan (broken wrist), junior K Caleb Sturgis (back), freshmen RB Mack Brown, WRs Quinton Dunbar and Chris Dunkley (hamstrings)

Read OGGOA’s Florida Gators at Florida State Seminoles preview after the jump!

Florida Gators at No. 22 Florida State Seminoles Preview

Conference titles are not up for grabs, a trip to a BCS bowl game is out of reach and there is nothing else on the line except pride and an improved record as the Florida Gators step into Doak Campbell Stadium on Saturday to take on the No. 22 Florida State Seminoles.

Pride for Florida State means snapping Florida’s six-game winning streak in the series and ending head coach Jimbo Fisher’s first regular season with a respectable 9-3 record including wins over both of their biggest rivals (Miami being the other).

For the Gators pride means finding some respectability out of a woeful season with a road win over the Seminoles. Florida has fallen to every ranked opponent it has faced this year and lost three times at home in Ben Hill Griffin Stadium for the first time in over two decades. UF also has the opportunity to extend their streak over FSU to seven games and their record under head coach Urban Meyer to 17-1 in rivalry games.

No player currently on the Gators has ever lost to the Seminoles with the seniors looking to go 4-0 (or 5-0 in some cases) and the highly touted freshman class yearning for their third rivalry win of the season.

Florida State quarterback Christian Ponder has had his own ups-and-downs this year while both winning and losing games for his team. Florida’s secondary will be charged with keeping him and top wide receivers Bert Reed, Willie Haulstead and Taiwain Easterling in check while also stopping a running game whose three main ball carriers have amassed 1,610 yards on 240 carries (6.7 average) with 13 touchdowns.

The Gators hope to get an offense going that stalled mightily against South Carolina when it counted the most but got a burst of life against an undersized Appalachian State last week. Florida scored an average of 42 points per game in its conference wins this year while only managing 14 point on average in its losses. UF is 49-2 under Meyer when scoring first and only 15-12 when its opponent does, so getting on the board early will be key for the Gators.

Junior RB Jeff Demps, who has barely played for Florida this year after injuring his foot, may provide a spark for the Gators offensively if he is able to get on the field. Otherwise UF will rely on and hope that redshirt junior QB John Brantley has broken out of his funk and can get the ball downfield while redshirt junior WR Chris Rainey makes some explosive plays out of the backfield. Unlike two weeks ago, Florida will make an effort to stick with its three-QB system even if they get in a hole early, so expect to see plenty of redshirt freshman tight end Jordan Reed and freshman QB Trey Burton behind center.

Catch the Gators’ 12th game of the season live on ABC, online on ESPN3.com, via the radio or through OGGOA‘s live updates on Twitter.

The St. Petersburg Times spoke with his father, Hiram Green, who confirmed his son’s latest decision. “It’s between those two,” he said. Lifelong Seminoles fans, Green and his family always considered Florida State as his top option, but a push from Georgia head coach Mark Richt could sway him North.

Green’s older brother Brandon committed to the Florida A&M Rattlers on Sunday. Florida A&M is also located in Tallahassee, FL, and Green will take an official visit to FSU this weekend. He checked out Florida two weeks ago.

“They’re an excellent program,” Hiram Green said of the Gators. “They’ve got an excellent coaching staff and [head coach] Urban Meyer is a first-class person. It was tough for [Christian].”

Photo Credit: BallHype.com

2 » Three-star athlete Marcus Smith (Columbus, GA) had an outstanding scholarship offer from Florida and was prepared to take it…that is until Louisville Cardinals head coach Charlie Strong came calling. “If Louisville would have never been in the mix, I would have probably went to Florida,” Smith told the Courier-Journal. “But I’m glad Louisville came into the mix. I like coach Strong a lot, and I really wanted to play for coach Strong. Louisville is a great program. He wants me to play quarterback, he established that during our talk this morning. To tell you the truth, I just want to play, so I am good wherever he wants me.” Upon taking his position with the Cardinals, Strong said he would not poach recruits the Gators were interested in unless they initiated contact.

3 » The Gators hosted their biggest remaining recruiting weekend the past few days and a number of both committed and undecided prospects came away impressed. Four-star running back Mack Brown (Lithonia, GA), who at one point was wavering after head coach Urban Meyer announced his leave of absence, solidified his recruitment after getting extensive time with new running backs coach Stan Drayton. Brown also told Adam Gorney of Rivals that Meyer may return as soon as March. “He looked pretty fine to me,” Brown said. “He looked healthy. I know he wants to coach, so I know he’s going to be there. He’s going to take a couple weeks off in February, but he’ll be back.” Fellow four-star recruits offensive tackle Chaz Green (Tampa, FL) and wide receiver Christian Green (Tampa, FL) raved to numerous sources about their respective experiences.

4 » Coming off of a heartbreaking loss to the No. 4 Tennessee Volunteers with just two seconds remaining in the game, the Florida women’s basketball team gained a bit of revenge by taking down the Mississippi State Bulldogs 55-52 on the road on Sunday afternoon at Humphrey Coliseum. Sophomore guard Trumae Lucas scored seven points off of the bench in the waning minutes while senior forward Sharielle Smith led the Gators with 13 points on 4-of-6 shooting while also grabbing seven boards.

Meyer told me he has gained 10 pounds after losing so much weight because food had lost its appeal during the stressful 2009 season. He has never been one to sleep past 7 a.m. but he’s sleeping in now. He is excited about his new coaching staff and his new recruits and especially being at Florida. His leave of absence will start after National Signing Day and he’s looking forward to spending time with his family.

2 » With just over two weeks until National Signing Day (Feb. 3), the Gators are set to host their biggest of the three remaining recruiting weekends on campus from Jan. 15-17. Here is a list of attendees. Commitments: five-star defensive tackle Dominique Easley (Staten Island, NY), four-star running back Mack Brown (Lithonia, GA), four-star defensive end Lynden Trail (Miami, FL), four-star wide receiver Quinton Dunbar (Miami, FL), three-star linebacker Gideon Ajagbe (Coconut Grove, FL). Recruits: five-star LB Christian Jones (Winter Park, FL) [unofficial], four-star WR Christian Green (Tampa, FL), four-star offensive lineman Chaz Green (Tampa, FL), three-star LB Darrin Kitchens (Homestead, FL), three-star safety Jeremy Deering (Tampa, FL).

Defensive end Ronald Powell (Moreno Valley, CA) []
Height: 6’4″ – Weight: 225 lbs.
Considered a heavy Florida lean for months (on Dec. 18 he said the Gators were “most definitely at the top” of his list), Powell had second thoughts about his commitment after head coach Urban Meyer resigned and then decided to take a leave of absence instead. Meyer eased Powell’s reservations after a phone conversation. Powell also indicated that he wished to play college ball away from home with the USC Trojans his only other option. “Coach Meyer is a hell-of-a coach,” he said last month. “The college is in a college town. The players, the players definitely make you feel at home. I mean just all around, it’s a great school, a great place to be.”
More on Ronald Powell from OGGOA.
Finalists: Florida, USC
COMMITTED TO: Florida Gators

Safety Matt Elam (West Palm Beach, FL) []
Height: 6’0″ – Weight: 205 lbs.
A Florida commitment for over a year, Elam played games throughout the recruiting cycle. He reaffirmed his commitment to Meyer and the Gators after his official visit in December; however, Meyer’s about-face caused Elam to question his decision, leading him to decommit from Florida and make a commitment to the Florida State Seminoles. Elam finally spoke to Meyer earlier this week to work everything out. He then decommitted from FSU and listed Florida as his leader, stating that he could not leave Coach Meyer while putting his faith in him.
More on Matt Elam from OGGOA.
Finalists: Florida, Georgia, Florida State
COMMITTED TO: Florida Gators

Defensive tackle Sharrif Floyd (Philadelphia, PA) []
Height: 6’3″ – Weight: 310 lbs.
Once believed to be a sure-thing for Ohio State Buckeyes’s 2010 recruiting class, Floyd was also seriously considering Florida. He promised to “shock the world” with his announcement Saturday and was thrilled with the Gators’ decision to hire George Edwards as their new defensive coordinator. Reports from San Antonio had Floyd leaning toward joining the contingent of Florida commitments on Saturday, and his budding friendship with Powell and desire to play around top-tier talent only further that sentiment. “Florida overall, I genuinely care about Coach Meyer and we talk on a daily basis,” Floyd said. “I just like Florida and what the program has to offer.”
More on Sharrif Floyd from OGGOA.
Finalists: Florida, North Carolina, Ohio State, South Carolina
COMMITTED TO: Florida Gators

In addition to the players profiled above who committed to the Gators on Saturday, the following recruits (who have chosen not to announce their respective decisions during the game) are also being targeted by UF: five-star offensive tackle Seantrel Henderson (St. Paul, MN), five-star DE Jackson Jeffcoat (Plano, TX), five-star DE Owamagbe Odighizuwa (Portland, OR), four-star wide receiver Christian Green (Tampa, FL) and four-star WR Ivan McCartney (Miramar, FL).

2 » Florida may have landed a commitment from four-star wide receiver Chris Dunkley (Pahokee, FL) at the Under Armour All-American Game, but the team is still looking for more pass catchers to fill out its 2010 recruiting class. Enter four-star WR Christian Green (Tampa, FL). Though Green is seemingly favoring the Florida State Seminoles (he is a lifelong fan of the team and much of his family went to FSU), he is also considering the Georgia Bulldogs and Gators. “I like the Florida program,” Green told Gerry Hamilton of Scouts, Inc. “I feel like Coach Meyer and those guys motivate players to win and they are going to make you better as a player. That and they win national championships. I think that’s important to go to a school that is going to win national championships, and they have proven they can.”

Because the list is so long, it is best to view it after the jump!!!

Five-star safety Matt Elam (Palm Beach Gardens, FL):
“Matt’s a guy I thought would flip off the deep end because of his relationship with Coach Meyer, but he was calm,” Dwyer High School coach Jack Daniels said. “He said he didn’t know what he would do.” Elam’s mom told SN that he was “in a daze.” UPDATE: After Meyer’s announcement on Sunday, Daniels told the Palm Beach Post that Elam will stay in school for an extra semester in order to mull his decision over rather than enrolling early like he originally planned. Elam is also a star on the basketball team and will likely play in the spring. He has been very upset the past few days. Spending Sunday with Elam at the Miami Dolphins game, Daniels said: “Matt wouldn’t even say a word. That’s how upset and frustrated he was.”

Four-star tight end Gerald Christian (Palm Beach Gardens, FL):
“It was shocking,” Christian said. “[Other schools are calling me and] telling me I still have my options open and they’d like me to come to their school. It’s made me reconsider what I’m going to do. I think they’re going to lose a lot of [commitments]. Everybody’s gone now. It could look totally different.” Christian added that Miami, Florida State and Georgia have already contacted him. UPDATE: Christian has told the Palm Beach Post that he will remain committed. He spoke to Meyer Saturday evening and promised he would stay whether or not he was coach. “I still felt good about it, but this just makes me even more sure that I still like the school,” Christian said.

Four-star cornerback Joshua Shaw (Palmdale, CA):
Sent “I’m still a Gator!!” text message to Rivals.

Three-star CB Robert Clark (Palm Beach Gardens, FL):
“Stuff [is getting] real fishy…but everything happen[s] for a reason…Urban Meyer gone…” is what Clark told his facebook friends, also mentioning to Christian that “we have to re-look.” Coach Daniels said that because he just committed to the Gators, “he doesn’t know what to do” at this point. “It’s kind of crazy because I was committed to West Virginia, the same thing happened at West Virginia, and then I committed to Florida and now the same thing happened at Florida,” Clark told Rivals. “It makes the decision even harder. I’m supposed to be leaving to go to school but now it’s something to consider.” Clark told the Palm Beach Post that he will also stay at Dwyer another semester but is likely to stick with Florida.

Four-star defensive back Demar Dorsey (Lauderdale Lakes, FL):
“It was pretty unexpected,” Dorsey told Rivals. “I didn’t understand a couple of the coaching changes with coach Gonzales and then coach Strong and now this. It had everybody shocked. My commitment moving forward, I’m still committed to the University of Florida so that didn’t change my decision to de-commit or anything but it opened my eyes up and I have to look around a little bit more.” Dorsey, however, said he will visit Tennessee, Oregon and West Virginia in January and considers them all as options moving forward.

Three-star quarterback Trey Burton (Venice, FL):
“I’m not panicking or anything like that,” Burton told SN. “There’s no need right now to say you’re not going to stay committed to Florida. You never know who will get the job, and coach Meyer isn’t going away, he’s going to be up there in Gainesville. Everybody needs to take it slowly and don’t listen to everything in the media and on ESPN and all that. Call me first. Call a coach.” Burton has already contacted a number of his hopefully future teammates in order to calm their fears and reaffirm their commitments.

Four-star running back Mack Brown (Lithonia, GA):
Remains committed and was contacted by RB coach Kenny Carter. “I’m in shock right now because coach Meyer recruited me himself,” he told the Gainesville Sun. “Right now, I’m solid to Florida, I’m just waiting until they get the next coach there.” Brown said he has already been contacted by Florida State. UPDATE: I am a Gator,” Brown told ESPN on Monday. “I just wanted to make sure that the coaching staff is stable.”

Four-star cornerback Cody Riggs (Fort Lauderdale, FL):
Told Burton he was still committed; told Rivals that he will “hold his commitment.” “Of course everybody wants coach Strong or coach Mullen,” Riggs said. “I’m just hoping they hire someone big or someone within the staff. Any one of those would be fine.” UPDATE: On Sunday, Riggs said he was relieved.

Four-star offensive lineman Ian Silberman (Fleming Island, FL):
Told Burton and Watkins (see below) that he was still committed. Told SN he needed more time before he could say something publicly about his decision. UPDATE: Now he feels relieved that head coach Urban Meyer is taking a leave of absence rather than resigning. “It’s great,” Silberman told Chris Hays of the Orlando Sentinel. “It’s definitely something that he needs to do for himself and for his family…it’s understandable. Knowing that [offensive coordinator and offensive line coach Steve] Addazio is stepping up is great…way better than some random guy coming in who nobody knows. I love Coach Addazio. I imagine it will be great for the players there right now, knowing that someone they know will be in charge. It will probably be the same without [Meyer].”

Three-star defensive back Gideon Ajagbe (Coconut Grove, FL):
“I’m kind of shocked, but I heard coach Meyer has been sick for a couple of months and definitely after the SEC game and stuff,” Ajagbe told SN. “He hasn’t been feeling well and this is the best thing for him and his family. His health is more important than football. He talked to me last week and asked me if I was ready to roll and ready to come to Florida. He asked me if I was still solid and I told him 100 percent. He said he couldn’t wait for me to come up for an official visit and get on campus again. I still want to go there. I’m still 100 percent.”

Four-star wide receiver Quinton Dunbar (Miami, FL):
Is staying committed to Florida “unless it hires a run-first coach” according to Rivals. “I don’t want a head coach that just comes in and runs the option and doesn’t pass. Of course, that would change it,” Dunbar said. I’m a Gator. But if the coach comes in and runs that style of offense, the only way it’s going to change if he runs the option and doesn’t pass. I’m still committed. Just because the coach is gone doesn’t mean I’m going to be gone. I’m still committed to the Gators.” He told the Gainesville Sun, “It’s so shocking, but I guess he made a choice best for him. I’m still a Gator – 100 percent.”

Four-star defensive end Lynden Trail (Miami, FL):
Remains committed but will take visits in January. Said he “respects” Meyer’s decision and added, “If you ain’t a Gator, you’re Gator bait.” “For anybody to jump ship and decommit that’s foolish,” he told the Gainesville Sun. “In the first place, you shouldn’t have committed to a coach. You should commit because that’s your favorite school and that’s where you wanna be for four years. That’s why I decided to commit to the Gators – I love the program and I love the atmosphere and I love the city of Gainesville. That’s where I want to be for the next four or five years.”

Four-star cornerback Jaylen Watkins (Cape Coral, FL):
Still committed to the Gators and was told by cornerbacks coach Vance Bedford that he’s planning to remain with the team and that “the program will be the same.” “I heard that [Meyer left because] it was a health issue,” he told the Gainesville Sun, “so I just pray to God that he’s all right and that it’s not that serious. I’m pretty sure that what he left at the University of Florida rubbed off on the other coaches, so I’m going to stick with Florida.”

Four-star wide receiver Solomon Patton (Mobile, AL):
Will keep his commitment, according to Watkins.

Five-star offensive tackle recruit Seantrel Henderson (St. Paul, MN):
Still choosing between a number of schools including Florida, he has become confused with the recent news. His father Sean spoke to ESPN about it. “As far as Seantrel is concerned, we have to look at it like there is a big chance [Meyer] is not going to be [at Florida]. We are going to take every second it takes to make the best decision possible.”

Five-star outside linebacker recruit Jordan Hicks (West Chester, OH):
Also still deciding, Hicks will choose between the Gators and Texas Longhorns. He was surprised at both of Meyer’s announcements and is/was expecting an early January in-home visit from Meyer. Some believe UF’s chances have been “crushed.”

Four-star athlete recruit Christian Green (Tampa, FL):
Florida remains one of his leaders, and he will visit the school on Jan. 16.

Four-star WR recruit Chris Dunkley (Pahokee, FL):
“Feels comfortable this time about the situation but still wants to see how things develop with Coach Meyer’s condition,” Rivals reports. Dunkley and Meyer are very close – he is expected to announce his decision on Jan. 2 but has been considered a heavy Gators lean for some time.

2 » Saturday is going to be filled with plenty of college football action. Conference championships, rivalry games and career-defining moments will be aplenty, but the day truly belongs to the Southeastern Conference and its championship game. Tommy Hicks of the Mobile Press-Register contends that “it’s the SEC’s world, and all the other leagues and teams are just playing in it.”

3 » Just because four-star running back recruit Mack Brown (Lithonia, GA) committed to the Gators does not mean teams have stopped pursuing him. At the top of that list is the Tennessee Volunteers and recruiting coordinator Ed Orgeron, who visited Brown and tried to persuade him to switch. “He said they would play me as a freshman and that in their offense, the back gets the ball more than the backs in a spread offense. He said in the spread, I’ll be sharing carries with receivers and three or four running backs.” Florida immediately called and spoke to Brown’s father. “I’m committed to Florida, I’m not taking any other visits but Florida,” Brown said.

Three more recruiting BITS and an extra BIT after the jump…

4 » Four-star wide receiver recruit Christian Green (Tampa, FL) has narrowed his finalists to Florida, Georgia and Florida State. Scheduled (along with teammate four-star offensive lineman Chaz Green) to visit the Gators for the Seminoles game, the duo pushed back their visit to Dec. 11 on request of UF’s staff.

5 » According to Rivals, five-star 2011 center recruit Rakeem Christmas (Bryn Athyn, PA) has narrowed his list to five schools and near the top of his list is Florida along with Georgetown, Texas, Oklahoma and Florida International. Considering head coach Billy Donovan already has two five-star 2011 commits, getting Christmas would easily put the Gators over the top with the best class in the country.

6 » A Gators banner hanging outside an office in Fort Meyers, FL, has drawn the ire of attorney Bruce Strayhorn, a Crimson Tide fan who looks at it every day across the street from his downtown office. Calling it, mockingly, “an appalling affront to public decency,” Strayhorn actually contacted the city manager about the banner. “That’s what he does in his enormous amount of spare time,” said Florida fan and attorney Sawyer Smith.

Extra Bit » Scoring two top-five finishes at the Class 1A State Championship, swimmer George Dennison (Daytona Beach, FL) earned a Florida scholarship from coach Gregg Troy. “It’s so exciting because that’s where I’ve wanted to go for a long time,” Dennison said. “I can’t wait to get into [the O'Connell Center] pool.”

Location: Ben Hill Griffin Stadium – Gainesville, FL [Capacity: 88,548]
Time: 3:30 p.m. (EST)
Weather Forecast: 60°F – Partly Sunny

TV: CBS / CBSHD
Online: CBSSports.com.
Sirius: 218; XM: 201

Odds: Florida -24.5, O/U 56
Head-to-Head Stats: Gainesville Sun

KEEP AN EYE ON…
- Florida’s 2009 senior class…who set the Southeastern Conference record for winningest class with their 46th win last Saturday and will be honored on Senior Day. 25 seniors will be playing their last game in The Swamp, and the University of Florida has set aside 10 minutes prior to the game to recognize each player.
- Senior quarterback Tim Tebow…who has already broken the SEC rushing touchdown record (Herschel Walker, Georgia) and touchdowns-scored record (Kevin Faulk, LSU) with 54, set the SEC career record for rushing yards by a QB with 2,743 and has a 169.3 career rating good for No. 1 in conference history.
- Senior defensive end Jermaine Cunningham…who leads the team with seven sacks.
- Senior linebacker Ryan Stamper…who is tops on the Gators with 64 tackles.
- Senior kick returner Brandon James…who set the SEC record for kickoff return yards last week with 2,538 yards on 105 returns. He has also set the SEC all-time kick return mark (combined) with 3,930 yards and all-time punt return mark with 1,339 yards.

STREAKS:
- The Gators are in the middle of the longest winning streak in school history with 21 consecutive victories. They also hold the longest active winning streak in the NCAA and the best in the nation in the last 15 years. 20 of Florida’s 21 wins have been by a double digit margin. The team is also 11-0 for the second time in school history.
- The Gators lead the SEC in rushing offense (229.9) and third-down efficiency (.475). They also come in No. 2 in total offense (442.8) and scoring offense (36.5). Florida’s offense is one of two teams nationally that has posted at least 2,500 rushing yards and 2,300 passing yards (TCU).
- On defense, the Gators have only surrendered ten touchdowns all season (fewest of any team in the nation). The unit has also only allowed 13 field goals for a total of 108 points (9.8 points per game) – this also leads the nation.
- Florida has held three straight opponents and seven this season under 100 yards rushing.
- The Gators lead the all-time series against the Seminoles 32-19-2 with a 19-8-1 record in Gainesville, FL. UF has also won the last five consecutive meetings between the schools with a 90-27 combined margin of victory over that time span.

SENIORS:
The Gators 2009 senior class is the winningest class in SEC history with a 46-6 record in their time in the Orange and Blue. However, that is not the only accomplishment the class has made in the last four years. The senior class has:

Three All-Americans – Five All-SEC Members – 12 SEC Academic Honor Roll Members – Two SEC Championships – Three SEC Eastern Division titles – Two National Championships – 27-5 SEC record – 25-2 record at The Swamp – 14-3 (.823) vs. ranked teams, the top winning pct. for a UF senior class – 11-1 vs. rivals (Tennessee, Georgia, Florida State and Miami) – National Defensive POY – Heisman Trophy Winner

* Markihe Anderson – #14 – CB – Fort Myers, Fla.
* Jim Barrie – #68 – OL – Tampa, Fla.
* Andrew Blaylock – #14 – QB – Durham, N.C.
* Rick Burgess – #48 – FB – Jupiter, Fla.
* Christopher Coleman – #84 – TE – Lake City, Fla.
* Riley Cooper – #11 – WR – Clearwater, Fla.
* Dustin Doe – #32 – LB – Jasper, Fla.
* Jermaine Cunningham – #49 – DE – Stone Mountain, Ga.
* Troy Epps – #98 – DT – Union, S.C.
* John Fairbanks – #59 – LS – Celebration, Fla.
* Michael Guilford – #46 – QB – Quincy, Fla.
* Corey Hobbs – #79 – OL – Oviedo, Fla.
* Cade Holliday – #22 – WR – Gainesville, Fla.
* Brandon James – #25 – ATH – St. Augustine, Fla.
* Dorian Munroe – #20 – S – Miami, Fla.
* David Nelson – #83 – WR – Wichita Falls, Texas
* Jonathan Phillips – #38 – K – Wellington, Fla.
* Wondy Pierre-Louis – #4 – CB – Naples, Fla.
* Chris Pintado – #30 – LB – Miami, Fla.
* Christopher Scott – #29 – RB – Englewood, Fla.
* Joey Sorrentino – #39 – WR – Ocala, Fla.
* Brandon Spikes – #51 – LB – Shelby, N.C.
* Ryan Stamper – #41 – LB – Jacksonville, Fla.
* Tim Tebow – #15 – QB – Jacksonville, Fla.
* Mike Williamson – #53 – LS – Winter Park, Fla.

Read OGGOA’s Florida Gators vs. FSU Seminoles preview after the jump…

- Yes, five-star safety Matt Elam (West Palm Beach, FL) visited the Florida State Seminoles this past weekend. That is not a rumor. Does that have any affect on his future as a member of the Florida Gators? Not in the least. After a heart-to-heart with head coach Urban Meyer, Elam reaffirmed his commitment to the Gators and should be attending the University of Florida this spring to get a head start on next season.

- Four-star linebacker Jeff Luc (Port St. Lucie, FL) looks to be deciding between Florida and the Tennessee Volunteers. For a long time it was believed that Luc was a heavy Gators lean, but apparently Lane Kiffin and the Vols have made in-roads over the last few weeks. I still expect him to end up at Florida but would not be shocked if he jumped for Knoxville, TN.

- Many expected four-star offensive lineman Chaz Green (Tampa, FL) to have committed to the Gators by now as he has been leaning that way for months. Instead, Green took an official visit to Tennessee and came away impressed. Some state he is leaning that way now, but it’s probably a battle between the two. Green’s teammate of the same last name but no relation, four-star athlete Christian Green, has mentioned the Georgia Bulldogs as his leader though the Gators are still considered the heavy favorite to eventually land his services.

- Wide receiver Chris Dunkley (Pahokee, FL) is a four-star recruit who Florida has coveted for a while. While Dunkley is expected to wind up in the Orange & Blue, he has yet to commit and is being pursued heavily by Tennessee, Georgia and the Alabama Crimson Tide. Dunkley visited the Vols this weekend and liked what he saw. When asked who his leader was, he said he didn’t have one (in the past he had said Florida) but admitted he could end up seeing himself playing in Knoxville.

- Should Dunkley not sign with Florida, the coaching staff may turn up the pressure on four-star WRs Kardon Boone (Ocala, FL) and James Louis (Delray Beach, FL). Boone and Louis are committed to the Texas Tech Red Raiders and Ohio State Buckeyes, respectively, but can both be swayed. Louis originally committed to the Gators, but the staff did not accept it as they are holding out hope to land Dunkley.

- Four-star cornerback Cody Riggs (Fort Lauderdale, FL) is still a heavy Gators lean even after taking visits to Tennessee, Georgia and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. His five-star position-mate Lamarcus Joyner favors the Ohio State over Florida, FSU and Notre Dame.

- Five-star defensive tackle Sharrif Floyd (Philadelphia, PA) is one of the top 10 recruits in the nation and is open to many of the top teams. The Gators are competing with the Buckeyes, Penn State Nittany Lions, South Carolina Gamecocks and North Carolina Tar Heels. Experts believe he will wind up at Florida or Ohio State.

- Last but certainly not least is five-star defensive end Ronald Powell (Moreno Valley, CA). Florida and the USC Trojans are fighting it out for his services. In the end, it may come down to location for Powell (meaning USC would get his commitment), but he has visited Gainesville, FL, on numerous occasions and plans to take another official visit before making a decision. He seems to have a strong relationship with Meyer, too.