When: Saturday, 7:30 p.m.
Where: Tiger Stadium, Baton Rogue
Latest line: LSU is favored by 7.5 points
TV: ABC
Weather: 86 degrees, 5% rain chance
Coaches: Billy Napier 20-20 (60-32 overall); Brian Kelly 31-11 (315-108-2 overall).
Quick slant: After losing five straight in the series, the Gators seek consecutive wins in the series for the first time since 2008-09, but their first in Baton Rouge in four tries dating to 2016. LSU is 20-2 at home under Kelly. The all-time series record is 34-34-3.
About UF (1-1): Napier’s Gators are 5-13 away from the Swamp, with no wins against ranked opponents but close-calls at Missouri in 2023 and Tennessee in 2024. After committing 11 penalties during an 18-16 loss to USF, Florida will need to tighten up at LSU. Defensive communication is another focus after the Bulls scored a go-ahead touchdown on a 66-yard completion when UF defender were caught flat-footed awaiting a call from the sideline.
About LSU (2-0): The Tigers allowed just 154 yards during last weekend’s win 23-7 win against Louisiana Tech. Linebacker Harold Perkins Jr. returned for his senior year with a vengeance after torn right ACL ended last season. The 6-foot-1, 222-pounder with 26 tackles for loss (13 sacks) in 2022-23 can wreck an offensive game plan.
Florida coach Jim McElwain celebrates after a goal-line stand ended the Gators’ 16-10 upset at LSU Nov. 19, 2016 at Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) ** OUTS – ELSENT, FPG, CM – OUTS * NM, PH, VA if sourced by CT, LA or MoD **
Three things to watch
1. DJ Lagway. UF’s sophomore quarterback needs to rediscover his 2024 form. He averages a mere 6.7 yards per attempt through two games, or 14th in the 16-team SEC a year after his 10 yards per attempt was second nationally to Ole Miss’ Jaxson Dart. Lagway had seven completions of at least 25 yards in upset wins against No. 22 LSU and No. 9 Ole Miss last season, but just one against outmanned LIU — courtesy of a circus catch by Vernell Brown III — and three in a loss to unranked USF.
2. Red-zone efficiency. UF settled for field goals twice inside the 20 after drives of 13 and 14 plays to set the tone in the USF loss. LSU has scored just four touchdowns in eight red-zone opportunities.
3. Run games. Florida’s offense starts here, but the Gators sputtered at key moments against USF. After gaining 51 yards on 5 carries in the opening drive, Jadan Baugh had 45 yards on 13 carries the rest of the way. LSU ranks last in the SEC with an average of 118 rushing yards, with Caden Durham managing just 103 on 30 carries.
Edgar Thompson can be reached at egthompson@orlandosentinel.com
