Florida (4-1, 2-1 SEC) comes in licking its wounds as the Gators were blasted at home by Alabama last week, 38-10. The Gators entered the game averaging 259 yards a game on the ground, but they finished with 15 yards, 4 from Chris Rainey and 4 from Jeff Demps. Rainey leads the Gators in both rushing (415 yards, 2 TDs) and receiving (246 yards, 2 TD) this season, while Demps has 324 yards and 4 TDs rushing. It was Florida’s worst home loss since 2002. And to make matters worse, starting QB John Brantley was injured in that game and won’t be able to play in this one.

True freshman Jeff Driskel, who was considered by some the nation’s top QB recruit this season, will make his first start against an LSU defense that already has shut down high-powered attacks of Oregon and West Virginia. Driskel was 2-for-6 for 14 yards in relief of Brantley last week. Driskel can run the ball and may need to against an LSU defense that has 12 takeaways and 12 sacks.

“We’re licking our chops,” LSU star cornerback Tyrann Mathieu said of facing a freshman QB in his first start. Mathieu might be the best defensive player in the nation this year, having caused four fumbles, returning two for scores, to go with an interception and 1½ sacks.

Despite the nation’s toughest schedule so far, LSU hasn’t won a game by less than 13 points. Last week they basically sleepwalked past Kentucky 35-7. The awesome defense held UK to 155 total yards.  It also marked the season debut of former starting QB Jordan Jefferson for LSU. He didn’t attempt a pass but rushed for times for 29 yards and a score. Jarrett Lee will remain the starting QB, but Jefferson will get some snaps to change things up.

The Tigers have won 13 straight home games since losing 13-3 to Florida in 2009. LSU won 33-29 last year in Gainesville.

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