A rivalry week wouldn’t be the same without Florida battling Florida State. Here’s how to watch, bet, and stream the game.
It’s been an odd couple of years with the rivalry between the Gators and the Seminoles. In the previous decade, every game felt like it mattered for the postseason. This year, the Seminoles are in a tailspin in their first year under Willie Taggart, while the Gators have enjoyed a season trending in the right direction.
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For the Gators, the key is to run the ball effectively and to force turnovers on defense. Jordan Scarlett and Lamical Perine have been excellent this season as a duo. If those two get going early, the Seminoles will have trouble gaining traction. On defense, they need to get pressure and force turnovers. They have 21 takeaways on the year, which is tied for 17th most in the country. Pressuring Seminoles quarterback Deondre Francois into bad throws will be key to set the tone all game.
The Seminoles need to keep their balanced attack going, as they have gotten some things fixed down the stretch, including a win over Boston College last week. They need to keep the quick passing game rolling to neutralize Florida’s pass rush. If Cam Akers and Jacques Patrick can get going on the ground, that would help them a ton as the Noles need a win to extend the nation’s longest active bowl streak to 37.
For the NFL Draft fans out there, this is a game to tune in to watch top pass rushers work. Florida edge rusher Jachai Polite has burst onto the scene this year. He has 8.5 sacks on the year and has great speed and bend around the edge. On the other side, Brian Burns is tearing it up on the edge for Florida State. He has 10 sacks on the season and shows good bend and hand usage. Look for both to have a good game.
Here’s how to watch and bet
- Date: Saturday, Nov. 24
- Time: Noon ET
- Location: Tallahassee, FL
- Stadium: Doak Campbell Stadium
- Spread: Florida -4
- TV channel: ABC
- Live stream: WatchESPN
Prediction: This game will be decided in the trenches. Florida State has struggled all year with their offensive line, and the Gators will be screaming off the edge all day long. If Florida can neutralize Brian Burns and pound the rock, they will find success on offense. If the Gators build a lead, they will bring all they have to force turnovers to widen the margin.
Final Score: Gators 28, Seminoles 20