Early conference losses have likely put LSU and Florida out of contention when it comes to winning the SEC this season. The Tigers or Gators could still earn a New Years Six Bowl bid with a dominant showing the rest of the way. They meet head-to-head on Saturday night with reputations on the line.
LSU vs Florida Odds
Florida enters this contest as a small -142 favorite on the moneyline (3-point spread), according to FanDuel Sportsbook's'college football odds. This SEC showdown's total is set at 51.5 points.
Which way should college football fans be leaning in this game, and where can bettors find value?
LSU vs Florida Prediction and Best Bet
LSU has an opportunity to open this game up on the ground on Saturday. The Gators are giving up the second-most rushing yards per game in the SEC ( 186.0) as well as 5.0 yards per carry (T-No. 113 in FBS). Quarterback Jayden Daniels' dual-threat capabilities gives him a major advantage in this one.
Florida has been offsetting its poor rush defense with a strong rushing attack on offense. The Gators rank 24th in the country in rushing yards per game (202.4) and averaged a stellar 8.4 yards per carry against Missouri in Week 6. Montrell Johnson and Trevor Etienne serve as a two-headed monster.
This SEC battle lines up as one that will be fought on the ground, so the clock is rarely going to be stopped. That means there is value in betting on under 52.5 points to be scored. It's worth noting the under has hit in five of LSU's last six games and it has also hit in six of Florida's last n ine games.
As for which team outperforms the other, I'll give the edge to LSU to cover +3. Florida allows an opponent third-down conversion percentage of 52.25%, which is the seventh-worst mark in the FBS. That is not going to lead a win in many matchups, especially when facing a capable offense like LSU.