Florida State will look to improve to 12-0 on Saturday and run the nation’s longest winning streak to 28 games as it hosts arch-rival Florida. The Seminoles come in ranked first in the AP Poll, but remain third in the College Football Playoff rankings after a 20-17 win over Boston College last weekend.
Florida comes in with a record of 6-4. The Gators dismantled Eastern Kentucky a week ago and are bowl-eligible after finishing just 4-8 a season ago.
Florida State celebrated its Senior Day early, but Saturday’s game versus Florida will be the final home game for a number of FSU seniors including four of the five starters along the offensive line, running back Karlos Williams, tight end Nick O’Leary and wide receiver Rashad Greene.
O’Leary’s 30-yard touchdown catch last week was his longest reception of the season while Greene went over the 100-yard mark receiving to become the Seminoles’ all-time leading receiver.
Reigning Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Jameis Winston has not had the season he did in 2013, but has engineered four game-winning drives in the final quarter over the last five games. Winston is 24-0 in his career as the FSU starter. He passed for over 300 yards and three touchdowns against Florida a season ago.
Florida’s success this season has been largely thanks to its defense. Cornerback Vernon Hargreaves III is as good as they get out wide and is expected to spend plenty of time matched up on Greene.
Along the defensive front for Florida, sophomore Alex McCalister and junior defensive end Dante Fowler Jr. have combined for 10.5 sacks. A former Florida State commit, Fowler is regarded as one of the best defensive players in the SEC.
Offensively, Florida will look to run the football with the backfield combination of Matt Jones and Kelvin Taylor. The Gators average nearly 200 yards-per-game rushing. Quarterback Treon Harris is a bigger threat with his legs than his arm, but wide receiver Demarcus Robinson has shown the ability to stretch the field.
Florida’s ground attack could give the Seminoles trouble as Florida State allowed 239 yards rushing to Boston College this past Saturday. FSU will need a big game from junior defensive linemen Eddie Goldman and Mario Edwards Jr.
After being ejected against Boston College, Florida State will be without freshman linebacker Matthew Thomas for a half, but juniors Terrance Smith and Reggie Northrup have been very good against the run.
The heart and soul of the FSU defense in recent weeks has been sophomore safety Jalen Ramsey. Ramsey ranks in the top 3 for the Seminoles in virtually every category.
As head coach at Florida State, Jimbo Fisher will look to improve to 4-1 against the rival Gators. Florida State pounded Florida a season ago in Gainesville, 37-7, but Florida’s last visit to Tallahassee back in 2012, marks the last time the Seminoles were defeated.
Since that 37-26 loss, FSU is 27-0 while Florida is just 10-13. Kickoff for Saturday’s game at Doak Campbell Stadium is set for just after 3:30 P.M. eastern time and will air nationally on ESPN.
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