Gators Crush LSU

By JC De La Torre

The Florida Gators made a move back into the National Championship picture by destroying the previously undefeated defending National Champion #3 LSU Tigers by the score of 51-21.

The Florida offense, which had struggled to find a rhythm most of the season, exploded on the highly regarded LSU defense, totaling an impressive 475 yds, most of it coming on the ground (265 yds total).

The first touchdown of the game was a tip ball that fell into the hands of Percy Harvin, who raced 70 yds for a score. After a FG made it 10-0, Tim Tebow would find Percy Harvin again, for a 7 yd score to make it 17-0 after one quarter of play.

Jonathan Phillips 34 yd FG would make it 20-0, which it would remain until late in the first half, when a bad kickoff set up the Tigers in good field position and allow them to go 60 yds in 6 plays, capped off by a Jarret Lee to Chris Mitchell TD pass to cut the lead to 20-7 before halftime.

The Tigers would open up the second half with an 80 yd scoring drive, capped off by an Andrew Hatch 3 yd plunge to cut the margin to 6. From there, the Gators running game took over, with Tebow and Jeff Demps scoring to blow open the game 34-14. Lee would be intercepted on the first play of the 4th quarter by Gators linebacker Brandon Spikes, who returned it 52 yds for another score.

Florida will pile on another 10 points before its all said and done, and the final would be a definative one.

I, for one, am a little stunned that the Gators pummelled LSU by this margin. I expected a close, hard fought ball game - but the Gators got off an running and with exception of a few minutes early in the third quarter, basically slept walked through this laugher.

With this win, the Gators have put themselves back in the hunt for a Championship.

Gators, Tigers in Crucial SEC Showdown

By JC De La Torre

USF may be on the bye, but it doesn't mean there won't be some huge College Football games this week that effect the bay area. In a match up of the nation's last two National Champions, the Florida Gators host the LSU Tigers at the swamp for a huge SEC game.

#11 Florida suffered an early upset at the hands of Ole Miss, while #4 LSU remains undefeated and has won four of the last six meetings with the Gators (including two of the last three in Gainesville). For the Gators, this is a must-win game if the harbor any national title aspirations. For LSU, they can really make a statement if they can go into hostile territory and pull out a victory against a solid opponent.

It should be an interesting game. For the Gators, its all about Tebow and Harvin. These two players are the engine of the offense, but they can't be expected to do it alone. Florida's going to need to be able to run the football with their three-headed attack of Rainey, Demps, and Moody. The Florida defense, which has been solid most of the season, will have a stiff test with the Tigers offense.

I think Florida defends the swamp in a nailbiter.