SB Nation Houston - LSU vs. Florida 2012: Gators lead defensive battle, 7-6, after three quartershttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/46691/houston-fave.png2012-10-07T10:41:31-05:00http://houston.sbnation.com/rss/stream/32280352012-10-07T10:41:31-05:002012-10-07T10:41:31-05:00LSU O-line and receivers were poor on Saturday
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<p>Florida defeated LSU, 14-6, on Saturday, handing the Tigers their first loss of the season. Both defenses were stingy, with the teams combining for just 437 yards of total offense. Running back <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/78461/mike-gillislee" class="sbn-auto-link">Mike Gillislee</a> was the lone bright spot for either offense, as the Gator senior ran for a career-high 146 yards and two touchdowns.</p>
<p>LSU fans are certainly disappointed with the loss, and SB Nation's LSU blog, <a href="http://www.andthevalleyshook.com/2012/10/6/3466272/first-thoughts-florida-14-lsu-6" target="_blank">And The Valley Shook</a>, had some thoughts about the Tigers' poor showing on the offensive side of the ball. There was plenty of blame to go around, but they started by pointing to the performance of the offensive line:</p>
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<p>"Everything starts from the line, and LSU can't block. Mettenberger doesn't have time in the pocket, which leads to sacks or bad decisions. It also means the running backs can't get any momentum during their runs, getting hit in the backfield before they can get a head of steam. LSU's failures on the line just sank everything the offense wanted to do."</p>
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<p>They didn't stop with the line though, as there were plenty of other areas of the offense that could have been much better:</p>
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<p>"Now, singling out the offensive line lets the receivers off the hook, who also put forth the effort we've come to expect this year: a bad one."</p>
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<p>LSU will look to bounce back when they host South Carolina on Saturday, Oct 13. The Gamecocks are currently 6-0, and coming off of a big 35-7 win against Georgia.</p>
https://houston.sbnation.com/2012/10/7/3468482/florida-lsu-2012-reactionStephen Schmidt2012-10-06T18:54:41-05:002012-10-06T18:54:41-05:00Gators upset Tigers 14-6
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<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/florida-gators">Florida Gators</a> got just enough off a stingy LSU defense to pull off an impressive 14-6 upset over the Tigers in the Swamp.</p>
<p>LSU managed to get in range for a 31-yard field goal on their opening drive but there wasn't much ball movement for either team for a considerable time after that. Then again, Florida did have their fair share of early opportunities but simply couldn't capitalize.</p>
<p>CB Jaylen Watkins picked off LSU QB Zach Mettenberger to give the Gators a short field early in the second but sacks from LB <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/78717/kevin-minter">Kevin Minter</a> on 2nd and 3rd down killed that rally swiftly. Florida would go on to fumble twice in the second quarter to kill their momentum again with the second setting up another field goal from LSU.</p>
<p>With starting linebackers Minter (cramps) and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/158672/kwon-alexander">Kwon Alexander</a> (ankle) being forced from the game, RB <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/78461/mike-gillislee">Mike Gillislee</a>began to tear up the Tigers' front seven up on Florida's 85-yard drive in the third. The speedy senior capped off the drive with a 12-yard score before doing the same thing from the same distance on Florida's following drive to put the lead at 14-6.</p>
<p>In the fourth quarter, the Tigers were unable to get any offensive firepower together, with the team totaling 29 yards on their first two drives. Gillislee and the Gators then ran over three minutes off the clock in time-killing mode before giving the ball to LSU with 18 seconds remaining.</p>
<p>But LSU's comeback would end before it could ever truly begin with a fumble on an attempted hook-and-lateral giving the ball back to the Gators to end the game.</p>
<p><b>Box Score Hero:</b> With not much success through the air (61 passing yards), RB Mike Gillislee put the team on his back, compiling 146 yards and two touchdowns on a whopping 34 carries.</p>
<p><b>Rankings Ramifications: </b>A loss like this could very likely have LSU tumbling out of the top 10. Florida State will now surely be taking the Tigers' No. 3 spot with the Gators possibly moving up to the 6-8 region.</p>
<p><b>But Did They Cover?</b> The Tigers were 2.5-point favorites so that's a negative, Ghost Rider.</p>
<p><b></b><b>Next Week's Schedule: </b>The Gators will be looking to build on their on solid performance as they head to Vanderbilt to square off against the Commodores. On the other end, things won't be getting any easier for LSU when they go back home to take on No. 6 South Carolina.</p>
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<p><i>This story originally appeared at </i><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/college-football/2012/10/6/3466196/florida-lsu-2012-score-results">SB Nation</a><i>.</i></p>
https://houston.sbnation.com/2012/10/6/3466474/lsu-vs-florida-2012-resultsSB Nation College News2012-10-06T17:31:20-05:002012-10-06T17:31:20-05:00Injuries piling up for LSU
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<p>LSU linebackers <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/78717/kevin-minter" class="sbn-auto-link">Kevin Minter</a> and <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/158672/kwon-alexander" class="sbn-auto-link">Kwon Alexander</a> were injured on back-to-back plays in the third quarter of the Tigers' game against the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/florida-gators" class="sbn-auto-link">Florida Gators</a>.</p>
<p>With the Gators driving, the linebackers suffered injuries while trying to make a play on the ball on consecutive snaps.</p>
<p>Minter managed to come back into the game later in the quarter after it was revealed he was just hampered by cramps. Alexander, on the other hand, received X-rays on his right ankle and was outfitted with a boot and crutches. There still has been no word on the severity of his injury.</p>
<p>With two of LSU's starters out, the Gators were finally able to put points on the board with their best drive of the game. RB <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/78461/mike-gillislee" class="sbn-auto-link">Mike Gillislee</a> tore through the Tigers' front seven relatively easily for 12-yard score to put Florida ahead 7-6 with a little over five minutes left in the third quarter.</p>
<p>But with Minter (12 tackles, two sacks and one forced fumble so far) back on the field, it's going to be difficult for the Gators to find any room to run once again.</p>
<p><i>This story originally appeared at </i><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/college-football/2012/10/6/3466084/kevin-minter-kwon-alexander-lsu-injuries">SB Nation</a><i>.</i></p>
https://houston.sbnation.com/2012/10/6/3466176/lsu-vs-florida-kevin-minter-kwon-alexander-injuriesSB Nation College News2012-10-06T17:15:29-05:002012-10-06T17:15:29-05:00Tigers trails 7-6 after three quarters
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<p>After five sacks and a forced turnover by the LSU defense kept the No. 11 <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/florida-gators">Florida Gators</a> scoreless in the first half, an eight play, 70-yard drive orchestrated that focused mostly on the ground gave the Gators their first lead of the game over No. 3 LSU, 7-6.</p>
<p>The opening drive of the second quarter looked similar to the first half as the Tigers quickly forced a UF punt from deep in their own territory. On the subsequent LSU drove the ball in to Florida territory, but were forced to punt. The Gators quickly drove the field before a 12-yard <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/78461/mike-gillislee">Mike Gillislee</a> touchdown gave them their first points and lead of the game. </p>
<p>LSU appeared to strike back on the next drive, though, with a 56-yard pass from Zach Mettenberger to Odell Beckham, but an official review determined that Beckham fumbled at the end of the play, giving the Gators the ball back on their own 23-yard line.</p>
<p>The fourth quarter will begin with the ball in Florida's possession on the LSU 37-yard line.</p>
https://houston.sbnation.com/2012/10/6/3466060/lsu-tigers-florida-gators-score-updateAdam Stites2012-10-06T16:15:47-05:002012-10-06T16:15:47-05:00LSU, Florida in a dog fight after one half
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<p>The Tigers and Gators are locked in a defensive battle as neither team is allowing the other into the end zone</p> <p>After two quarters that featured seven sacks, two turnovers and eight punts, the No. 3 <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/lsu-tigers" class="sbn-auto-link">LSU Tigers</a> lead the No. 11 <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/florida-gators" class="sbn-auto-link">Florida Gators</a>, 6-0.</p>
<p>The Tigers struck first on the opening drive, moving the ball 64 yards on nine plays before settling for a 31-yard <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/158679/drew-alleman" class="sbn-auto-link">Drew Alleman</a> field goal. From then on, it was all defense as both offenses struggled to move the ball.</p>
<p>Early in the second quarter, the Gators were given an opportunity in LSU territory after Zach Mettenberger threw an interception to Jaylen Watkins. However, back-to-back sacks by <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/78717/kevin-minter" class="sbn-auto-link">Kevin Minter</a> on 2nd and 3rd down backed UF up and they were forced to punt again.</p>
<p>The LSU pass rush continued to give the Florida trouble late in the second quarter when a <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/78732/bennie-logan" class="sbn-auto-link">Bennie Logan</a> sack forced a <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/131897/jeff-driskel" class="sbn-auto-link">Jeff Driskel</a> fumble and gave the Tigers the ball on the Florida 7-yard line. LSU couldn't punch it in, though, and settled for another field goal.</p>
<p>At the half, Mettenberger has completed 5 of 11 passes for 51 yards with an interception. Driskel has completed 5 of 8 for 31 yards.</p>
https://houston.sbnation.com/2012/10/6/3465852/lsu-vs-florida-score-updateAdam Stites2012-10-06T07:02:12-05:002012-10-06T07:02:12-05:00LSU takes on Florida on CBS
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<figcaption>Derick E. Hingle-US PRESSWIRE - Presswire</figcaption>
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<p>LSU is looking to stay undefeated as they travel to Florida on Saturday.</p> <p>The No. 4 ranked <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/lsu-tigers">LSU Tigers</a> hit the road this weekend to face the No. 10 ranked <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/florida-gators">Florida Gators</a> in a battle of a pair of undefeated teams. The winner of this game will have a good shot of shooting up the rankings, and be one step closer being part of the BCS championship game in January.</p>
<p>LSU really needs to turn things around because their last two wins over Auburn and Towson were not the most impressive. While Florida is coming off of a 38-0 victory over Kentucky, and has been playing better than LSU over the past few games.</p>
<p>The defense for LSU has not been the issues as they are the No. 4 in the country in total yards allowed and ninth in points allowed at 12.6 per game. Quarterback Zach Mettenberger has struggled on the road, and his last road start against Auburn where he completed just 15 of 27 passes for 169 yards. He also was sacked twice and lost a pair of fumbles.</p>
<p><b>Game date/time: </b>Saturday Oct. 6, 2:30 p.m. CT</p>
<p><b>Location: </b>Ben Hill Griffin, Gainseville, Fla.</p>
<p><b>TV: </b>CBS</p>
<p><b>Radio: </b><a target="_blank" href="http://lsufootball.net/lsuradio.htm">LSU radio network</a></p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://www.sbnation.com/college-football/odds"><b>Odds</b></a><b>: </b>LSU is a 2.5-point favorite</p>
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https://houston.sbnation.com/2012/10/6/3458436/florida-lsu-2012-schedule-game-time-spreadJeremy Mauss