LSU-Florida preview
There are many similarities between the college careers of quarterbacks Danny Etling and Austin Appleby.
Both individuals originally signed with Purdue. Both players replaced starting quarterbacks in midseason – Etling as a true freshman in 2013 and Appleby as a redshirt sophomore in 2014. Ironically, Appleby took over for Etling.
Both Etling and Appleby left Purdue after losing the No. 1 job. Etling transferred to LSU following the 2014 season with two years of eligibility remaining. Appleby went to Florida after the 2015 campaign with one year of eligibility remaining. As a graduate transfer, Appleby was immediately able to play.
Both Etling and Appleby began the current year as No. 2 quarterbacks. Etling was Brandon Harris’ backup, while Appleby was Luke Del Rio’s backup. Etling became the starting quarterback in the second game of the season when Harris was ineffective.
Appleby is currently serving his second stint as the Gators’ No. 1 quarterback due to injuries suffered by Del Rio. The two former Purdue quarterbacks will square off against each other when Florida meets LSU on Saturday at Tiger Stadium (noon Central/SEC Network).
Etling will be making his eighth start of the season. He has completed 59 percent of his passes for 1,378 yards and seven touchdowns with four interceptions. Appleby will be making his fourth start of the year. He has completed 66 percent of his passes for 671 yards and five touchdowns with two interceptions.
“We still talk,” Etling said. “We were teammates at Purdue and I wish him the best all the time. We always were good friends and we pushed each other on the field.
“You learn in college that you go up against each other every day. You still need to have a mature relationship. Obviously, this has been a crazy year. What’s one more coincidence to happen.”
Saturday’s game has tremendous meaning for both teams. Florida can win the Southeastern Conference Eastern Division title by beating LSU. The Tigers can stay in the running for a berth in the Sugar Bowl by beating the Gators.
“Winning makes everything more fun,” Etling said. “Everybody was out there enjoying themselves after we beat Arkansas. We want to send all the seniors out the right way. It’s been a fun year, but it’s been up and down. It is certainly the craziest year I’ve had. We’re ready to get tested by the Florida defense.”
SEVEN QUICK NOTES ABOUT LSU
1. LSU is No. 16 in the CFP standings – the third highest-rated SEC team after No. 1 Alabama and No. 15 Auburn. If Alabama wins its next three games, it will be in the national semifinals. The next highest-rated SEC team will go to the Sugar Bowl. Tigers victories against Florida and Texas A&M along with an Auburn loss to Alabama would put LSU in the Sugar Bowl on Jan. 2.
2. The Tigers will be playing a SEC team at home in back-to-back years. The last time there was such occurrence came in 2001-02 against Ole Miss. LSU lost to the Rebels 35-24 in the first meeting and won the second matchup 14-13.
3. No FBS team other than LSU has allowed an opponent to score more than 21 points in a game this season. The Tigers defense has given up ten touchdowns – the fewest for any team in the country. In the last five games, LSU has not yielded a point in 12 of the 20 quarters.
4. The Tigers have enjoyed great success against Eastern Division teams. LSU has a six-game winning streak against SEC East teams with its last defeat coming at Georgia (44-41) in 2013. Florida was the last Eastern Division team to win in Tiger Stadium. The No. 1-ranked Gators beat the Tigers 13-3 in 2009.
5. LSU needs two victories to extend its streak of eight-win seasons to 17. The Tigers’ present streak of 16 straight eight-win campaigns is the longest among power conference schools and second to Boise State (17) among FBS schools.
6. For just the second time in LSU history, two backs have rushed for more than 800 yards. Derrius Guice is the Tigers’ top rusher with 881 yards, while Leonard Fournette has 803 rushing yards. In 1976, Terry Robiskie had a team-best 1,117 yards and Charles Alexander ran for 876 yards.
7. Thirteen scholarship seniors will go through Senior Day ceremonies – Kendell Beckwith, Josh Boutte, Tashawn Bower, Travin Dural, Rickey Jefferson, Colin Jeter, Christian LaCouture, Lewis Neal, Ethan Pocic, Duke Riley, DeSean Smith, Dwayne Thomas and Tre’Davious White.
SEVEN QUICK NOTES ABOUT FLORIDA
1. Florida has a one-game lead in the loss column over Tennessee in the Eastern Division. The Gators will win the East by beating LSU. If Florida loses, the Volunteers can win the SEC East by knocking off Missouri and Vanderbilt. Tennessee has the tie-breaker over the Gators by virtue of their 38-28 victory in September.
2. The Gators defense has allowed more than ten points in just three games – Tennessee, Missouri and Arkansas. Florida lost to the Vols 38-28 and the Razorbacks 31-10. The Gators beat Missouri 40-14. Florida has won just one of its three true road games this season – knocking off Vanderbilt 13-6. The Gators were beaten in Knoxville and Fayetteville.
3. Florida is in the midst of a three-game losing streak against LSU. The Gators have not dropped four consecutive games to the Tigers since 1977-1980.
4. Florida claims the title of ‘DBU’ as does LSU. Only three of the Gators’ nine opponents have thrown for as many as 150 yards this year. Opposing quarterbacks are completing just 44 percent of their passes against Florida – the top mark among FBS schools. Gators defenders have intercepted 12 passes this year with Jalen Tabor responsible for four of them.
5. Florida’s Jim McElwain is attempting to become the first coach to reach the SEC championship game in his first two seasons. The Gators lost to Alabama in the 2015 title game. Only two other coaches reached the SEC championship game in their first years – LSU’s Les Miles in 2005 and Auburn’s Gus Malzahn in 2013.
6. In last week’s 20-7 victory against South Carolina, quarterback Austin Appleby completed 81 percent of his passes (17-of-21) for 201 yards and two touchdowns. Appleby’s 81 percent completion rate is the fifth best for a Florida quarterback.
7. Gators wide receiver Antonio Callaway is the first player in school history to score a touchdown by rushing, receiving, passing, punt return and kickoff return in a career. This year, Callaway has scored three touchdowns – two by receiving and one on a kickoff return.
PREDICTION
The LSU-Florida game for 2016 will finally get played Saturday. The game was originally scheduled for Oct. 9 in Gainesville. Florida athletic officials called off the game due to the threat of Hurricane Matthew. SEC officials rescheduled the game for Nov. 19 in Baton Rouge after both teams cancelled non-conference contests. Florida people are not happy about playing such an important game on the road. Defense is the calling card for both teams. Do not expect a lot of points to be scored in Tiger Stadium on Saturday afternoon. LSU has three advantages – a healthier team, being at home and possessing a strong running back corps. Those are the reasons for a Tigers victory.
LSU 17, Florida 6
TEAM STATS COMPARISON
LSU points per game: 27.4
Florida opponents’ points per game: 13.3
LSU rushing yards per game: 233.6
Florida opponents’ rushing yards per game: 111.7
LSU passing yards per game: 170.7
Florida opponents’ passing yards per game: 155.1
LSU total yards per game: 404.2
Florida opponents’ total yards per game: 266.8
LSU passing completion percentage: 57.7
Florida opponents’ pass completion percentage: 43.5
LSU sacks allowed per game: 1.9
Florida sacks per game: 3.0
Florida points per game: 26.2
LSU opponents’ points per game: 13.9
Florida rushing yards per game: 152.7
LSU opponents’ rushing yards per game: 114.0
Florida passing yards per game: 225.4
LSU opponents’ passing yards per game: 198.3
Florida total yards per game: 378.1
LSU opponents’ total yards per game: 312.3
Florida passing completion percentage: 59.5
LSU opponents’ pass completion percentage: 56.7
Florida sacks allowed per game: 1.4
LSU sacks per game: 2.7
LSU turnover margin: +1
Florida turnover margin: +1
INDIVIDUAL STAT LEADERS
Rushing
LSU: Derrius Guice – 101 carries, 881 yards, 9 touchdowns
Florida: Jordan Scarlett – 118 carries, 617 yards, 6 touchdowns
Passing
LSU: Danny Etling – 187 attempts, 110 completions, 59 percent, 1,378 yards, 7 touchdowns, 4 interceptions
Florida: Luke Del Rio – 201 attempts, 114 completions, 57 percent, 1,358 yards, 8 touchdowns, 8 interceptions (injured)
Receiving
LSU: Malachi Dupre – 28 catches, 365 yards, 2 touchdowns; Travin Dural – 28 catches, 280 yards, 1 touchdown
Florida: Antonio Callaway – 35 catches, 533 yards, 2 touchdowns
Tackles
LSU: Kendell Beckwith – 90
Florida: Jarrad Davis (LB) – 56 (injured)
Tackles-for-loss
LSU: Arden Key – 10½
Florida: Jabari Zuniga (DE) – 7½
Sacks
LSU: Arden Key – 9
Florida: Jabari Zuniga (DE) – 5
Quarterback-hurries
LSU: Arden Key – 8
Florida: Jabari Zuniga (DE) – 8
Interceptions
LSU: Donte Jackson, Tre’Davious White – 2
Florida: Jalen Tabor (CB) – 4
Pass breakups
LSU: Donte Jackson, Tre’Davious White – 6
Florida: Duke Dawson (NB), Marcus Maye (S) – 6 (Maye is injured)
Punting
LSU: Josh Growden – 44 punts, 42.9-yard average
Florida: Johnny Townsend – 45 punts, 47.3-yard average
Kicking
LSU: Colby Delahoussaye – 6-of-9 FGs, 30-of-32 XPs
Florida: Eddy Pineiro – 13-of-17 FGs; 25-of-25 XPs
Kickoff returns
LSU: Donte Jackson – 6 returns, 152 yards
Florida: Chris Thompson – 5 returns, 112 yards
Punt returns
LSU: Tre’Davious White: 20 returns, 141 yards, 1 touchdown
Florida: Antonio Callaway – 23 returns, 175 yards