Florida at LSU: Three Storylines to Watch

Oct 10, 2015; Columbia, MO, USA; Florida Gators head coach Jim McElwain waits to run onto the field with the team before the game against the Missouri Tigers at Faurot Field. Florida won 21-3. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

Two undefeated teams ranked in the nation’s top ten, Florida at LSU is the Game of the Week in the SEC. We take a close look at three important storylines to watch. 

It doesn’t get much better than this.

The undefeated and No. 6 LSU Tigers host the undefeated No. 8 Florida Gators at Tiger Stadium on Saturday night. It’s the fifth time since 2006 the Tigers and Gators have met as top 10 teams, and it’s the only matchup of undefeated teams in the nation. As cross-division rivals sitting atop the standings of their respective divisions, this week’s clash could be a preview of the SEC Championship Game in Atlanta.

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LSU enters as one of the nation’s hottest teams, and with arguably the best player in the country in running back Leonard Fournette. Florida, however, received very unfortunate news Monday that the Gators would be forced to play the game – and the rest of the 2015 season – without one of their best players in redshirt quarterback Will Grier.

Grier, who has started the last five games for the Gators, was suspended by the NCAA for a positive test for performance enhancing drugs, which carries with it a one-year sentence. Oddly enough, Grier’s suspension means LSU will play against a backup opponent for the fourth consecutive week.

Playing in Baton Rouge is tough enough without having to rely on a backup quarterback to pull off the upset, but there are plenty of reasons for Florida fans to be optimistic heading into this week’s primetime event. Let’s take a look at three important storylines to watch that are likely to decide whether the Gators can win in Death Valley.

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