Coming into the season, the matchup between the Florida Gators (1-1) and the No. 3-ranked LSU Tigers (2-0) looked like a potential Top-10 matchup between two SEC perennial powers.
The Gators did not hold up to their end of the bargain. In a stunning upset, Florida lost to the now-ranked USF Bulls 18-16 in Week 2, putting Gators head coach Billy Napier firmly on the hot seat entering this contest.
LSU has lived up to its hype. The Tigers went into Clemson to open the season, winning a 17-10 decision over the ACC school. LSU followed that up with a 23-7 victory over Louisiana Tech, avoiding an upset against an in-state rival.
Florida needs this victory to have any chance at the college football playoffs this season. Can the Gators right the ship against LSU? We’ll cover that and provide individuals with the three best player prop bets for Saturday’s game.
LSU Tigers QB Garrett Nussmeier UNDER 281.5 Passing Yards
LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier is considered a Heisman front-runner this year, but his numbers thus far have been underwhelming. He’s finished with just over 230 yards in each outing while completing slightly over 68 percent of his passes.
There’s little reason to believe Nussmeier will improve significantly in this contest. It’s not just the improved Florida defense that makes an under prediction the best bet; instead, bettors can point to a newfound balance in the Tigers’ offensive scheme that could produce his third-straight game without surpassing the 300-yard mark.
Florida Gators WR Eugene Wilson III OVER 49.5 Receiving Yards
One of Napier’s prized recruiting pickups was Eugene Wilson, one of the top-rated players in his class. The 5-foot-10 sophomore hasn’t disappointed this season, notching a team-best 12 receptions for 56 yards and two touchdowns through two games.
He’s coming off a seven-catch, 60-yard day against USF that included a 32-yard reception. Expect him to follow that up with another big day on Saturday, covering this player prop bet against the Tigers.
LSU Tigers RB Caden Durham OVER 68.5 Rushing Yards
After watching Nussmeier throw for more than 4,000 last season, the Tigers look more balanced in their first two outings this year. LSU ran the football 45 percent of their plays through thus far, allowing their stable of runners to showcase their talents.
That benefited sophomore Caden Durham. The 5-foot-9 athlete has 30 carries for 103 yards and two touchdowns through two games. While he wasn’t extremely productive against La. Tech, expect him to get back on track against Florida on Saturday.
| Saturday, September 5 at 7:45 PM | Spread | Money | Total |
| Florida Atlantic Owls |  +26.5 (-115) | +1400 | O 59.5 (-110) |
| Florida Gators |  -26.5 (-113) | -4000 |  U 56.5 (-102) |
Best Bet: LSU (-7.5)
For three straight seasons, the winner of this matchup has won by double digits. After losing five straight to the Tigers, Florida upended LSU in 2024 in Gainesville, notching a 27-16 victory to tie this series at 34 wins apiece.
Bettors should take LSU to win the 72nd matchup between these two schools. The Tigers’ defense has been stout to open the season, and Florida’s offense struggled against the Bulls last week. Take LSU to win this game by at least 10 points to cover the spread.
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