The Florida State Seminoles will face their biggest test of the season when they travel to Gainesville to take on the Florida Gators in the annual rivalry game on Saturday. The Noles are 11-0 and ranked No. 4 in the College Football Playoff rankings, but they will be without their star quarterback Jordan Travis, who suffered a season-ending ankle injury last week.
How will the Noles cope without Travis?
Travis was having a Heisman Trophy-worthy season, leading the nation in passing yards (3,764), touchdowns (38), and efficiency (197.3). He also ran for 784 yards and 12 scores, making him a dual-threat nightmare for opposing defenses. He was the heart and soul of the Seminoles offense, which averaged 45.5 points and 537.5 yards per game.
Without Travis, the Noles will turn to redshirt freshman Chubba Purdy, who has seen limited action this season. Purdy has completed 22 of 34 passes for 287 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception. He has also rushed for 97 yards and a score on 15 carries. Purdy is a talented prospect, but he lacks the experience and poise of Travis. He will have to step up big time in a hostile environment against a hungry Gators team.
Can the Gators spoil the Noles’ playoff hopes?
The Gators are having a disappointing season, sitting at 5-6 and needing a win to become bowl-eligible. They have lost five of their last six games, including a 52-24 blowout at the hands of Missouri last week. They have also been plagued by injuries, most notably to their starting quarterback Graham Mertz, who broke his clavicle two weeks ago.
Mertz was the leader of the Gators offense, throwing for 2,498 yards, 19 touchdowns, and nine interceptions. He also ran for 316 yards and four scores. Without Mertz, the Gators will rely on sophomore Anthony Richardson, who has shown flashes of brilliance but also inconsistency. Richardson has completed 54 of 91 passes for 837 yards, seven touchdowns, and six interceptions. He has also run for 420 yards and five scores on 59 carries. Richardson is a dynamic playmaker, but he also tends to make costly mistakes.
The Gators have a talented roster, especially on offense, where they have weapons like running back Damien Pierce, receiver Jacob Copeland, and tight end Keon Zipperer. They also have a solid defense, led by linebacker Ventrell Miller, cornerback Kaiir Elam, and safety Rashad Torrence. However, they have struggled to put it all together this season, and they will need to play their best game of the year to upset the Noles.
What are the experts saying about the game?
The game is expected to be a close one, as the Noles are favored by only 6.5 points, according to BetMGM. The over/under is set at 51.5 points, indicating a low-scoring affair. The experts are split on the outcome, as some believe the Noles will overcome the loss of Travis and clinch their spot in the playoff, while others think the Gators will rise to the occasion and spoil the Noles’ perfect season.
According to College Football News, 12 of the 18 experts picked the Noles to win the game, but only seven of them picked them to cover the spread. The other six experts picked the Gators to win outright, with four of them predicting a close game and two of them forecasting a blowout. The consensus pick was Florida State 31, Florida 24.
According to Sports Illustrated, the simulations favor the Noles to win the game, coming out ahead in 81.4 percent of the projections, or 16,280 predictions. The Gators were the projected winner in the remaining 18.6 percent of sims, or 3,720 projections. The average score was Florida State 34, Florida 23.
According to Sporting News, the Noles will stay in the playoff mix for now, despite the injury to Travis. They predicted a close game, with the Noles pulling out a 27-24 victory over the Gators. They cited the Noles’ defense, which ranks 10th in the nation in scoring (16.5 points per game), and their running game, which features Jashaun Corbin and Lawrance Toafili, as the keys to their success.
Who will win the rivalry game?
The game will be a classic showdown between two bitter rivals, with high stakes and emotions on both sides. The Noles will try to keep their playoff hopes alive, while the Gators will try to salvage their season and spoil the Noles’ dreams. The game will come down to which backup quarterback can handle the pressure and make the big plays when it matters. The Noles have the edge in defense and running game, but the Gators have the home-field advantage and the motivation. It will be a hard-fought battle, but the Noles will find a way to win by a narrow margin.
Final score prediction: Florida State 28, Florida 24
