The No. 13 Florida State Seminoles will wrap up the 2015 regular season on Saturday night in Gainesville against the No. 12 Florida Gators in a matchup of top-15 teams. This storied rivalry featured highly ranked face-offs yearly in the '90s, but with FSU's "lost decade" and UF's recent Muschamp-era struggles, these matchups have been fewer and farther between in recent seasons.
The 'Noles (9-2) will have their work cut out against the Florida (10-1) defense, which ranks in the top five nationally in S&P+ defense, including the third-best run defense ranking and the seventh-best rating against the pass.
As they have been in recent years, we can expect the Florida defensive backs to be very physical with FSU's receivers, which will be especially challenging for the Seminoles this season given their lack of size at the position. Sean Maguire and co. will have a tough go if FSU is unable to find success on standard downs, as the Gators rank No. 2 in the country defensively when they leverage opponents into passing downs.
Out of FSU's 2015 opponents, Florida's defense ranks most closely to those of Boston College (third in S&P+) and Clemson (fourth). The encouraging news for the Seminoles once again is the presence of running back Dalvin Cook, who continues to be the country's most explosive back by just about every measure.
Dalvin Cook’s Heisman case in graphic form. pic.twitter.com/eoHzg4wANp
— David Hale (@DavidHaleESPN) November 24, 2015
Cook has already shown the ability to gash an elite run defense as he did at Clemson -- in a similarly hostile environment -- by putting 194 yards and a touchdown on the Tigers on 9.24 yards per carry at Death Valley. If FSU's O-line can allow Cook to get past the line of scrimmage, he's lethal from there, but the Gators' front will make things difficult.
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The other side of the ball pairs another stout defense against an offense that has struggled, especially in recent weeks.
The Gators are coming off a season-low 4.13 yards per play output in an overtime win against Florida Atlantic last week in an outing reminiscent of the Muschamp years. Treon Harris, who has filled in for the suspended Will Grier for the past five games, has tossed eight TDs this season and four interceptions on 8.1 yards per attempt. Grier was not lighting the world on fire, but was completing 65.8% of his passes for the year; since Harris has stepped in, the Gators are completing just 49.98% of their throws.
FSU ranks 13th in the country in opponent-adjusted pass defense, so things should continue to be difficult for Florida through the air. Likewise, UF is averaging just 3.6 yards per rush as a team in 2015, which plays into the hands of the Seminoles' rush D.
Add up all of these factors, and we have the ingredients for a low-scoring game on our hands. FSU will be going for its third straight win in Gainesville, which would be a program record, and its fourth win in the last five games vs. Florida overall.
Be sure to give the Nolecast a listen this weekend as you travel for Thanksgiving and/or to Gainesville for the game. Bud and Ingram provide unparalleled analysis of the 'Noles that you won't find elsewhere.