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Gators open as sizable underdogs vs. LSU

On3 imageby: Keith Niebuhr09/08/25On3Keith
billy napier
Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images

The Florida Gators, now unranked after losing to USF at home on Saturday, face another difficult test next weekend at Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, La., where they will meet No. 3 LSU. Vegas doesn’t like UF’s chances.

BetMGM, the official betting partner of On3, has made Florida a 9.5-point underdog. The over/under is 51.5 points. Meanwhile, the money line for the Gators is +260 and -325 for LSU.

BetMGM listed UF as a 17.5-point favorite against the Bulls. But USF won 18-16 on a last-second field goal. UF, ranked No. 13 last week, now is 1-1. Meanwhile, LSU, 2-0, has wins over then-No. 4 Clemson (17-10) and Louisiana Tech (23-7).

The Florida-LSU series is tied all time at 34-34-3. Florida upset the No. 21 Tigers 27-16 last season, but before that LSU had won five straight in the series and nine of 11.

LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier passed for 237 yards and one touchdown in LSU’s win over Louisiana Tech. Meanwhile, the Tigers held Tech to 154 total yards. The preview week against Clemson, Nussmeier threw for 232 yards and a touchdown.

Before losing Saturday in The Swamp, the Gators had won five straight games dating back to last season, which tied for the nation’s longest winning steak. But now they enter a four-game stretch against LSU, Miami, Texas and Texas A&M having lost to a Power 4 team. Meanwhile, questions about the direction of the UF program under fourth-year coach Billy Napier are sure to re-surface. He’s now 20-20 with the Gators.

USF held the Florida Gators to 355 yards and the fewest points in any of the nine games quarterback DJ Lagway has started at UF. Lagway was 23 of 33 for 222 yards, one touchdown and an interception. But the UF offense never found its groove.

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