The No. 10 Florida Gators got just enough off a stingy LSU defense to pull off an impressive 14-6 upset over the Tigers in the Swamp.
LSU vs. Florida 2012 results: No. 4 Tigers upset 14-6 by No. 10 Gators in the Swamp
The No. 4 LSU Tigers were toppled Saturday afternoon with RB Mike Gillislee and the Florida Gators pulling off a 14-6 upset at home.
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No. 4 LSU managed to get in range for a 31-yard field goal on their opening drive but there wasn’t much ball movement for either team for a considerable time after that. Then again, Florida did have their fair share of early opportunities but simply couldn’t capitalize.
CB Jaylen Watkins picked off LSU QB Zach Mettenberger to give the Gators a short field early in the second but sacks from LB Kevin Minter on 2nd and 3rd down killed that rally swiftly. Florida would go on to fumble twice in the second quarter to kill their momentum again with the second setting up another field goal from LSU.
With starting linebackers Minter (cramps) and Kwon Alexander (ankle) being forced from the game, RB Mike Gillislee began to tear up the Tigers' front seven up on Florida's 85-yard drive in the third. The speedy senior capped off the drive with a 12-yard score before doing the same thing from the same distance on Florida's following drive to put the lead at 14-6.
In the fourth quarter, the Tigers were unable to get any offensive firepower together, with the team totaling 29 yards on their first two drives. Gillislee and the Gators then ran over three minutes off the clock in time-killing mode before giving the ball to LSU with 18 seconds remaining.
But LSU’s comeback would end before it could ever truly begin with a fumble on an attempted hook-and-lateral giving the ball back to the Gators to end the game.
Box Score Hero: With not much success through the air (61 passing yards), RB Mike Gillislee put the team on his back, compiling 146 yards and two touchdowns on a whopping 34 carries.
Rankings Ramifications: A loss like this could very likely have LSU tumbling out of the top 10. Florida State will now surely be taking the Tigers’ No. 3 spot with the Gators possibly moving up to the 6-8 region.
But Did They Cover? The Tigers were 2.5-point favorites so that’s a negative, Ghost Rider.
Next Week’s Schedule: The Gators will be looking to build on their on solid performance as they head to Vanderbilt to square off against the Commodores. On the other end, things won’t be getting any easier for LSU when they go back home to take on No. 6 South Carolina.
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