LSU vs. Florida 2017 live stream: Start time and how to watch online

The LSU Tigers are not having the season they envisioned. The preseason No. 13 team has lost games to Mississippi State and, more notably, Troy, to start its season at 3-2. Now, the Tigers face a third possible defeat when they travel to Florida for a showdown with the No. 21 Florida Gators. The teams will meet on Saturday in an SEC showdown; kickoff is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. ET and will be broadcast live on CBS (live stream).

Florida has shaken off an opening week loss to Michigan to rise back up the rankings behind an opportunistic defense. The Gators are shooting for their fourth straight win after knocking off Tennessee, Kentucky, and Vanderbilt. Beating LSU would make them 4-0 in the SEC — and give them the inside track on another SEC East title.

Looking through the 2014-15 classes, the problem is clear. LSU signed 15 linemen in that span, and only six are still on the roster. That means nine did not complete their eligibility at LSU. While one did go pro early, the other eight transferred, and five of those had significant discipline problems.

You will remember that Florida salted this game away by running it late, by giving the ball to Malik Davis on fourth down and watching him wriggle away from defenders for a 39-yard touchdown run. I will, too.

But I’ll also remember that Florida started the drive in question with a five-yard loss. And kept running it. And had a long run called back for holding. And ran it. And then got that Davis touchdown.

LET’S GET TRANSITIVE: LSU is 93 points worse than Oklahoma. Sad!

More intermediately, LSU is way worse than Virginia. Really sad.

LSU is also 81 points worse than Penn State, based on PSU beating Indiana by 31.

You didn’t need this to tell you LSU might not be really good.

Florida Gators coach Jim McElwain told reporters on Monday that sophomore wide receiver Tyrie Cleveland was “expected to be out” for Saturday’s game against LSU with a high ankle sprain suffered against Vanderbilt.

But it’s Tuesday now — and Cleveland is on the Gators’ unofficial depth chart for LSU.

The Gators carved up a much-hyped Vanderbilt defense on the ground, bruising the Commodores en route to converting 10 of their 16 attempts on third or fourth down. Florida ran for five touchdowns in a 38-point explosion in the swamp. If it can repeat that performance, the Tigers will be in trouble.

The Tigers are struggling, and this is a bad time to face a Gators team who suddenly found its rushing offense last week against Vanderbilt. Florida grinds out a win here as the calls for Ed Orgeron’s dismissal intensify.