UF vs LSU preview: Florida Gators eye SEC East title with win against Tigers

Things are very simple for Florida: Beat LSU on Saturday and win the SEC East and go to the conference championship game for a second consecutive season.

Simple, though, doesn't necessarily mean easy.

The No. 21 Gators (7-2, 5-2 in the SEC) have to go to Tiger Stadium and play a No. 16 Tigers (6-3, 4-2) team that is 4-1 since Les Miles was fired and Ed Orgeron was named interim coach after a 2-2 start.

This match-up would have been Orgeron's second game and first road game as interim coach if Hurricane Matthew had cooperated and allowed it to be played as scheduled Oct. 8 at The Swamp. But Matthew didn't cooperate, the game was postponed and now the Gators' control of their SEC destiny rests with the rescheduled game.

"Look, anything that comes up that really is out of your control, I mean, you can sit and cry about it or you can just move on," Florida coach Jim McElwain said Monday. "That's what we've got to do. It is what it is. We're going there to play and that's the way it is."

The Gators, who would have been hosting Presbyterian College this week if things had gone according to plan, moved within one win of the East title by beating South Carolina 20-7 on Senior Day last Saturday. If Florida doesn't beat LSU, it can still win the East if Tennessee loses either at home to Missouri on Saturday or at Vanderbilt the next week.

Understandably, the Gators, who enter this game with a lengthy injury list, don't want to rely on Missouri or Vanderbilt.

Losing the game against Presbyterian and having the LSU game moved to the road cost the Gators two games in The Swamp, where they finished 5-0 this season after the victory against South Carolina.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

--QB Austin Appleby makes his second consecutive start in place of injured Luke Del Rio. Appleby completed 17 of 21 passes, including 11 of his first 12, for 201 yards against South Carolina. He'll have a much greater challenge against LSU's pass defense on the road, but the fifth-year graduate transfer from Purdue, started twice earlier in the season does have some experience.

--Redshirt sophomore Kavaris Harkless, who played some in relief against South Carolina, will make his first start on the Gators' injury-riddled offensive line. McElwain has praised Harkless for his versatility and competitiveness.

--Freshman LB David Reese has been thrust into the lineup because of injuries to standouts Alex Anzalone and Jarrad Davis out. Reese had 11 tackles against South Carolina, but LSU will likely target him with Leonard Fournette and Derrius Guice.

--DE Taven Bryan was one of the leaders of an outstanding effort against South Carolina last week. He had a sack, forced fumble and fumble recovery on one play. The Gators will need more big plays to slow down the Tigers.