Into the mouth of the Gator

Published 9:16 am Saturday, October 17, 2015

Things should be back to normal in Tiger Stadium tonight.

For one thing, the place should be full again after last week’s experiment with a last-minute game, which was forced when South Carolina had to move its scheduled home game to Baton Rouge due to flooding back home.

For another, it will be easily the biggest game of the season, a Southeastern Conference showdown of unbeatens when No. 8 Florida (6-0, 4-0 SEC) visits No. 6 LSU (5-0, 3-0).

So after last week’s brief reprieve, fans can expect traffic snarls again. They’re being encouraged to arrive early and, if predictions hold, can figure on staying late.

“It’s going to be a war,” LSU coach Les Miles said. “I think it’s certainly a very competitive matchup.”

First-year Florida head coach Jim McElwain, was in Tiger Stadium twice as an assistant coach at Alabama.

“It’s great,” he said. “It’s the way college football should be. The passion of the fans and the energy in the stands … what a great environment that was. That’s why you get into this business.”

“This is a top-10 matchup. This should be Tiger Stadium at its best,” Miles said, in making the comparison to last week’s hastily arranged improvisation. “The fishing trips should be done, not taking the wife on another extended holiday. There will be an opportunity for night to arrive. This should be a great game.”

LSU will be facing a backup quarterback for the fourth consecutive game, but the Tigers should also find a far stouter defense than those they’ve feasted on this season.

Florida’s Treon Harris was supposed to start at quarterback against LSU last year — but was suspended on the Monday before the game.

He was supposed to be the backup this week — but starter Will Grier was suspended this week after testing positive of performance enhancing drugs, forcing Harris into the starting role.

Harris started Florida’s last five games last year.

“I was most impressed with him (Wednesday),” McElwain said of Harris, who is more of a dual threat than Grier. “Our team responded to him. It allows us to do some different things from a package standpoint.”

LSU might be more concerned with the Florida defense.

The Gators didn’t allow a touchdown in last week’s 23-3 win at Missouri and were the only defense to really slow down high-powered Ole Miss in a 38-10 win the previous week.

“A lot of guys on defense that make plays,” Miles said. “They’re big, strong, fast guys … both the offensive line and defensive line.”

Miles also said he figures the Gators’ defensive plan won’t change much from what recent teams have done — stack in players in the box to stop LSU’s Leonard Fournette, the nation’s leading rusher.

That’s where LSU’s Harris comes in — Brandon Harris is coming off a career-high 228 yards passing last week against South Carolina.

“If they’re going to put a lot of guys in the box (crowded at the line), we’ll have the opportunity to make throws,” Miles said. “The opportunity to get big plays and score is certainly there anytime they want to put somebody up to stop Leonard Fournette.”