***There will not be an audio podcast for this show due to my lingering cold this week.
For those old enough to remember the voice of Froggy of The Little Rascals, that’s what I sound like today!
The #3 ranked and 2-0 LSU Tigers will host a wounded pack of Florida Gators and their coach on his flaming hot seat on Saturday night in Tiger Stadium. ABC will televise the game at 6:30 PM CDT.
Florida (1-1) lost to surprising 2-0 South Florida last week 18-16.
The fourth quarter of the game was filled with questionable play calls by the Florida offense and a 15-yard penalty called on Gators defensive tackle Brendan Bett for expectorating on an unsuspecting South Florida offensive lineman.
DaBulls seized the moment.
South Florida moved 87-yards in the final two minutes and kicked a 20-yard chip shot field goal on the game’s final play and celebrated with a two-point win.
Almost 90,000 Gators fans sat in stunned silence after watching yet another miserable performance by their very unpredictable football team.
Florida’s embattled coach Billy Napier is now in his fourth season.
His record of 20-20 has been a major disappointment. The Gators won the final four games of its 2024 season to finish 8-5.
It appeared that Coach Napier had finally turned the corner.
Last season’s four-game winning streak began with a 27-16 home win over then-#21 ranked LSU. The Gators then ruined #9 Ole Miss’ chances at making the 12-team College Football Playoffs with a gritty 24-17 win.
The Florida Gators seem to play their best football last season when their backs were to the wall.
LSU’s offense needs to up its game this Saturday night to beat Florida
The LSU defense has been the team’s weakest link for the past two seasons. Coach Brian Kelly and his staff jumped into the NIL swimming pool last winter to spend $18 million on transfer players to beef-up the LSU defense.
The Tigers defense has been formidable through the first two games of 2025. LSU held then #4 Clemson to only ten points in a 17-10 road win in Game #1. Louisiana Tech was only able to muster seven points last week during LSU’s 23-7 underwhelming win over the feisty Bulldogs from Ruston.
Without a doubt, the money spent to shore-up LSU’s defense appears to have been a good investment.
Offensively, the Tigers have taken a step backwards in 2025.
Quarterback Garrett Nussmeier was expected to shine after his first full season as the LSU starting QB in 2024.
Passing for 4,052 yards with 29 touchdowns last year lifted the Tigers’ quarterback into the pre-season Heisman Trophy discussions.
It is important to remember last season’s offensive line at LSU featured two players who were very high selections in April’s 2025 NFL draft.
West Monroe High School’s Will Campbell became the #4 overall selection by the New England Patriots.
Campbell has already earned the starting job at left tackle for the Patriots.
LSU’s right tackle last season was Emery Jones, Jr. from Baton Rouge Catholic High School. Jones was selected in the third round by the Super Bowl favorite Baltimore Ravens.
The 2025 LSU five-man offensive line is retooling without those two very exceptional players.
Garrett Nussmeier has completed 54 of 79 passing attempts in LSU’s first two games. His 54 completions have produced just two touchdowns for an LSU offense which is scoring a measly 20 points per game early this season.
Games between LSU and Florida nearly always produce a thrilling outcome
LSU fans (both at Tiger Stadium and at home) are asked to wear their gold t-shirts and jerseys for Saturday night’s game against Florida.
This long series between LSU and Florida is as close as you can get. LSU has 34 wins. Florida has 34 victories. There have even been three ties in this long SEC series.
The Tigers have won five of the last six meetings against Florida.
Do not underestimate the fact that Florida’s coach Bill Napier is under a great amount of pressure to produce a win this week. The Gators have the toughest schedule in major college football in 2025. There are no cream puffs left.
Coach Napier’s contract buyout would cost the Gators $19.5 million with 50% of that amount due within 30 days.
An ugly loss at LSU on Saturday will find the proverbial hat being passed among the top Florida supporters to send Coach Napier packing.
Check out these additional games to circle this weekend
2-0 Wisconsin @ 1-1 #19 Alabama – 11 AM CDT on ABC
Bama was blitzed 31-17 at Florida State in Week #1. The team looked sluggish and was out-hustled by the Seminoles. Fans were not pleased.
The Crimson Tide recovered by obliterating UL-Monroe 73-0 last Saturday. The Warhawks’ primary goal for the game was to collect its $1 million payday and return on I-20W to northeastern Louisiana without sustaining any serious injuries.
The Wisconsin Badgers have won two cupcake games to open their season. It is nearly impossible to gauge how good Wisconsin might be, but the Badgers’ starting quarterback (Billy Edwards, Jr.) will miss this week’s game due a sprained knee. Uh-oh.
The folks in Las Vegas believe that Bama will win this game by three touchdowns. But who knows which version of the Alabama football team will show-up this week? We’ll find out soon.
2-0 #6 Georgia @ 2-0 #15 Tennessee – 2:30 PM CDT on ABC
The Bulldogs and Vols each feature two new starting quarterbacks in this rock ’em, sock ’em SEC series. Last year’s back-up Gunner Stockton has become Georgia’s signal caller in 2025. The Dawgs’ tough defense has allowed just 13 total points in two warm-up games against Marshall University and Austin Peay.
Tennessee transfer QB Joey Aguilar has tossed five touchdown passes after leaving UCLA in favor of good ol’ Rocky Top (Woo!). Will Tennessee’s defense rise up on Saturday in Knoxville?
Georgia is a slim 4-point road favorite. Tennessee’s high scoring offense vs. Georgia’s stingy defense makes for an intriguing Saturday afternoon match-up.
2-0 #18 South Florida @ 2-0 #5 Miami Hurricanes – 3:30 PM CDT on the CW Network (correct)
Will the Bulls run in Miami on Saturday afternoon? South Florida is 2-0 with victories coming over two top-25 teams (Boise State and Florida). Will they claim their third straight highly-ranked victim?
The Miami Hurricanes are quite aware of South Florida’s stifling defense. Former Georgia quarterback Carson Beck played well for the Hurricanes against Notre Dame in Week #1 and must be repeat that performance on Saturday, too.
Miami has been made a 17-point home favorite against South Florida. However, a 60% chance of thunderstorms in Miami on Saturday may give South Florida a chance to keep this game close.
2-0 Arkansas @ 2-0 #17 Ole Miss – 6 PM CDT on ESPN
The Hogs have scored more than 50 points in each of their tune-up games in Fayetteville against FCS member Alabama A&M and intrastate rival Arkansas State. Quarterback Taylen Green has passed for an amazing ten touchdowns in just two games. Can Arkansas keep its foot on the gas pedal on the road at Ole Miss?
Coach Lane Kiffin should be nervous about his new Ole Miss quarterback, Austin Simmons. The sophomore QB has thrown four interceptions to go along with three touchdowns in Rebels’ first two games. Ole Miss was fortunate to escape Kentucky with a 30-23 win last week. They are a 6 ½ point home favorite against the Hogs.
Will the real Ole Miss Rebels – please stand up?
2-0 Vanderbilt @ 2-0 #11 South Carolina – 6:45 PM CDT on SEC Network
This game has a lot riding on it for both teams. Vandy continues to bask in the glow of last year’s gigantic upset win over Alabama. Quarterback Diego Pavia decided to return this season in hopes of boosting Vandy to another level after last year’s 7-6 finish. The Commodores balanced run/pass game is geared to control the clock and keep games close against the top teams.
South Carolina (ranked a surprising #11 – in my opinion) heavily depends on its quarterback, too. LaNorris Sellers has been receiving significant Heisman Trophy hype based on his performance in the final few games of the 2024 season. His willingness to run the ball to convert first downs may spell the difference in this interesting game.
Each team has defeated Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, VA this season. Vandy won last week 44-20, while South Carolina went home with a 24-11 season opening win. Las Vegas believes that Carolina should be a three-point home favorite.
Insomniac Special – 2-0 Minnesota @ 2-0 California – 9:30 PM CDT on ESPN
What? Does anyone really care about Minnesota and Cal?
I think you should. California’s freshman quarterback with a six syllable last name, JK Sagapolutele, shows the poise of a junior on the field.
The Hawaii native is fun to watch in the pocket.
The Minnesota Golden Gophers defense has allowed a total of just ten points in eight quarters of action. Those impressive stats were earned in a couple of cupcake tune-up victories, though.
The Gophers have been made a 2-point road favorite, but watch out for Cal!
This late-night gem just may keep you awake after midnight if the game stays close.