Instant Analysis: LSU-Florida

Sluggish and sloppy for the first several games of 2008, the Florida Gators had to throw a big coming-out party against the defending national champions if they were to announce their re-emergence on the national scene. Safe to say, the confetti flew and the balloons were bountiful on Saturday night in the Swamp, as Florida staged a bash that left the LSU Tigers wondering what hit them.

After a crushing loss to Ole Miss a few weeks earlier, Tim Tebow—the reigning Heisman Trophy winner—apologized to his team and fan base, resolving to do far better over the remainder of this season. Against the team that denied him SEC glory a year ago, in what was arguably 2007’s best individual game, Tebow responded with a proud precision performance that established the Gators as the team to beat in the SEC East. While Vanderbilt faltered and Georgia struggled past Tennessee in a surprisingly competitive game, Florida flexed its muscles and showed off its speed in a dominating display against Les Miles’ men.

This trouncing of the Tigers took place for a number of reasons—that will be the case when anyone rings up more than half-a-hundred points against a club with LSU’s pedigree and credentials—but it started with the front lines. On both sides of the ball, the Gators dominated in the trenches. Defensively, they took away LSU’s vaunted running game with Charles Scott, limiting the bold bruiser to 16 yards on 11 carries. Offensively, Florida’s hogs gave Tebow all the protection he needed while opening up running lanes on the edges. Continuing to employ a perimeter-based and speed-focused running attack that began to be unwrapped against Arkansas the week before, Florida offensive coordinator Dan Mullen watched with glee as his linemen performed their part. Speed merchants Jeffrey Demps and Chris Rainey combined for 195 yards between them on a night when the Gators rolled up an astonishing 265 yards against a defense of LSU’s caliber. If you focused on the front lines alone, you’d have gained enough of an explanation for this awesome annihilation of the part of the home team.

Once the front lines fire off the ball, though, the playmakers still have to take care of the rest, and everyone in the Florida fold did their job on Saturday. Tebow distributed the wealth in a subtle but surgical and supremely satisfying showcase. Receiver Percy Harvin caught six balls for 112 yards—roughly 19 yards per catch—and two touchdowns. Whatever the Gators wanted to do, they did. Whatever LSU tried to do, it didn’t work, except for a seven-minute stretch bridging the end of the first half and the beginning of the second, when a quick 14-0 run brought LSU back from a 20-0 deficit. And when the Gators began to feel the Tigers on their heels at that early stage of the third quarter, Tebow promptly led a touchdown march that immediately restored order. LSU wouldn’t make another credible response for the rest of the evening.

Alabama has established itself as the best of the SEC West. Saturday in the Swamp, Florida put the “Gains” in Gainesville, as the Gators stamped themselves as the beast of the SEC East. With more performances like this one—and no more letdowns such as the Ole Miss-ed opportunity that went begging on Sept. 27—Urban Meyer’s club could climb the heights before this season’s through.