Florida and LSU — two SEC rivals heading in opposite directions — face off in their respective conference openers in a Week 3 battle in Baton Rouge on Saturday, Sept. 13, with kickoff set for 7:30 p.m. ET on ABC. One of these teams will start conference play 1-0, setting the tone for the remainder of their seasons.
LSU QB Garrett Nussmeier looks to continue his Heisman push after completing 68.4% of his passes in the season’s first two games.
For his part, Florida QB DJ Lagway hopes to keep Florida’s season alive after last week’s upset loss to South Florida.
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Florida vs. LSU Prediction, Preview, CFB Picks, 9/13
Florida upset 22nd-ranked LSU in Gainesville last season, the first of two top-25 upsets that saved head coach Billy Napier’s job. The rematch is in Baton Rouge this year, where LSU has won the last three matchups, with Florida’s last win on the road in the series coming back in 2016.
LSU leads the all-time series between the two rivals, 34-32 with three ties. The Tigers have won five of the last six, with Florida ending the five-game series winning streak last season in Gainesville. The spotlight will be on both Lagway — who's off to a slow start after being mentioned in Heisman candidate circles in the offseason — and LSU QB Garrett Nussmeier, who is generally near the top of most Heisman lists.
Florida Gators Preview
After opening the season with a 55-0 beatdown of Long Island, Florida lost at home on a walk-off FG to South Florida, putting head coach Billy Napier firmly back on the hot seat. (Last season, after a 4-5 start, Napier was on the chopping block before beating ranked LSU and Ole Miss in back-to-back games.)
This is the first of three straight games against a team ranked in the top 10, as the 1-1 Gators are on the road at fifth-ranked Miami next week, after which they stare down seventh-ranked Texas at home.
After throwing 3 TDs with nary a pick to be seen and completing 83.3% of his passes in one half against Long Island, Lagway completed 66.7% with 1 TD and 1 INT in the loss to South Florida.
LSU Preview
LSU opened up the season with an upset of previously fourth-ranked Clemson on the road, then followed it up with a 16-point win over in-state rival Louisiana Tech.
Heisman contender Garrett Nussmeier has averaged 234.5 yards per game over the two games, with 2 TDs and 1 INT. RB Caden Durham recorded a rushing TD in both games.
The LSU defense held Louisiana Tech to 154 total yards after holding the Clemson offense to 230 total yards and 10 points in the opener.
After Florida, LSU has a non-conference matchup vs. SE Louisiana next week, followed by games against 17th-ranked Ole Miss and 11th-ranked South Carolina.
Florida vs. LSU Picks – Saturday 9/13
Here are the player picks to target in PrizePicks, among them the feisty quarterbacks.
Florida QB DJ Lagway Projection: Longest Completion 40.5 yards
Lagway has completed 74.5% of his passes through two weeks with 342 total yards on 51 attempts. His yards per attempt was 6.7 in both games, with just 1 completion over 32 yards.
Last year vs. LSU, Lagway averaged 8.7 yards per attempt.
Florida RB Jadan Baugh Projection: 75.5 Passing Yards
Baugh recorded his second career 100-yard rushing game in the opener vs. Long Island and added 93 more yards vs. South Florida. In his career, Baugh has posted 76-plus yards in five games, all of which have occurred within the last nine games for Florida.
LSU QB Garrett Nussmeier Projection: 224.5 Passing Yards
Nussmeier threw for 232 and 237 yards in the first two games of the season, and passed for 260 yards in the matchup with Florida last November. He has reached 225-plus passing yards in 15 of his last 16 games, dating back to the 2024 Reliaquest Bowl.
Make CFB Picks on PrizePicks
Florida vs. LSU pits two long-time SEC rivals in a Week 3 matchup. Florida’s season is in jeopardy after a home loss to South Florida, while LSU is up to No. 3 in the AP Poll and looking for a College Football Playoff berth. The Tigers have won five of the last six in the series, with the Gators triumphant last season in Gainesville.
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Check out the Playbook throughout the 2025 college season for more college football picks and predictions from our team of experts.
