EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the sixth in the series previewing the 2018 football season.
The Tigers could be undefeated at 6-0 with upset wins over Miami and Auburn – if so that would be the story of the year to that point.
But if LSU enters the sixth week of the season with a 3-2 record and 1-1 in the SEC, then the trip to the Swamp will become even a bigger game against the Gators.
The rivalry between LSU and Florida increased around the way the events of Hurricane Matthew was handled in 2016.
Because of the storm, the game was canceled and after some back-and-forth, both schools agreed to play the game on Nov. 19 in Baton Rouge, with Florida hosting the 2017 (originally scheduled to play in Baton Rouge) and 2018 matchups in Gainesville.
On the final play of the game, Tiger running back Derrius Guice fumbled the ball at the goal line and Florida won, 16-10.
Last season, the week after the 24-21 loss to Troy, the Tigers responded with a 17-16 victory at Florida.
Dan Mullen’s return to the Gators should help the Florida offense improve after only averaging 22.1 points per game – 108th in the country.
Florida is led by quarterback Feleipe Franks and the offense will be helped with the transfers of wide receivers Van Jefferson from Ole Miss and Trevon Grimes from Ohio State.
The experts have LSU with a 35 percent chance of winning at the Gators, but expect a fight from the Tigers.
UL Lafayette has a chance to improve to 3-2 overall and more importantly 2-0 in Sun Belt Conference play as the Cajuns travel to Texas State.
The Football Power Index says UL only has a 42.9 chance to win over the Bobcats.
Texas State won only two games last season over Houston Baptist and Coastal Carolina so I think the Cajuns get a win on Oct. 6.
Four of the Bobcat losses were by at least by 28 points.
If Texas State wins it will because of its defense led by linebackers Bryan London and Frankie Griffin.
Other games of interest the sixth week of the season around the state include Nicholls State at Northwestern, UAB at Louisiana Tech, UL Monroe at Ole Miss, Tulane at Cincinnati, Southeastern at Incarnate Word, Abilene Christian at McNeese.
Southern and Grambling both have the week off.