Week 7 Preview - Sunshine State Showdowns

After a few weeks of down time, the RUTS rivalries are back and better than ever this week. The #6 Tigers of LSU roll into Gainesville to take on arch-rival and 10th ranked Florida. This rivalry game, possibly the fiercest in all of RUTS, marks the 5th time that the Gators and Tigers have locked up on the gridiron. The State of Florida also is playing host to another fierce rivalry game between the #3 Florida State Seminoles and the #21 Miami Hurricanes. The Noles are looking to continue their climb back to national prominence with another high scoring victory, while Miami Coach StuBucksman has guaranteed a Hurricane victory at Dolphins Stadium. Buckle your seat belts!!
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#6 LSU @ #10 Florida

It seems that every time we blink, these two teams are facing off against each other. The Tigers boast a 3-1 all-time record in the RUTS series, but that 1 loss was handed to them in Jortsville USA, aka The Swamp, the site of this week's showdown. While boasting arguably the finest defense in RUTS, the Florida Gators are also starting to show signs of life on offense for the first time all season. The past two weeks, new QB Carlos Phillips has been injured, and Cameron Newton, the season 2 starter has filled in admirably. At press time, we are unsure as to which QB Coach robtheblob51 will send out for the Gators' first snap. As long as the talented Gator RBs take the lead, the pressure will be off of whichever QB starts for Florida. The Gators suffered a major setback in week 6 however, as star RB Chris Rainey went down with an injury that will keep him out for this week's game.

The LSU offense, has been moving the ball at will against teams, but the Gators defense will test the strength of the Tigers explosive offense. The Tiger defense boasts possibly the finest secondary in the nation, with 5 players rated 91 or higher. The LSU DBs have the speed to go toe to toe with Florida's speedy WRs and RBs, so this game will likely come down to those players being in the right place and the right time to make a big play.

Both of these teams are smack dab in the middle of the national title race. They've both lost to #2 Clemson (LSU lost 17-14; Florida lost 20-7) and both have beaten #20 Miami (LSU 42-13; Florida 26-23), so they have common opponents this season.

These teams aren't strangers, they know what to expect from each other, and we're certain that this game will be a battle. We predict a low scoring game with both teams' defenses forcing some punts and/or turnovers. The Rowdy Reptiles will be ferocious from the opening kickoff and will make it difficult for Jarrett Lee to make checks and audible at the line of scrimmage. Look for the Gators to try to establish a running game against the LSU defense as well.

ESPN Gameday will be having a split crew this week. Erin Andrews and Kirk Herbstreit will be in Gainesville, while Holly Rowe, Lee Corso, and Chris Fowler will be in Miami.

You know Erin Andrews will be rooting for her alma mater, but Herbie says this one will belong to the Tigers, who will continue their quest to return to the BCS title game.
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#3 Florida State @ #20 Miami

On-lookers beware! The venom being spit from the mouths of Miami Coach StuBucksman could poison even the likes of Chief Osceola. In an attempt to spice up what has become a semi-stale rivalry, Stu lashed out at FSU in a verbal assault not seen since Muhammad Ali was in his hay-day. To this point, FSu Coach cjohnchavis has been mum on the subject, only saying that he's "too busy scoring 91 points on opponents and trying to figure out a way to have the entire top 5 of the HULKAMANIA Heisman Watch consist of Seminole players" to worry about petty trash talk. But this writer knows cjohnchavis's blood is boiling and he will be out for pay back at Dolphins Stadium.

Miami's potent running game is back. Senior leader Graig Cooper torched the Duke defense last week for more than 200 rushing and 200 receiving yards, so look for the Canes to give it to Cooper early and often. Also, look for Miami backup Qb Knox Knunley to flash the Degeneration X "suck it" sign to FSU players, coaches, and fans at least 36.8 times per quarter.

The Noles look to come out heaving the ball around the yard, as QB Christian Ponder has two of the nation's best targets in WRs Bert Reed and Blake Beck. Tailback Kendall "Don't Expect My Breath To Smell" Pleasant also offers a nice counter punch to the Noles' passing attack.

Florida State's weak schedule to this point has been attacked by Coach StuBucksman, saying that "the Seminoles have played JV caliber opponents" compared to Miami, and that the Noles' #3 ranking is "a travesty and an injustice to sports fans everywhere."

Florida State's offense has been nothing short of spectacular this season, as they have ripped through all would be advesaries. Coach cjohnchavis is confident that his team will suffer no let-down in Miami.

However, a new controversy has ingulfed the rivalry recently. Cjohnchavis has taken the high road, but Coach Stu has been using the skills he honed at the LLKTTA in week 5!

"It's obvious that Christian Ponder's small ding dong is a major problem for their team," exclaimed Stu. "They are trying to hide the truth, but just like A-Rod and the steroids scandal, the truth shall set them free...and Ponder will be made a laughing stock on national tv, and then Holly Rowe will interview him after the game and laugh at him some more. She told me that she's seen CP's wiener and that it's not that big---if it was an iPod, it would be a Shuffle! FSU is for losers! Big gulps, huh? Well, see ya later!"

StuBucksman's comments, while strange and rambling on the surface, may hold a deeper philosophical meaning about the state of our economy, Aaron Neville's mole, and the hidden secrets about the tv show LOST. You be the judge.

One thing is certain, this game will be one for the ages. Miami claimed a groundbreaking 38-21 win in Tallahassee last season, which started the Canes' mid-season surge. Can they repeat last season's triumph? A loss for the Noles wouldn't crush their national title hopes, but the Canes desperately need a win to stay in the hunt.

Holly Rowe is a closet Hurricanes fan and she will be doing everything in her power to distract Ponder, Reed, and Beck on the Seminoles sidelines. Will it work? Who knows, only time will tell. But the Canes are playing at home, have a potent running game, and this one will be close.

The RUTS Dynasty PR staff predicts the first ever user vs. user OVERTIME game in Miami tonight!! In 3 overtimes, the Miami Hurricanes upset the 3rd ranked Seminoles 44-41. Pandemonium reigns on South Beach and Crockett and Tubbs have to separate Coach StuBucksman from an irate Cjohnchavis at the end of the game. This rivalry could be continued in the conference title game, in a no-disqualification steel cage match!