Florida at No. 3 Florida State (-7.5) 3:30 pm Saturday ESPN
Daniel: This looked like an utter mismatch earlier in the season, but Florida State, despite being a playoff-bound team if the ‘Noles can win out, can’t seem to blow anybody out. FSU hasn’t defeated a team by more that two scores since Oct. 11 and their last two wins have come by a total of just seven points. Florida, meanwhile, is about as unpredictable as they come. The Gators had an impressive two-week run against Georgia and Vanderbilt, but then had a surprising loss to South Carolina team that led to Will Muschamp’s demise. Saturday will be Muschamp’s last day on the sideline, so it’ll be interesting to see if the Gators are distracted or ultra-focused to send their head coach out on a win. It’s hard to pick against FSU at this point, though I’m expecting a close one. Winner: FSU 31-30
Houston: Wouldn’t it be some crazy type of poetic justice if it was Will Muschamp and this Florida team that ended the Evil Empire’s undefeated run? As much as I’d love it to happen so that FSU would be out and Florida fans/administration would have that creeping doubt about whether firing Muschamp was the right call, this Gator offense just doesn’t have the firepower to match what Jameis Winston and the Noles’ offense can put up. This game will be close for three quarters – because all Florida State games are close for three quarters – but the Noles pull away late. Winner: Criminoles 37-28
Reed: Florida is the trendy upset pick this week and I understand why. They have a physical defense capable of shutting down just about anyone while Florida State has been struggling to ugly wins against far less talented teams. But is Florida, a team that is usually inept offensively, really the team to end Florida State’s winning streak? Surely not. Seminoles win another close one and send Will Muschamp out with a loss. Winner: Winston 28-24
Wes: The Seminoles have already clinched the 2014 Clint Stoerner Award, given to the top escape artist in the nation, but don’t look for them to play the role of Houdini this week. They won’t need to against a Florida squad waving goodbye to Will Muschamp after a mediocre tenure. Florida will have some success on the ground against FSU, but its defense can’t bottle up Jameis Winston for four entire quarters. Winner: Florida State 31-14
