Florida @ Vanderbilt preview

Last Meeting ( Nov 5, 2011 ) Vanderbilt 21, Florida 26

No. 6 Florida seeks its 22nd consecutive victory over Vanderbilt when the teams square off in Nashville on Saturday. The Gators haven’t lost to the Commodores since a 1988 visit to Nashville but Florida is certainly wary about the timing of this matchup. The Gators upended LSU 14-6 last Saturday and play fellow SEC East powers South Carolina and Georgia the next two weeks. Florida is the only team in the country that hasn’t allowed a single fourth-quarter point. Vanderbilt defeated Missouri last week for its first SEC win of the season. The Commodores’ bowl aspirations would get a gigantic boost with an upset of the Gators.

TV: 6 p.m. ET, ESPNU. LINE: Florida -8.5.

ABOUT FLORIDA (5-0, 4-0 SEC): Senior running back Mike Gillislee (548 yards) has been terrific in his first season as a starter. Gillislee leads the SEC in rushing yards per game at 109.6 and rumbled for a career-best 146 yards against LSU. He scored two touchdowns and was named SEC Offensive Player of the Week. Gillislee wasn’t stopped for a loss on any of his 34 carries against the Tigers. Sophomore quarterback Jeff Driskel is good at avoiding miscues – one interception in 91 attempts – and has completed 69.2 percent of his throws for 759 yards and four touchdowns. The Gators are ranked sixth in scoring defense (11.4 points per game) and 12th in total defense (284.0 yards per game). Senior free safety Josh Evans has a team-best 31 tackles while senior middle linebacker Jonathan Bostic has a team-high five tackles for losses among 28 stops.

ABOUT VANDERBILT (2-3, 1-2 SEC): Senior quarterback Jordan Rodgers has thrown for 831 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. Rodgers passed for 297 yards and two scores against the Gators last season. Senior running back Zac Stacy has rushed for 413 yards and three touchdowns this season and ranks third on the school’s all-time ledger in both rushing yards (2,415) and rushing touchdowns (23). Junior receiver Jordan Matthews (35 receptions) leads the SEC in catches per game (7.0) and gave Florida fits last season with a career-high 170 yards on nine receptions. Senior defensive tackle Rob Lohr has 10.5 career sacks but is still searching for his first of this season.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Florida leads the series 34-9-2 and has won each of its last 10 visits to Nashville.

2. Vanderbilt has lost 15 consecutive games against ranked opponents.

3. The Commodores allowed 302 rushing yards against Georgia and 205 to South Carolina.

PREDICTION: Florida 34, Vanderbilt 20.