GAME NOTES: The 14th-ranked Florida Gators take a break from SEC play to host the Florida Atlantic Owls in what appears to be a major mismatch. Florida Atlantic jumped out to a 3-1 start this season, but the squad has lost three of its last five outings since. On a positive note, last week's showdown with Arkansas State resulted in a hard-fought 34-31 triumph. At 4-1 in Sun Belt Conference action, the Owls are still very much alive in the race for the league title. As for Florida, it will not repeat as the national champion, as the three losses the team has suffered are simply too many to overcome. Still, the Gators have won three of their last four outings, including a 51-31 decision over South Carolina in Columbia last weekend. Already eligible for a bowl game, Florida is simply trying to strengthen its postseason prospects at this point. Despite both teams hailing from the Sunshine State, this game marks the first-ever meeting between Florida Atlantic and Florida on the gridiron.

Florida Atlantic is averaging 27.6 ppg and 396.7 total ypg, solid numbers that aren't going to scare the Gators. The Owls played one other SEC team so far this season, losing to Kentucky in a 45-17 final. Moving the ball on the ground has proven to be rather problematic for FAU, as it is averaging a mere 3.3 ypc. Charles Pierre leads the squad with 547 rushing yards and six touchdowns. Clearly, the passing attack has been much more productive, as Rusty Smith has thrown for 2,441 yards with 20 touchdowns and only seven interceptions. Rather than rely on one receiver, Smith has spread the ball around effectively to guys like Jason Harmon, Cortez Gent and Willie Rose. Smith was intercepted twice in last weekend's clash with Arkansas State, but he threw three touchdown passes. Ross was on the receiving end of two of those scoring strikes.

There is plenty of room for improvement on the defensive side of the ball for FAU, as it is allowing 32.3 ppg and 409.0 total ypg. In games against teams from major conference, the Owls have struggled. For instance, they gave up 45 points to Kentucky, 42 points to Oklahoma State and even 39 points to Minnesota, a bad Big Ten team. The Owls are yielding five yards per rushing attempt, overshadowing the fact that they haven't surrendered passing yardage as easily. Frantz Joseph has made a team-high 95 tackles for FAU, including eight TFLs. How did the Owls manage to surrender 31 points to Arkansas State last weekend despite giving up only 256 total yards in the game? A close look reveals that two of ASU's touchdowns came on drives that spanned just 20 yards and five yards, respectively, so the defense played better than the score suggests.

Tim Tebow entered last weekend's game against South Carolina as a serious Heisman candidate, and after arguably the best performance by any quarterback this season, Florida's signal caller has to be considered the front-runner for college football's top individual honor. As a passer, Tebow completed 22-of-32 passes for 304 yards with two touchdowns and one interception for the Gators. The versatile performer also ran for 120 yards and five touchdowns, breaking the program's single-season rushing touchdown record along the way. Just a sophomore, Tebow is closing in on the Division I record for rushing touchdowns in a season by a quarterback, as his 19 scores on the ground leave him just four shy of setting a new mark. Through 10 games this season, Tebow has completed 67.8 percent of his passes for 2,532 yards with 23 touchdowns and only five interceptions. Add his team highs of 718 rushing yards and 19 scores to the mix and Tebow is responsible for 42 touchdowns this season. There are a number of talented receivers in the fold, and Percy Harvin leads UF with 45 catches for 714 yards.

Florida forced three turnovers against South Carolina and limited the Gamecocks to 68 rushing yards in last weekend's 20-point victory. Obviously, however, the fact that the Gators surrendered 31 points in the contest is cause for some concern. They yielded four touchdowns to the South Carolina offense, including three scoring drives that spanned 65 or more yards. Overall this season, the Gators are surrendering 25.8 ppg, and while there is certainly room for improvement defensively, the fact that Florida is scoring 41.3 ppg certainly overshadows the problems of the mediocre defense. The Gators have given up 30 touchdowns to opposing offenses, including 15 on the ground. Clearly, however, it has been easier to throw the ball against Florida than to run it, as the Gators are giving up only 3.0 ypc.

Tebow figures to add a few more touchdowns to his already gaudy total this weekend, as FAU is no match for Florida. Don't be surprised if the stud quarterback spends the second half on the sidelines.

Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Florida 49, Florida Atlantic 9