It wasn’t all that terribly long ago that Florida State vs Florida decided national titles, seasons, coaching legacies, and Greatest Games of All-Time lists.
Okay, so it was very, very long ago. And both of these powerhouse programs are in desperate need of something to give their respective bases some sort of hope that the glory days are coming back soon.
Florida State is keeping head coach Mike Norvell despite the two straight disastrous seasons, and nothing would calm the waters more than beating Florida and getting a sixth win and bowl eligibility.
All Florida cares about is whether or not Lane Kiffin is putting on a Gator hat when he makes his new job reveal after playing Mississippi State. He’s probably going to LSU, or the Giants, or somewhere else, but that’s for later.
For now, the Gators are looking to end this season of misery by making Florida State’s life a little bit worse.
Florida State vs Florida Preview
Nov 22, 2025; Gainesville, Florida, USA; Florida Gators quarterback DJ Lagway (2) throws the ball before a game against the Tennessee Volunteers at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.
© Matt Pendleton-Imagn Images
How To Watch Florida State vs Florida
Date: Saturday, November 29, 2025
Game Time: 4:30 PM ET
TV: ESPN2
Location: Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, Gainesville, FL
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Why Florida State Will Win
Whether or not you might like the retention of Norvell, at least that’s settled for now.
There’s a chance Florida State might enjoy the same sort of bounce that Wisconsin did after it announced that beleaguered head coach Luke Fickell was staying around, and then the team came out and beat Washington.
If the Seminoles are going to pull this off, it’ll come from a defense that needs to stuff a Florida attack that didn’t do anything in the 31-11 loss to Tennessee.
The Vols came out with a purpose. They got hot right away and ended things before everyone could get comfortable. That’s not what FSU does, but what it does do is convert a whole lot of third down chances.
Take over the game by keeping things moving, make Florida take a few defensive chances early, and hope the control will be enough to …
Nov 21, 2025; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; Florida State Seminoles head coach Mike Norvell reacts during the first half of the game against NC State Wolfpack at Carter-Finley Stadium.
© Jaylynn Nash-Imagn Images
Why Florida Will Win
Florida doesn’t score on the road.
Oh sure, the best running game in the ACC opened it up on Virginia Tech, and Kent State, and poor old Alabama, but the second the team gets on a bus to get out of Tallahassee, the points don’t make the trip.
It’s not like the Seminoles played all of their killers on the road, either. Again, they got Alabama at home, along with Miami, and Pitt, and Wake Forest. And yeah, the yards were there against Virginia and Stanford, but the team couldn’t close.
It really is insane. There was the wild shootout against the Cavaliers, but the Seminoles only scored 13 points against Stanford, and ten against Clemson, and 11 against NC State. And why?
For whatever reason, the passing game stops working, quarterback Tommy Castellanos is a bit too cautious, and the accuracy isn’t there. So …
Florida State vs Florida Prediction, Betting Lines
Florida State has yet to win on the road, and it’s just 1-5 when it fails to hit 60% of its passes.
The Florida defense is hardly a brick wall, but it’s going to make up for the performance against Tennessee with a far, far different energy level against FSU.
It’s been awful for most of the year at coming up with third down stops, but it’ll hold the Noles in check just enough to get by in what should be an interesting fight for all 60 minutes.
Florida 23, Florida State 20
Line: Florida -1.5, o/u: 50.5
ATS Confidence out of 5: 2
Must See Rating: 3.5
Consensus Line from BetMGM, Caesars, DraftKings, and FanDuel. Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call 1-800-GAMBLER.
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