It would be easy to say that this is the least-anticipated matchup between Florida and Florida State in the history of the two storied programs.

But there’s still plenty to play for when the two teams kick off inside “The Swamp” at noon on Saturday.

Obviously, pride is always on the line when these two in-state rivals meet on the football field.

“It’s always big,” University of Florida interim head coach Randy Shannon said.  “It’s a game that you have bragging rights.  A lot of these guys on this football team have (high school) teammates that are at Florida State.  So when they go home, who gets the bragging rights?  And who won the game for a whole entire year?  It’s not just one day.  It’s the whole entire year.”

An even bigger storyline is the fact that Florida State’s 35-year streak of bowl game appearances will likely be determined by the outcome of Saturday’s game.

While the 4-6 Gators are almost certain to be “home for the holidays” during bowl season with no chance to reach six wins, the 4-6 Seminoles can keep their bowling streak alive if they win at Florida and then the following week against the University of Louisiana-Monroe in a game that was recently rescheduled after being postponed due to Hurricane Irma.

But Jimbo Fisher isn’t about to fall into a trap about looking ahead.

He considers this week’s game as important as any game played in December or January.

“Whether you have a winning season or a losing season, that (Florida) game is still significant in how the season is ranked,” Fisher said.  “We were 12-2 and lost to Florida that year and went to the Orange Bowl, and everybody is mad.  We won the ACC.  First ACC title they’ve had in over eight years, won an Orange Bowl that year and won 12 games.  First New Year’s bowl in over 13 years, and people weren’t happy.”

Beating the Seminoles and spoiling their bowl streak would be one of the few redeeming qualities for a Florida team that has clinched just its second losing season since the end of the 1979 campaign.

“Just stay on track with what you’re doing,” Shannon said on his focus for ‘Noles week.  “Don’t make it personal.  That’s one thing that happens sometimes in life.  You make things personal and you forget the real reason why you’re here, and the real reason why is to be competitive and win the football game.”

It’s just the second time since the series started in 1958 that both the Gators and Seminoles have losing records coming into the rivalry game, and the first time since 1959.

 It’s also just the fifth time since 1978 that neither team is ranked.

Florida State can make it five straight wins over Florida for the first time in school history.

Jimbo Fisher is 6-1 overall against the Gators as a head coach, winning all three games in Gainesville during that stretch by an average of 23 points.

Both teams are coming off wins, with the Gators snapping their five-game losing streak with a 36-7 victory over UAB last weekend.

Gators quarterback Feleipe Franks will likely start against the Seminoles after throwing for 152 yards and two touchdowns without an interception against the Blazers.

“(Franks) didn’t try to force any passes,” Shannon said.  “(He) made some key third down plays in the two minute drill.  That’s what you build on.  Don’t build on anything negative, just build on the positive and he did some good things for us to move the ball and keep us in the game where we needed to be at.”

The Gators are ranked 108^th out of 129 teams in scoring offense (22.1 points per game), but they are confident in a rushing attack that racked up 257 yards against UAB, including a team-high 89 from true freshman  Adarius Lemons (Clearwater HS).

And the Florida defense held the Blazers to 180 total yards of offense, limiting UAB to three rushing yards and eight first downs.

Florida State has played much better over the past few weeks, including a 77-6 win over FCS program Delaware State.

True freshman defensive end Joshua Kaindoh had four sacks to earn ACC Defensive Lineman of the Week honors, while another true freshman, quarterback James Blackman, had the first three touchdown passing game of his career.

The winner of this game will at least have something to point to with fond memories from the 2017 season.

The loser will add a giant exclamation point to one of the most disappointing years in school history.

“One of the greatest rivalries in college football,” Fisher said.  “Very blessed to be part of that rivalry here at Florida State.  Got a heck of a challenge going down there to play.  It’s always an extremely tough place to play, one of the toughest in the country.  They’ll be ready to play.  It will be their Senior Day.  There will be a lot of emotions and things going on.”

Here’s more on the latest edition of the Florida/Florida State rivalry series, which the Gators lead, 34-25-1.

KEY MATCHUP:

FELEIPE FRANKS VS. SEMINOLES PRESSURE

The Florida State front four has finally found its groove over the past couple of weeks.  In addition to Kaindoh’s emergence, fellow defensive end Brian Burns has stepped up his play, including a 7 tackle, two-sack performance against third-ranked Clemson.  And junior Josh Sweat has been a consistent force all year.  You know that Franks, who regained his starting gig after Malik Zaire went down with an injury, is likely going to have pressure to deal with throughout the game.  How he handles it will be critical.  It could be an opportunity for Franks to take a big step forward.  Or, it could be his final start as a Florida Gator.

X-FACTOR:

CAM AKERS, FLORIDA STATE

True freshman running back Akers was used sparingly (9 carries, 44 yards, TD) against the overmatched Hornets last week, but he has grown rapidly in the Seminoles offense during the second half of the season.  Akers, who is 229 yards away from breaking Dalvin Cook’s single-season record for an FSU true freshman, will no doubt be the focal point of the Gators defense.  Florida will need to keep the former top-ranked high school running back from taking a full-field tour of The Swamp during the game to have a chance to knock off the ‘Noles.

THE PICK:

FLORIDA STATE 27, FLORIDA 21

The Gators and Seminoles will bring out the best in each other and give us an entertaining game.  In the end, Florida State is just a better football team right now, and the Seminoles will find a way to keep their bowl streak alive while simultaneously giving Florida one last black eye to wrap up a frustrating 4-7 season.