Checking on the temperatures in Baton Rouge as LSU heads to The Swamp to take on the Florida Gators.

WARMING UP

Kendell Beckwith. The middle linebacker relieved D.J. Welter for good late in the game against Auburn, and it won’t be a surprise if he earns the start against Florida. The sophomore brings far more physicality to the position than Welter, and he brings an “athletic advantage” that Beckwith has. Last year against Florida, Beckwith had a crucial strip sack and fumble recovery, and he’ll be ready to contribute big time this time around.

COOLED OFF

The Brandon Harris hype. A week ago this time, Brandon Harris looked like the guy to save the season. While he certainly outplayed Anthony Jennings against New Mexico State, the two are back on level footing after Harris completed just 3-of-14 passes for 58 yards against Auburn. Jennings wasn’t much better in relief, but Harris being downright uncomfortable as the starter, fleeing the pocket at the faintest hint of pressure. He could still be named the starter again, but expectations will be tempered.

BRAIN FREEZE

Les Miles’ decision making. Something very weird happened in the game against Auburn. At the end of the first half, the Tigers picked up a first down on a 32-yard run by Harris with about 10 seconds to play. With a timeout in his pocket, Miles could have stopped the clock and potentially gotten two plays off. Instead he was there on the sideline staring out onto the field, and instead of getting two plays off, including a potential field goal attempt, LSU winded up with just one play, a pass that fell incomplete. Miles gave a long-winded explanation of what happened in his Monday press conference, but the mistake was a glaring one.

FROZEN

Travin Dural and Malachi Dupre. The two starting receivers’ yardage totals, 40 and 52 respectively, aren’t awful considering the Tigers’ paltry total for the game against Auburn. The problem, though, is that they were both held to a single catch each. These two will need to find a way to get open more consistently if the LSU offense is going to be at all effective for the rest of the season. They get a start against a ball-hawking but inconsistent Florida secondary this week. Whoever doesn’t draw star cornerback Vernon Hargreaves should get plenty of looks.