'Noles Prepare For No. 2 Gators After Big Victory

Fresh off a dominating performance against Maryland, Florida State is preparing for a visit from archrival Florida - and hoping for some help from the Terrapins.

The Seminoles last won the Atlantic Coast Conference in 2005, but won't qualify for the 2008 championship game in Tampa unless Maryland beats Boston College next weekend.

Florida State beat Maryland 37-3 on Saturday in its most impressive since a 37-0 rout of Notre Dame in South Bend, Ind., five years ago. The victory propelled the Seminoles back into the Top 25 at No. 23 in The Associated Press weekly poll.

The Seminoles (8-3, 5-3 ACC) are also looking to snap a four-game losing streak against Florida, which embarrassed them 45-12 a year ago.

And that assignment is difficult enough.

The second-ranked Gators (10-1, 7-1 Southeastern Conference) are on a roll, averaging 46.5 points and 446 yards a game - and have played better this year than the club that racked up 541 yards and 29 first downs in last year's beatdown.

"We simply couldn't stop them," Florida State coach Bobby Bowden said. "We got manhandled."

And, Bowden said, Florida's even better this year.

"As far as explosive power, evidently they (Florida) and Oklahoma are in a class of their own," Bowden said. "They've got so much firepower, you just don't know when it'll explode."

Bowden said one way to beat Florida, possibly, was to score 50 points.

At least the Seminoles are in Tallahassee for the game, though it hasn't been the homefield advantage it once. Two of Florida State's three losses this season have come at home.

"He (Florida coach Urban Meyer) has something special there," Bowden said. "He's got an offense with all the ingredients."

Bowden said Florida reminded him of the dominating 1993 Florida State team, which lost one game at Notre Dame.

"They have that kind of superiority," Bowden said. "You've got to do better than better when you play them."