Taylor is wary of Florida State

Based on regular-season statistics, UCLA’s defense should not have too many problems against inconsistent Florida State in Wednesday’s Emerald Bowl.

The Bruins have held seven opponents under 300 yards in total offense and have the nation’s 12th-best defense against the run. The Seminoles failed to gain more than 300 yards five times, including their last three games, and have the nation’s 73rd-ranked rushing offense.

But UCLA middle linebacker Christian Taylor said he’s not fooled by the numbers.

“They’re Florida State, and they can recruit basically anybody that they want,” Taylor said. “Even though they didn’t have the greatest year this year, they still have athletes.”

The Seminoles have used two sophomore quarterbacks this season in Drew Weatherford (who will start against UCLA) and Xavier Lee.

Senior Lorenzo Booker, a former standout at Oxnard St. Bonaventure High, leads Florida State in rushing, and 6-foot-6 sophomore Greg Carr has a team-high 11 touchdown catches.

“The strength of their offense is their skilled-position guys and getting them in space,” Taylor said about Florida State, which averages 226.2 passing yards and 25.1 points per game.

“Even when they run the ball, their offensive line has really wide splits, which also helps create room for their backs to work. This is going to be a good challenge for us.”

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If UCLA (7-5) defeats Florida State (6-6), it will mark the Seminoles’ first losing season since 1976.

“That’s our biggest motivation,” Florida State junior nose guard Andre Fluellen said.

“This is a win that we really need, because I don’t want to be part of the first team at Florida State to have a losing season in 30 years. I know I don’t want to have that on my record.”

The Seminoles, who have won only seven of their last 17 games, also want to get back to winning bowl games.

“It’s the difference between being rich and not being rich,” Florida State senior linebacker Buster Davis said about the Seminoles, who have lost three of their last four bowl games. “You either have money, or you don’t. I don’t know how we’re going to do it, but we have to find a way to win this game.

“To me, this game is more important than any BCS bowl game, because if we lose, we’ll be remembered as the team that finished with a losing record.”

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The Emerald Bowl will be played at AT&T; Park, home of the San Francisco Giants, and will seat 38,466 for football. With only 1,000 tickets available, the Emerald Bowl could have its first sellout since its inception in 2002. UCLA has sold its allotment for tickets (11,000).

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lonnie.white@latimes.com