The Florida Gators are coming into their very anticipated game against Missouri after losing to LSU in a close game last weekend and now they will travel to play the Tigers at Faurot Field for an SEC matchup and Mizzou is ranked at number 14 after pulling off a statement win against Georgia and the game on Saturday will be at 12:21 PM on ESPN3.
Florida is ranked in the top 25 despite losing to LSU and now the Gators will try to rebound against a very good Missouri team that has not lost this season, but they will be playing without their starting quarterback in James Franklin, as he was injured in the win last week. The Tigers have been very impressive and now are 2-0 in the SEC with a big win against Georgia and both of their conference wins have come on the road and they now are 6-0 and were part of the record eight teams that the SEC got in the top rankings last week. Franklin was having a great season before getting injured with 1,500 yards passing and 14 touchdowns and now Maty Mauk will take over.
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The Gators are struggling on offense this season and that came through last week as well as in their other loss against Miami in the second game of the season. The team is averaging less than 400 yards per game this season and the scoring has not been what it has in the past, as the team is scoring just 21 points per game, although the defense has been very stout, allowing less than 15 points per game, ranked fourth in the nation this season. The team opened the year with a loss to Toledo before losing to Miami and then the team won three straight games against Tennessee, Kentucky and Arkansas before the loss against LSU and now they are 4-2 meeting the Tigers.
Missouri is sitting atop the SEC East with a 2-0 conference division record and they are ahead of South Carolina, Florida and Georgia at 3-1 and this game would be a huge boost for the Gators after falling to LSU last week. Tennessee, Vanderbilt and Kentucky are the winless conference teams in the division and on the other side, Alabama remains undefeated in the west over LSU. Tyler Murphy has been playing well since taking over at quarterback, passing for over 600 yards and adding five touchdowns, while running back Mack Brown is leading the team with 340 yards and three touchdowns.
Florida has a tough slate coming up next and if they can get past Missouri, they control their own destiny in the conference, as they play Georgia next and wins in the next two games will give the team the lead in the SEC East. The rest of the schedule is tough with Vanderbilt next followed by a road game against South Carolina and the team finishes the season against current number five team Florida State in what could be a deciding game for the Gators in their hopes of making it to the conference championship in the SEC, as while the Seminoles are in the ACC, the win in the game could keep them from falling behind overall. The Gators and Tigers will be playing on Saturday starting at 12:21 pm with coverage on ESPN3.