Florida vs. Missouri game: Pick, prediction, spread, odds, line, time, watch live stream, TV channel

Football

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Image Credit: Michael Nash

With 14 days off and 21 days between games, the No. 10 Florida Gators will certainly be rested when they take Florida Field on Saturday night against the Missouri Tigers. The question, though, is which Gators will be available to ultimately take the field. Head coach Dan Mullen has provided no specifics on who will be active for Florida after a COVID-19 outbreak ravaged the program and forced two game postponements. All Mullen has said is that he will have the required allotment of players to kickoff.

While the Gators have seemingly been hit with a string of difficult national headlines due in large part to Mullen’s comments after the Texas A&M game, those have faded over the last week as Florida gears up to actually play football again. What will the team look like when it square off against Missouri?

Well, it will certainly look different because the Gators will be donning blue helmets for the first time since the 1960s as part of a throwback uniform the program will be wearing for the second straight season. You can read more about that here.

Other than that, everything else is basically unknown. Mullen and his coordinators said this week that Florida did not make significant changes or adjustments to its scheme on either side of the ball despite its horrendous defensive efforts through three games. The Gators offense has been fantastic, but will it be running on all cylinders after having only a couple practices over a three-week span? Here’s everything you need to know ahead of the game.

Aspirations of contending for the SEC title and the program’s first opportunity in the College Football Playoff remain heavy on Florida’s shoulders. The Gators are in complete control of their destiny now that Georgia has suffered a loss — and they can begin making their move toward the top of the SEC East with a victory on Saturday. What will go down in the game? Let’s find out. Keep on reading for updates, notes, analysis and a game prediction for Florida vs. Missouri.

Tale of the tape

Injuries and absences

As reported by OnlyGators.com. Check out our full story.

Probable / questionable (?): ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Out before kickoff (13): DB Marco Wilson, DB Shawn Davis, DB Donovan Stiner, K Evan McPherson, DB Avery Helm, DB Chester Kimbrough, DB Quincy Lenton, DB Mordecai McDaniel, DB C.J. McWilliams, LB Lacedrick Brunosn, DL Jaelin Humphries, OL T.J. Moore, ATH Austin Perry
Injured (1): OL Ethan White (knee)
Out for season (1): DB Ethan Pouncey (hip)

Viewing information

Date: Saturday, Oct. 31 | Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
Location: Ben Hill Griffin Stadium — Gainseville, Florida [18,000]

TV: SEC Network Alternate (Mike Morgan, Hutson Mason, Taylor Davis)
Live stream: WatchESPN | SiriusXM: 81| Radio: WRUF, TuneIn
Live updates: @OnlyGators on Twitter

SEC Network Alternate
Find channel on your cable system
DirecTV: 611 | Dish: 596 or 404-2 | Cox (Alachua): 69

Game notes

» Florida has scored 127 points through three SEC games, its highest-scoring start in league play since 2001. It’s also the Gators’ highest-scoring stretch through three SEC games since 2008.
» Missouri is 5-4 all-time against Florida with the teams each 2-2 in their home stadiums since Mizzou joined the SEC in 2012.
» The Gators are 3-1 coming off a loss under Mullen.
» Under Mullen, Florida is 17-1 when scoring first, 19-1 when leading after the third quarter, 15-0 when allowing 20 points or fewer, 6-2 in games decided by fewer than 10 points and 18-0 when outrushing their opponent.
» UF lost for the first time when scoring first and leading after the third quarter in its last game vs. Texas A&M. It is now 5-6 when being outrushed by an opponent.
» Florida is 4-4 against ranked opponents under Mullen (3-3 against top 10 teams), beating three ranked teams in a single season in 2018 for the first time since 2012. It is 18-2 against unranked teams under Mullen.
» The Gators have scored 24+ points in 18 of their last 20 games dating back to 2018.
» Florida has scored 121 offensive touchdowns in 29 games under Mullen. It scored 93 in 38 games from 2015-17.
» The Gators have scored in 401 consecutive games, an NCAA record.
» Florida is one of only two FBS teams (Alabama) that has not lost to an opponent that finished the season with a losing record dating back to the 2008 season.
» UF in 2019 finished a season undefeated in The Swamp for the first time since 2016, third time this decade and 14th time in program history.

Prediction and analysis

Spread: Florida -12 | O/U: 61

Due to a lacking defense that statistically (and visually, let’s be honest) is one of the worst int he nation, it is tough to get a handle on this Florida team. While having 21 days off is unusual for any team, the question is how the Gators handled it — especially while being unable to practice for 14 of them. Will the offense be rusty? Will the defense have reviewed so much film that it has figured out how to fill its holes. Will any of that matter against a Missouri team that has been surprisingly competent in Year 1 under Eli Drinkwitz?

These are all great questions. Unfortunately, anyone who says they have the answers is lying to you because we do not even know which players will be suiting up for Florida on Saturday. Actually, now we do. In an update, 14 Gators will be unable to compete, including eight defensive backs (three starters) and their starting kicker. As such, this is a game I suggest completely laying off. Unfortunately, I do not have that luxury as I promise a prediction on both sides every game. Great.

There’s no question that the Gators have the edge from an overall talent standpoint. Despite the absences, the line for this game has not changed at this time. What’s notable is that Florida’s offense seems to be completely in tact. That gives them a good chance to cover at 12, but with many seeing the line at 14, I’d probably side with Missouri. The overs are 3-0 in Florida games so far this season, and Mizzou has allowed 38 points per game. Do I see UF’s defense allowing fewer than 23 points without three starting DBs? Probably not, even if it has made some strides.

2020 records: ATS picks 2-1 | O/U picks 1-2 | Overall: 3-3

Odds and ends

» Florida will wear throwback blue jerseys with white pants and blue helmets. The Gators will don such lids for the first time since the 1960s. For more on the special uniforms and helmets, check out the photo below and click here.