Game Day: Florida vs Missouri (ESPNU, noon)

Saturday, October 8

Gainesville, Fla.

12 p.m.

Florida Gators

Missouri

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Game Day: Florida vs Missouri (ESPNU, noon)

Saturday, October 8, 2022 | Football, Chris Harry

By: Chris Harry, Senior Writer

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Missouri had its chances last week against the nation's No. 1-ranked team before blowing a double-digit leads in the second half and falling to Georgia 26-22 in a sold-out home game Faurot Field.

The Bulldogs had to score on four of their last five possessions to get out of Columbia with their unbeaten record and first-place standing in the Southeastern Conference East Division intact, but it may have been a miscue by the Tigers — a mental one, at that — that prevented the pregame circumstances surrounding Saturday's noon homecoming SEC clash between Florida (3-2, 0-2) and Mizzou (2-3, 0-2) at the "Swamp" far more significant.

[Read senior writer Scott Carter's comprehensive "Opening Kickoff" setup here]

The Tigers were up 13-3 with just over five minutes to go in the first half when tailback Cody Schrader busted up the middle of arguably the nation's best defense for a 63-yard run before being dragged down at the Georgia 1. That's when the Mizzou sidelines called for a hurry-up alignment — facing a first-and-goal — presumably to prevent the UGA defense from running on its jumbo personnel. Big mistake. The Tigers hurried-up, all right. Their offensive line moved early and that first down at the 1 became a first down at the 6. Big difference.

Georgia bowed up and when Mizzou was forced to a kick field goal, a potential 17-point and three-possession lead (not to mention a blow to the psyche of the road team and all its top-ranked pressures) stayed at two possessions.

The Bulldogs kicked a field goal on the last play of the half to cancel out those Tigers' three points. Then Georgia outscored Missouri 17-3 in the second half.

So instead of playing the team that beat the team — that would have been fun — the Gators and Tigers will vie for a chance to win a first SEC game of the season and climb from the East Division cellar. Missouri, in fact, is still searching for a win over a power-five conference opponent, with its two victories coming against Louisiana Tech and FCS foe Abilene Christian.

The Tigers are led by quarterback Brady Cook (997 yards, 5 touchdowns, 4 interceptions), who is a big part of a rushing attack that averages 169.8 yards per game. The Missouri offense is ranked 12th in the SEC and 90th nationally at 375.0 yards per game.

Defensively, though, the Tigers check in eighth in the conference and 39th in the country (337.2 yards per game). The Bulldogs got 481 yards against them and quarterback Stetson Bennett passed for 312 yards, but Mizzou held them to just four field goals over the game's first 50 minutes — both UGA touchdowns were in the final 10 minutes — while forcing two turnovers and sacking Bennett twice, keeping him under constant pressure with a solid pass rush and physical hits most of the game.

Quarterback Stetson Bennett (13) and top-ranked Georgia got out of Columbia with a road win last week, but the Missouri defense made things difficult on the Bennett and the Bulldogs. [*Associated Press* photo]

UF quarterback Anthony Richardson (1,116 yards, 4 TD, 6 INT) should expect similar treatment. Two weeks ago, Richardson made Tennessee pay, albeit in defeat, for playing almost exclusively man defense, which allowed Richardson to pass for 453 yards and two scores. He added 240 more yards and two TDs in last week's 52-17 win over overmatched and FCS-classed Eastern Washington.

The Gators have averaged 630.0 yards, including 422.5 through the air, and 42.5 points the last two weeks. That's good because the Florida defense is surrendering 421.4 yards a game on the season, which is 12th in the SEC and 108th nationally.

Kickoff is set for noon on ESPNU, with John Schriffen on play-by-play, Dustin Fox providing analysis and Lauren Sisler working the sidelines. For radio and television broadcast info, click here. The game will be replayed Wednesday at 2 a.m. and again Friday at 11:30 a.m., both on the SEC Network. The Learfield Gator IMG Sports Network coverage, with Sean Kelly and Shane Matthews in the booth, and Tate Casey on the sidelines, will begin at 9 a.m.

Finally, follow FloridaGators.com senior writer Scott Carter (@GatorsScott) on Twitter for commentary and analysis throughout the game. FloridaGators.com will have complete coverage content from the game late Saturday night and fresh follow-up content Sunday, also.