Florida is about to remind everyone why Missouri can’t punch above its weight class
The Florida Gators travel to Missouri as SEC title contenders, and Eli Drinkwitz’s Tigers have a long, painful history of falling short against ranked opponents.
The Florida Gators have established themselves an SEC title contender. Honestly, they’re probably a national title contender. And when the Gators travel to face Missouri this weekend, I’m backing Florida to win in dominant fashion.
A lot of people pushed back on the fact that I didn’t have Florida on my national title contender ranking, and I agree with them. That’s on me. This is a good football team, and what Buster Faulkner has built on the offensive side of the ball is capable of putting up points on virtually anybody.
That should continue to be the case this weekend when the Gators face off against the Tigers on the road.
Florida will continue Missouri’s struggles against Top-25 opponents
Now, let’s call a spade a spade. When is the last time Missouri actually beat a ranked opponent? It was 2024 against Boston College, which I believe was something like a 6-point win. That’s it. That’s the résumé.
This is just what we have seen from the Tigers. They get their pity Top-25 ranking, they play a Top-25 opponent, and they don’t play well. It’s a tale as old as time. And you may say, they pushed Mississippi State to the absolute brink with Austin Simmons and Chip Lindsey. Credit to them for that. But this Florida team is a completely different animal.
The physicality that the Gators are going to lean on, the way Faulkner’s offense can stretch a defense and break a game open in the second half, it’s not something Missouri’s front seven is equipped to contain for four quarters. I’m shocked Florida isn’t favored by double digits.
Now, I’m not going to sit here and tell you Missouri has nothing. Simmons and Cayden Lee are going to be able to move the football. Jamal Roberts will probably have a strong game on the ground. Missouri can be competitive. I’ll give them that.
But being competitive and actually winning are two very different things, and Eli Drinkwitz against a Top-25 opponent is just not going to live up to expectations. We see it time and time again. Missouri doesn’t punch above its weight class, and I know for a fact they’re not going to win this one.
Give me Florida to win convincingly and prove once again that they’re one of the best teams in the SEC.
