The challenges don't stop for the No. 8 Florida Gators as they are 3.5-point favorites heading into a Week 5 clash with the Missouri Tigers at Faurot Field. This is the first meeting between the Gators and Tigers since 2023.
Florida has been favored in all four games this season and despite Jon Sumrall questioning whether some of the oddsmakers were on special enhancements, they've been right on the money so far. The line actually opened at 5.5 before quickly dropping to 2.5 and settling at its current position.
Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.
Florida is a slight road favorite against Missouri
The Gators rose 13 spots in the AP Top 25 poll after a 52-28 win over Ole Miss. It was the third time Florida broke the 50-point barrier this season and the Gators are averaging 53.5 points a game. Missouri dropped its first game of the season in Week 4, losing 31-24 to Mississippi State on the road. Despite the loss, the Tigers stayed in the AP poll at No. 25.
Missouri has been somewhat of a house of horrors for Florida. They haven't won in Columbia since 2019 and are 2-4 overall in Faurot Field. The Tigers hold a slight 7-6 edge in the overall series, which began when Missouri left the Big XII to join the SEC in 2012.
Jon Sumrall and Florida must avoid the letdown
The weeks after a big win have been a fairly solid stat for the Gators. They are 6-3 in games after defeating a Top 25 team since 2016. But that doesn't mean that Sumrall isn't taking every precaution to make sure that his Florida team isn't too high after surging 13 spots in the polls and winning a game in the Swamp where both teams were ranked for the first time since 2019.
"To me, it’s not just what you do, it’s how you do it. We’re not just playing football, we’re trying to look like an outfit that practices and prepares and does things with attention to detail. And that’s the thing to me," he said in his postgame press conference.
These are the kinds of games that can show a team's maturity. The Gators put a lot of energy and emotion into their win over Ole Miss. Much like the Rebels had put a ton of energy into their Week 3 win over LSU, Ole Miss looked like an emotionally tired team in the Swamp. That's something Florida has to avoid.
Missouri will also have a bit of a chip on its shoulder. The rap on the Tigers is that they can't win games against quality opponents. They are a feisty bunch that plays hard, but when faced with challenges against the top half of the league, Missouri often falls short.
Florida is now looking at a potentially special season. The Gators are ranked in the Top 10 for the first time since Oct. 2, 2020. Jadan Baugh is a legitimate Heisman contender and future matchups against Texas and Georgia will potentially decide who is involved in the discussion for the SEC Championship Game. But first things first, and Missouri is the next team up.
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