Arkansas Razorbacks vs. Florida Gators Preview and Prediction
Written by Ryan Wright
Twitter: @RyanWrightRNG
If college football has taught its fans anything that is to expect the unexpected… and 2020 has kept that promise. As the oddities swirl around the game across the nation, the Arkansas Razorbacks (3-3) and No. 6 Florida Gators (4-1) forge forward giving all a heavy dose of top-notch action on Saturday in the Swamp.
The Razorbacks will head to Gainesville full of swagger riding high off a 24-13 comeback win in Week 10 against the Tennessee Volunteers. Arkansas came out cold in the first half but only needed a quarter to put away the visitors. Florida senior graduate transfer Feleipe Franks turned it on after the halftime adjustments completing 12 of 15 passes for 178 yards with three touchdowns over the final two frames.
Confidence will not be lost on the Gators. Florida laid it on SEC East rival Georgia taking down the then- No. 5 team in the nation 44-28. After Florida gave up an opening play 75-yard touchdown run to Bulldogs’ tailback Zamir White, the slugfest ensued in the first quarter but the Gators used a 24-7 run in the second quarter to put the game out of reach.
Arkansas (3-3) vs. Florida (4-1)
Kickoff: 7:00 p.m. ET
TV: ESPN
Spread: Florida -17.5; O/U 60
When Arkansas Has the Ball
The Razorbacks may not line the stat sheet with gaudy numbers, but on Saturdays they are finding ways to get the offense moving. With a new team and in a new offense, Franks has quietly moved up the SEC leader board holding down the fifth spot in passing yards (1,428) with 14 touchdowns against just three interceptions. As Franks becomes more familiar with his receivers, the completion percentage rises. Franks is among the conference leaders completing his attempts at a 67.2 rate. Offensive coordinator Kendal Briles has started using his quarterback in the run game keeping linebackers honest on passing downs. In each of the last five outings, Franks has taken three or more sacks being dropped four times against both A&M and Tennessee.
Helping keep the linebackers in the box is the two-headed approach out of the backfield with Trelon Smith and Rakeem Boyd. Smith has been the lead back early in the season with Boyd banged up rushing for 323 yards off 70 carries. Boyd has started to look more like himself over the last two combing for 165 yards off 27 totes with one score on the ground. Rounding out the key skill player positions is receiver Treylon Burks. Burks is the undisputed leader in the Hogs receiving corps with 31 receptions for 461 yards with five touchdowns. The 6-3, 232-pound, target has broken free for touchdowns in three consecutive games.
Don’t look now, but Florida’s defense is finally starting to take shape. After letting teams post 33 points an outing over the first three contests, the defense has buckled down against Missouri and Georgia dropping that average to 22.5. The Bulldogs may not have an elite quarterback in the pocket right now, but holding down UGA to 277 yards of total offense is an impressive feat.
When Florida Has the Ball
Breaking the spirit of Georgia’s entire team was Florida quarterback Kyle Trask. The senior has come up big this season throwing four or more touchdowns in each game with a season-high of six against Ole Miss. His 474 yards against the Bulldogs was a season’s best. What makes Trask so dangerous are the weapons at his disposal. Kadarius Toney, Malik Davis, and Trevon Grimes are making big-time plays when needed.
The key to the attack is tight end Kyle Pitts. Pitts secured two passes for 59 yards and a score against UGA but may miss the Arkansas game due to a concussion. If so, expect more of junior Kemore Gamble and sophomore Keon Zipperer. Gamble is fresh off a three-reception 51-yard 1-TD game and Zipperer had one catch for 39 yards.
One area where Florida has lagged is on the ground coming in ranked 96th out of 123 FBS teams in action this season. UGA held the Gators to 97 yards on the ground off 37 efforts. Tennessee got on Arkansas early in the trenches leading to 185 yards on the ground. But late in the first half the Hogs defensive line was making adjustments getting under the Volunteers’ linemen effectively shutting down the run after the break.
Final Analysis and Notes
After Hurricane Eta closed the Florida campus on Thursday, once the bad weather passes the teams will have a perfect backdrop with temperatures expected in the 80s.
The Hogs have been very effective against the pass this season tying teams down to 222 yards a game, and that includes going against teams keying on throwing the ball downfield. The Ole Miss offense may give Arkansas an idea of what to expect, but this Florida team is different ranked fifth in the country tossing for 369 per.
Arkansas will hit the field with their leader, head coach Sam Pittman, back home due to a positive COVID tests. Might this be a little spark that can help ignite a can-do Arkansas team to an upset?
Florida may take the field with at least four starters out (see list below). How this effects the game, time will tell. As long as Trask is slinging the ball around, the Gators have a chance to win any showdown.
This series has not been a fun one for Arkansas. The Hogs won their first meeting 28-24 in 1982 then dropped nine-consecutive with their inclusion into the conference spanning 1995 to 2013. Arkansas kicked the streak to the curb in 2016 topping the Gators in Fayetteville 31-10 during their last meeting.
Arkansas is on a win one, lose one streak. Florida is playing their best football of the season and must avoid a letdown game with Vanderbilt up next.
Prediction: Arkansas 24, Florida 31
Florida injuries:
DL Lucas Alonzo, DL Lamar Goods, DB Trey Dean III, DB Quincy Lenton, DB Ethan Pouncey (hip), DB Brad Stewart Jr. (shoulder), OL Stewart Reese (shoulder), and OL Ethan White
*Starters are key players in bold; some “injuries” are unspecified
Photo credit: Florida Gators; No. 11 Kyle Trask