Key Matchups the Florida Gators Must Win to Defeat Missouri

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Montrell Johnson Jr. ; Credit: Alex ShepherdOld Sun Belt rivalswill meet once againon Saturday, under vastly different circumstances, this time around when Billy Napier Florida Gators host Eliah Drinkwitz Missouri Tigers in Gainesville, possesses an 0-2 record against Drinkwitz during their young head coaching careers, both losses stemming from the latter lone campaign at Appalachian State in 2019 while the former was in year two of four at , Napier is amid his first season in charge of the Florida Gators, while Drinkwitz is in his third season as Missouri head coach and hopeful that the Tigers are about to turn the corner following a near-upset against the No. 1 Georgia Bulldogs a week order for Napier to put a 1 in the win column against Drinkwitz, and for Florida to avenge its loss to Missouri in 2021 that sealed the Dan Mullen era of Gators football, UF will need to win the three key matchups against the Tigers broken down rushing offense vs. Missouri rushing defenseThe consistent strength of Florida offense has been its rushing attack this year. UF has only averaged less than 5. 4 yards per carry in a game once 3. 7 against Tennessee, still scoring three touchdowns on the ground that week and running backs Montrell Johnson Jr Trey Weary Jersey. , NayQuan Wright and Trevor Etienne as well as quarterback Anthony Richardson have found the endzone a combined 13 rushing defense has greatly improved from a year ago, however, and UF averaged an abysmal 2. 4 yards per carry on 38 attempts against the Tigers last Gators linebacker TyRon Hopper. who well discuss more in-depth later, edge rusher Isaiah McGuire, defensive lineman Realus George Jr. and safety Martez Manuel lead a unit that ranks No. 7 in the SEC in rush yards per gameand No https://www.volunteersstore.com/Star_Thomas_Jersey. 5 in yards per rush allowed. The Tigers ranked No. 14 and No. 13in the SEC in these categories, respectively, in handled operating a one-dimensional, passing offense well enough to nearly upset Tennessee on the road in Week 4, and perhaps he could do so again if the Tigers take away Florida ability to run the ball. Missouri passing defense ranks No. 10 in the SEC for allowing 216. 6 yards per game and has struggled to generate pressure outside of Hopper and McGuire being said, we believe if UF can impose its will on the ground, it can ultimately run away with the game. Outside of the Volunteers, the Tigers pose the biggest test to Florida rushing offense to date this season, but the unit has proven capable of winning tough matchups so TEs and OL vs. LB TyRon HopperThe heart of the Tigers defense, Hopper is a player that the Gators arequite familiar with Ayden Bussell Jersey. His offseason transfer from Florida to Missouri was viewed as one of UF most impactful losses to the portal at the time and the theory has been validated over the first five weeks of the his move, Hopper has emerged as one of the most versatile and productive linebackers in the SEC this year, if not the to Pro Football Focus, he leads the Tigers in quarterback pressures with 13and run-defensestopsplays that constitute a failure for the offensewith 12. He ranks third in the conference in tackles for loss with 7. 5 and has added an interception and three pass breakups in coverage.