Missouri @ Florida preview

One loss does not necessarily torpedo a team's national championship aspirations, particularly when playing in the SEC (see: Alabama, 2011), but Florida is facing a major uphill climb to get back into title contention in the wake of last week's loss to Georgia. The defeat dropped the Gators from second to No. 7 in the BCS standings and they no longer control their own destiny in the SEC East as they prepare to host struggling Missouri on Saturday. The Tigers have had a rough indoctrination to the rough-and-tumble SEC following their move from the Big 12, finally picking up their first conference win by beating Kentucky last week.

TV: Noon p.m. ET, ESPN2. LINE: Florida -22.5

ABOUT MISSOURI (4-4, 1-4 SEC): The Tigers' struggling offense should get a boost with the return of starting quarterback James Franklin, who came on in relief of Corbin Berkstresser in the third quarter of last week's game. Franklin had been sidelined since spraining a medial collateral ligament in his left knee in a home loss to Vanderbilt on Oct. 6. He completed only six passes for 16 yards against Kentucky, but he is expected to be close to 100 percent for the Gators. Franklin threw for 2,865 yards and 21 TDs while rushing for 981 yards and 15 scores last season. With the QB situation unsettled much of the season, RB Kendial Lawrence has been the focal point of the offense. He ran for 108 yards and two TDs last week.

ABOUT NO. 8 FLORIDA (7-1, 6-1 SEC): The Gators squandered a chance to clinch the SEC East title in last week's defeat to Georgia, which can wrap up the division by winning its final two league games. Quarterback Jeff Driskel had his worst game of the season, committing four of Florida's six turnovers with two fumbles and two interceptions after being picked off only once in his first seven games. The running game also continued to struggle. Mike Gillislee rushed for seven touchdowns and had three 100-yard games in the first five, but he has been kept out of the end zone and limited to 67, 37 and 77 yards in his last three contests. Florida's defense withstood the myriad turnovers to limit Georgia to 273 total yards.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Missouri has not fared well against ranked SEC foes this season, getting outscored 114-40 in losses to Georgia, Alabama and South Carolina.

2. Florida had a turnover margin of plus-11 prior to last week's mistake-filled loss, while Missouri has forced a turnover in 26 consecutive games.

3. The teams have met only once, with Missouri squeezing out a 20-18 victory over the Gators in the 1966 Sugar Bowl.

PREDICTION: Florida 27, Missouri 13