Injuries To Play Crucial Role In Arkansas vs Florida
First Meeting of Arkansas vs Florida H2H Matchup Since 2020
Florida Looks To Remain Perfect At Home With Struggling Arkansas Coming To Town
Things have unraveled pretty quickly for Arkansas this NCAAF season, and now the Razorbacks face a Florida team that is undefeated at home. Regarding the Arkansas vs Florida h2h matchups, the Gators have won eight of the last nine meetings.
Arkansas has dropped six straight games and is the only team in the SEC West Division yet to win a conference game this college football season. The last three losses by the Razorbacks have been by a combined total of 14 points, and Arkansas is 0-5 in one-score games this season.
Florida had won five of its last six NCAAF games before falling behind by 29 points in last week’s loss to No. 1 Georgia.
The NCAA lines have Florida listed as the 6-point favorite. It is the seventh straight time that the Gators are favored versus Arkansas.
Defensive back Dwight McGlothern (nine tackles, two interceptions), running back Raheim Sanders, and punter Devin Bale are all questionable for Arkansas. At the same time, tight end Luke Hasz will miss the rest of the season.
For Florida, receiver Andy Jean (six catches), tight ends Jonathan Odom (nine catches in four games), Dante Zanders, and safety Kamari Wilson are all questionable.
When looking at the upcoming NCAA football schedule, next up for Florida is a trip to face nationally-ranked LSU.
Florida was tied for eighth at +8000 in the odds to win the SEC coming into the season, with Arkansas (+10000) one of four teams tied for 10th in the conference title odds.
Arkansas vs Florida 
Date/Time: Saturday, Nov. 4, 12 noon ET
Location: Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, Gainesville, FL
TV & Live Stream: ESPN
Line: Florida -5.5 | Total: 49
Razorbacks Left To Wonder What Might Have Been
It is not out of the realm of possibility to suggest that Arkansas could be 5-0 in the SEC instead of 0-5.
After finishing second in the SEC in rushing last season, injuries have limited Raheim “Rocket” Sanders to just three games. He has rushed for just 91 yards this season after posting seven 100-yard games a season ago.
His absence has impacted the effectiveness of quarterback KJ Jefferson. Jefferson was second in the SEC in total offense and passing efficiency in 2022. He is ninth in total offense and 10th in passing efficiency this NCAAF season.
The total has gone over in 13 of the last 20 games for Arkansas. Keep that in mind when it comes to the Arkansas vs Florida h2h matchup.
Opportunity Doesn’t Knock For Florida
It is a pretty short list of teams that have forced more turnovers this season than Florida among Football Bowl Subdivision teams. As a matter of fact, Temple is the only team with fewer takeaways than the four by the Gators.
Florida has no takeaways and a -3 turnover margin in the three losses compared a +4 mark in turnover margin in the three SEC wins. When it comes to NCAA football games today, tomorrow, next week, or next month, that is increasing the degree of difficulty.
That is putting plenty of pressure on an offense that is sixth in the SEC in total offense and passing offense.
The total has gone over in four of Florida’s last five games.
Last Meeting
When looking at the Arkansas vs Florida h2h matchups, the teams haven’t met since 2020. What a game that was, as the teams combined for 1051 yards of total offense. Florida scored 28 points in the second quarter and 21 more in the fourth quarter to win 63-35.
Florida, the 17-point favorite, only led 21 points after three quarters before pulling away.
After the previous four Arkansas-Florida matchups went under the total, the 2020 game went over the 62-point total on a touchdown run by Florida quarterback Emory Jones with 3:01 left in the third quarter.
Arkansas vs Florida Betting Preview
Arkansas is just 4-4 against the spread this season, but that is still betting than Florida’s 3-5 mark.
The Razorbacks have covered in all three games this season when listed as the underdog on the road, while Florida is just 1-2 against the college football betting lines as the home favorite.
Florida has won its last five home games against Arkansas and covered in four of them.
The Gators and Razorbacks rank second and third in the SEC rankings in time of possession, so it bears watching to see which team can control the ball. An issue for the Razorbacks is an SEC-low 4.7 yards per offensive play, a drop from 6.4 yards a season ago.
Arkansas is second and Florida third among SEC in red-zone conversions. However, the teams have failed to come away with points on a total of 18 trips to the red zone so far this season. Arkansas trails only Alabama among SEC teams when it comes to the success rate for keeping teams from scoring touchdowns on drives into the red zone, with Florida ranking 12th out of 14 teams in that department.
Arkansas has covered in five of the last six road games.
Arkansas is better than its 0-5 conference record, but winning at Florida might be a little challenging this week.
For NCAAF betting news, college football scores and odds, and more, visit Point Spreads Sports Magazine.
