Missouri throttles No. 11 Florida in the Swamp

It’s game time in Gainesville.

Missouri faces No. 11 Florida, and the Tigers have plenty of questions to answer — most pressingly, will they rebound after the most crushing lost of the Barry Odom era?

Is it time for a rebirth in the flames, or will the season start to circle the drain?

We’ll find out beginning at 3 p.m. CT. Find all the game information below, and follow along with live updates during the Missouri-Florida game.

Missouri-Florida football: Score updates, live analysis, stats

FINAL: Missouri 38, Florida 17

A redemption win for Drew Lock and Barry Odom, as Missouri throttled Florida in every way in the Swamp. What a huge moment for this program under Odom — for as critical as I’ve been, this is the performance we’ve been waiting for.

9:09 4Q: Missouri 38, Florida 17

Solid answer by Missouri, chewing the clock before settling for a 40-yard FG by Tucker McCann. A three touchdown lead with nine minutes to go.

0:20 3Q: Missouri 35, Florida 17

Missouri scored two touchdowns, both on Drew Lock passes, to extend its lead to 35-10. Florida made a QB trade and Kyle Trask drove Florida down the field to score on fourth-and-goal, ending a 13-play drive, to cut the lead to 35-17.

Missouri needs to have some ball control in the fourth quarter to ensure the win.

HALFTIME: Missouri 21, Florida 10

Missouri went three-and-out on its final drive after Florida’s first touchdown score; the third-down pass was low to an open Jonathon Johnson. Florida will start the second half with the ball.

1:42 2Q Missouri 21, Florida 10: Missouri came within a shoe-string of holding Florida to another punt; instead, Jordan Scarlett broke free, setting up a touchdown drive ending with Franks running it in himself. Florida gets the ball at halftime; Missouri would be behooved to score some points here.

6:06 2Q Missouri 21, Florida 3: Oh my my my. Missouri’s offensive game plan in this half is working fantastically, and Crockett scored a four-yard TD on a speed-option play. Missouri’s setting up Florida with short, quick passes, finding success on the ground and then going deep when applicable, including a 41-yard catch by Hall.

INJURY UPDATE: Albert Okwuegbunam has gone to the locker room with an apparent arm/shoulder injury after an attempted block on CeCe Jefferson.

13:12 2Q Missouri 14, Florida 3: Missouri’s got its groove back. A quick three-and-out by Florida gave Missouri the ball back with good field position, and on 3rd-and-7, Lock found Albert Okwuegbunam for a wide-open 22 yard TD.

Something to watch — RB Tyler Badie came limping off the field after a nice gain on the first play of that drive.

15:00 2Q Missouri 7, Florida 3: Some promising moments early on Missouri’s drive, including a 31-yard run by Crockett, but it peters out and Missouri has to punt in lieu of a 57-yard field goal.

3:46 1Q Missouri 7, Florida 3: Missouri found its quick passing game on that drive, converting on a few third downs before Rountree broke one for a TD from 27 yards out. That was the most impressive drive for Missouri against a good opponent in some time; finally, they’re looking at the quick game instead of going long all the time.

7:18 1Q Florida 3, Missouri 0: After trading punts on the first three series, Florida used some good field position after a bad punt and a penalty to get quickly into the red zone. However, Missouri’s defense held the Gators to a field goal, which bounced in off the right upright.

11:28 1Q: Missouri picked up a first down on its first drive, but the drive stalled and the Tigers punted. Lock tried Hall deep but the throw was off-target and there wasn’t much separation anyway.

Pre-game: Emanuel Hall is dressed out and will play; Kendall Blanton did not travel, nor did DT Rashad Brandon.

Getting Hall back would be a huge boon for Drew Lock and this offense, as it just hasn’t been the same without their best receiver (and maybe best overall player).

Missouri-Florida football: Game information

Time: 3 p.m. CT

Date: Saturday, Nov. 3, 2018

Location: Ben Hill Griffin Stadium; Gainesville, Fla.

TV: SEC Network

Online: WatchESPN (with subscription)

Missouri-Florida football: Betting odds, preview, predictions

As of Friday night, Missouri is either a 6 or 6 1⁄2 point underdog against Florida with an over/under of 57 1⁄2 points.

Missouri-Florida preview, predictions

Pete Scantlebury: Well, I just don’t see an upset in this one. I’m picking the Gators, 24-13, in an ugly, boring game 2015-type game. If Missouri pulls the upset? I’ll go with Acy as the key. He’s Missouri’s most talented player in the secondary and they’re in desperate need of a pick-six.

Jack Parodi: Florida 20, Missouri 13. The Gators’ offense isn’t anything special and relies heavily on the run, much like Kentucky’s. For that reason, I think Missouri’s defense will play a nice, stout game up front and force quarterback Feleipe Franks (98th in FBS in completion percentage) to beat the Tigers with his arm. It’ll be a chippy defensive game throughout, and Florida’s far-superior defense will prove to be too much in The Swamp. A one-touchdown victory for the Gators will put Missouri at 0-5 in the SEC and below .500 for the first time this season.

AlaTiger: Mizzou in a tight one, 21-17.