Florida Gators

GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Florida was able to hang on to beat visiting Missouri 14-7 and finish the season with a 7-1 record in the Southeastern Conference, the Gators’ best since they went 8-0 in 2009.

It was over when: Florida S Josh Evans intercepted Missouri QB James Franklin’s fourth-down pass to WR Gahn McGaffie in the end zone with five seconds remaining. That was Franklin’s fourth interception.

Game ball goes to: Florida’s defense. The Gators’ offense is what it is at this point in the season -- an unproductive group that is struggling to run the ball consistently and has trouble throwing it -- so the defense has to carry the team. And it did against the Tigers. UF forced four turnovers, sacked Franklin four times and held the Tigers to just one touchdown.

Stat of the game: Missouri’s defense played well enough to win this game. The Tigers held Florida to just 11 first downs and allowed the Gators to convert just 2 of 13 third downs.

(Read full post)

RecruitingNation has summoned its writers from around the country to compile a list of the top 10 battles for elite football recruits leading up to February's signing day. We'll update our rankings periodically to reflect a change in a player's status (i.e., new offers, trimmed-down list or a positive/negative official visit).

Our writers have debated the list for weeks, but we value your input as well. Voice your opinion on Twitter (@RecruitingESPN) using#BlueChipBattles or vote for which player should hold the No. 1 spot on Facebook.

Join our ESPN.com college football experts as they preview Week 10.

Contribute your thoughts and questions beginning at noon ET. See you there.

Be sure to send us pictures of your tailgate celebrations @ESPNCFB. The best photos of your food, friends and family can be found in our GameDay Live chat Saturday morning. Here are our previous tailgates.

Missouri (4-4, 1-4 SEC) at No. 7 Florida (7-1, 6-1 SEC)
Saturday, noon ET
Florida Field, Gainesville, Fla.
ESPN2

Gators to watch

QB Jeff Driskel: How does Driskel respond after committing four of the Gators’ six turnovers in their 17-9 loss to Georgia last week? He admitted he held the ball too long and didn’t make quick decisions, and those are issues that are certainly correctable in one week. Driskel probably put too much pressure on himself to make plays against Georgia. He needs to just run the offense and not force things.

LB Neiron Ball: Buck LB Lerentee McCray is battling an ankle injury and my not be able to play against Missouri. If he can’t go, the Gators will turn to Ball, who had his first career interception last week. Ball has played well in his return from the bleeding in his brain that cost him the entire 2011 season (nine tackles, two fumble recoveries) and he will get a chance to play a lot against the Tigers because the Gators will be in nickel defense for most of the game.

RB Omarius Hines: Somebody has to take over for the injured Solomon Patton (broken left arm) and run the jet sweep, and Hines is one of two candidates. The other is WR Andre Debose, but the coaching staff has more trust in Hines than Debose. Hines isn’t as fast as Patton, but he’s bigger, more physical and pretty good with the ball in his hands.

Tigers to watch

QB James Franklin: Missouri coach Gary Pinkel said that Franklin would start against the Gators. Franklin has been hampered by shoulder and knee injuries all season and that has kept him from being the dynamic player he was last season (3,847 all-purpose yards). But he’s still dangerous, especially if he’s healthy. He came on in the second half of last week’s game against Kentucky and looked pretty good in turning a close game into a rout.

DT Sheldon Richardson: Richardson leads the Tigers in tackles (57) and sacks (4.0), which is highly unusual for an interior defensive lineman. What it says is that Richardson is talented enough to make tackles down the field and anywhere along the line of scrimmage, plus quick and strong enough to get to the quarterback.

(Read full post)

Michael DiRocco and Jeff Barlis break down the keys to the Gators rebounding after their first loss. Florida hosts Missouri Saturday on ESPN2.

If Missouri quarterback James Franklin has a good sense of humor, he'll dress as a mummy for Halloween.

He really has been the walking wounded this year, after sustaining a shoulder injury this spring that required surgery, suffering another shoulder injury on a hit from Jarvis Jones in the Georgia game, and spraining his knee against Vandy.

Franklin has missed two games this season, but coach Gary Pinkel said Franklin is doing much better with his knee and is still set to start against No. 7 Florida Saturday.

"He's doing better now. He's got more confidence," Pinkel said.

It helps that Franklin's shoulder has healed. He was having trouble throwing due to an inflamed bura sac. Pinkel also said that Franklin resumed running the Sunday before the Kentucky game, so he should be back up to speed when he steps into the Swamp Saturday.

The thing that has really held Franklin back this season is the lack of practice time. He missed just about all of spring with his shoulder injury, and has been limited during the fall at times. It's been tough for him to find any sort of rhythm since the Georgia game, but Pinkel has been very impressed with the fight he's seen from his starting quarterback.

"He's a battler," Pinkel said.

"He's just been through a lot personally and from an injury standpoint for a guy that didn't miss a down the year before.

"It'll be nice to get him back and competing."

The hope is that Missouri can find some sort of continuity on offense with Franklin under center. The Tigers will have a tough assignment trying to make plays against Florida's smothering defense.

With two weeks remaining before early signing period, there are 23 ESPN 100-caliber basketball prospects still uncommitted for 2013. Here is RecruitingNation's ongoing list of schools still in the running to land these stars.

Read Dave Telep's story here .

The Gators' offense ranks No. 114 in passing yards per game. Michael DiRocco and Jeff Barlis discuss points of improvement for Florida heading into its final regular-season games.