SEC Week 11: Arkansas vs. Florida odds, preview, and pick

Florida Gators head coach Dan Mullen. (Photo by David Rosenblum/Icon Sportswire)

November 12th, 2020

The most surprising team in the SEC will look to upset one of the conference’s best Saturday, when Arkansas and No. 6 Florida clash in the Swamp.

Can the Hogs spring an upset? Let's take a deep dive into the matchup in Gainesville.

Arkansas vs. #6 Florida

The Razorbacks, who were a projected SEC bottom-dweller, currently own a 3-3 record and rank fourth in the SEC West, after they downed Tennessee last weekend.

Led by first-year head coach Sam Pittman, a former Georgia assistant, Arkansas has found success behind a stingy pass defense, which is ranked second in the conference in yards allowed. The Hogs also top the SEC in takeaways (15), with 12 interceptions and three fumble recoveries.

Florida transfer Franks reunites with former team

Florida transfer quarterback Feleipe Franks has played a key role in Arkansas’ turnaround, as well. The senior — who started at quarterback for Florida from 2017 until his season-ending injury in 2019 — has completed 67.2% of his passes and has thrown for 1,428 yards, 14 touchdowns, and three interceptions through six games.

FELEIPE FRANKS DEEP BALL 🚀 pic.twitter.com/4g2l90qtUQ
— SEC Network (@SECNetwork) November 8, 2020

In Saturday’s matchup with Tennessee, Franks connected on all but six of his 24 passes, for 215 yards and three scores, to lead Arkansas to a 24-13 victory.

While Franks has been a standout for Arkansas, his successor at Florida, Kyle Trask, has been dangerous at the helm of the Gators offense.

Through five games, Trask has racked up 1,815 yards and 22 touchdowns on 68.7% passing, with just three interceptions.

The Heisman contender has recorded four touchdown passes in each of his last four games. In the season opener against Ole Miss, Trask threw for six.

The senior’s performance has made Florida one of the most lethal offenses in the SEC. The Gators average 369 passing yards and 42.4 points per game, both second-best in the conference, behind Alabama.

This Florida offense is cooking! pic.twitter.com/lJK6sI1OsV
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) November 7, 2020

Leading Florida receiver possibly sidelined

However, the offense may be at less than full strength Saturday if Kyle Pitts, Florida’s leading receiver, is ruled out. Pitts (414 yards, eight touchdowns) suffered a concussion against Georgia in the second quarter, when a Bulldogs defensive back laid a severe hit on the tight end.

Florida defeated No. 5 Georgia, 44-28. The Razorbacks also met Georgia back in Week 4 and were handily defeated, 37-10.

The Razorbacks will be led by defensive coordinator Barry Odom on Saturday, as Pittman has tested positive for COVID-19. Pittman is the first SEC head coach to miss a game because of a COVID-19 diagnosis, but the third to test positive. Alabama’s Nick Saban and Florida’s Dan Mullen also tested positive earlier in the year.

Arkansas has covered the spread in all six games this season. The Gators are 5-2 against the spread in their last seven at home.

Mullen’s squad has scored at least 38 points in every game this season but hasn't faced one of the SEC's top three passing defenses.

The Gators will win, but in Franks’ reunion showdown, he and the Hogs will put up enough of a fight to keep the game from getting out of hand.