After a weekend off, SEC rivals are back in action. Yes, on Saturday, No. 9 Texas hits the road to take on an unranked Florida squad in Week 6. These teams rarely clash: just four meetings all-time. Last season’s game was their first since 1940, and the Longhorns crushed the Gators 49-17, improving to 3-1 in the series. This season, Texas has one loss so far, a season-opening stumble against OSU. QB Arch Manning has struggled to hit his stride. But the Longhorns’ defense has been stellar, ranking 2nd in FBS and allowing just 7.8 PPG. Meanwhile, Florida is reeling. The Gators sit at 1-3. Now, they’ll face a ranked team for the third straight game. So, can they finally snap their losing streak? Here comes the latest availability report.

Inside Texas dropped the latest SEC availability report on Thursday, detailing who’ll be sidelined for Texas vs. Florida. The Gators will be shorthanded. Key players sitting out include RB Treyaun Webb (#5) and RB Ja Kobi Jackson (#24). On top of that, defense takes a hit too, with EDGE LJ McCray (#11), DB Aaron Gates (#13), DB Dijon Johnson (#27), DL Caleb Banks (#88), and DL Joseph Mbatchou (#97) all listed as out. So, Florida will need depth and grit to survive against the Longhorns. But is Texas coming in fully healthy?

ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported key updates from the SEC Availability Report. WR Emmett Mosley V and RB Quintrevion Wisner are both listed as probable for Saturday’s game. More importantly, Mosley, a 6’2, 210-pound Stanford transfer, is set to make his Texas debut. After taking part in Thursday’s practice, Mosley looks closer to full game action. His presence could lift a Texas receiving corps that hasn’t quite clicked yet this season. “I don’t really know. I don’t really want to say anything about him. He’s a good player, though, so I don’t want to give anything away,” stated Manning on Monday.

The Longhorns also get a boost in the secondary. DBs Kobe Black (#6) and Xavier Filsaime (#17) are listed as probable. That should help tighten up a defense that’s been carrying the team. But while Texas looks healthier and Mosley’s debut adds intrigue, there’s a catch. RB CJ Baxter (#4) is doubtful, and DB Malik Muhammad (#5) is questionable. So, depth could be tested, and the Longhorns will need all hands on deck against Florida. Because both teams face challenges at QB and on the O-line. But who do the experts pick as the favorite?

Florida vs. Texas: Predicted scoreline

The books are leaning toward the Longhorns as they open SEC play, but it’s far from a blowout. Texas is a 6.5-point favorite against Florida, according to FanDuel Sportsbook. And the total for the game sits at 41.5 points, hinting at a low-scoring affair. But the moneyline odds also favor Texas.

The Longhorns are -260 to win outright, while Florida sits at +215. Then spread bets show Texas at -6.5 and Florida at +6.5. So, fans should expect a competitive clash despite the Longhorns’ edge. The implied score points to a narrow road victory.

Taking the spread and total into account, Texas is projected to edge Florida 24-17. So, look for a hard-fought SEC opener with Texas holding off the Gators in a close one. But ultimately these are all just numbers based predictions, the actual result will need to be fought for by the players on the gridiron.