The Texas Longhorns head to Gainesville for the first time in 85 years to face the struggling Florida Gators in an SEC battle. Texas is the last team to open SEC play, while Florida looks to end a three-game losing skid and earn their first ever win over the 'Horns. Kickoff in Gainesville is at 3:30 ET on ESPN.
After a slow start, Texas QB Arch Manning is coming off his best game of the season, throwing for 309 yards and 3 TDs. He faces a Florida defense that is 51st in the nation against the rush and 55th against the pass.
Florida QB DJ Lagway hopes to turn things around after seeing his passer rating and QBR drop in each game this season.
We'll give you our Texas vs. Florida prediction and CFB picks for PrizePicks, including Manning and Lagway player picks for PrizePicks real money college football game.
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Texas vs. Florida Prediction, Preview for Week 6
Texas and Florida meet for just the fifth time in their schools' respective histories, with the Longhorns holding a 3-0-1 series advantage. Prior to connecting as conference rivals for the first time last year in Austin, the two schools haven't thrown down on the gridiron since 1940.
Texas blew out Florida in Austin last year, 49-17, with former starting QB Quinn Ewers throwing for 5 TDs. Texas vs Florida features the 103rd and the 123rd third down offenses in the country.
Texas Longhorns Preview
The Longhorns, who have advanced to the College Football Playoff semifinals in each of the last two seasons, started the season No. 1 before losing on the road to Ohio State to start the season. Since then, Texas has won three straight non-conference games, outscoring opponents 120-17.
Texas enters Week 6 with the second best defense in the country in yards allowed, holding opponents to 212.0 yards per game, second best in scoring defense (7.8 PPG), fourth in rush defense (59.8 yards per game), and ninth in pass defense (152.3 per game).
This is the SEC opener for Texas, who went 7-1 in its first SEC season last year.
Florida Gators Preview
After opening the season with a 55-0 win over Long Island, Florida lost at home on a walk-off FG to South Florida, then 20-10 at third-ranked LSU, before falling to fourth-ranked Miami 26-7 two weeks ago. Head coach Billy Napier is firmly on the hot seat, with a 20-22 career record as the head man in Gainesville. .
This is the third of four straight games against a team ranked in the top 10 for the Gators, who have sixth-ranked Texas A&M in College Station next week. Florida’s offense enters the week 131st of 136 FBS teams in scoring at 11.0 points per game. They rank 123rd in total offensive yards, 112th in rushing offense, and 98th in passing offense.
The one bright spot for the Gators has been the defense, which is lands 46th in the country in yards allowed.
Texas vs. Florida Picks – Saturday 10/4
Here are the player picks to target on PrizePicks' real money college football game and in CFB DFS, including Texas QB Arch Manning and Florida QB DJ Lagway.
Texas QB Arch Manning Projection: 217.5 Passing Yards
- QB Arch Manning has thrown for 888 yards in four games this season, ranking him 76th in the country.
- In his four games, Manning has either failed to reach 175 yards (170, 114) or hovered around 300 (295, 309).
- Manning has 1+ passing TDs in all four games with 3+ TDs twice.
- Peyton and Eli's nephew has recorded 5 of the Longhorns 7 rushing TDs this season.
Florida QB DJ Lagway Projection: 189.5 Passing Yards
- QB DJ Lagway sports a 118.3 passer rating, 126th in the country.
- In his last start, Lagway threw for 61 yards on 23 attempts, the lowest total of yards in a start with 10+ attempts in his career.
- Lagway’s 5.6 yards per attempt on the season is 136th in Division I.
- Lagway will go up against a Texas pass defense that is ninth in the nation, holding teams to 152.3 passing yards per game.
Texas WR Parker Livingstone Projection: 30.5 receiving yards
- Parker Livingstone is the Longhorns’ leading receiver with 232 yards and 58 yards per game.
- His 21.1 yards per catch ranks 12th in the country among all WRs with 10+ catches on the season.
- Livingstone is tied for the team receiving TD lead with 3 over the four games.
Make CFB Picks on PrizePicks
Texas vs. Florida pits new conference opponents for the second straight year. The Longhorns travel to Gainesville for the first time in 85 years, looking to stay in the national championship race after an early loss to Ohio State. Florida tries to end a three-game losing skid that began with a Week 2 loss to South Florida, facing its third top-10 opponent in as many games.
No matter what your take on this Saturday afternoon matchup is, you can win real money with your Texas vs. Florida predictions on PrizePicks while you watch.
Simply pick your players — from Arch Manning to DJ Lagway — predict More or Less on their projected stats, and win cash when you're right. It's that easy.
Check out the Playbook throughout the 2025 college season for more college football picks and predictions from our team of experts
