Tennessee football: Week 4 Vols, SEC and Top 25 predictions

Florida Gators at Tennessee Volunteers

Saturday, Sept. 22 at 7 p.m.; Neyland Stadium; Knoxville, Tenn.

TV: ESPN; Line: Florida -4.5; Over/Under: 46.5

Billy Williford

For Tennessee fans, it doesn’t get much better than Florida week. But, let me be truthful, Florida has owned Tennessee for the past 30 years. The older I get the more I wonder why Vol fans even think this game is a rivalry.

Neither team looks good to start the season and I’m starting to think this isn’t going to be that great of a game to watch on television.

Before the year started I predicted that Tennessee would handle the Gators. And, after the first three games from both teams, I don’t see anything that would suggest otherwise. Sure, Tennessee hasn’t done anything to impress anyone but neither has Florida.

Tennessee: 20 Florida: 17 OT (Tennessee +4.5, Under 46.5)

Garrett Sanders

With Florida coming into town, you know this is a big-time game for the Vols. Someone has to give in. One has lost nine straight times to SEC opponents while the other has lost seven consecutive times. Add to the fact that both teams have new head coaches and are on rebuild mode; you got yourself a must-win game for both sides.

Rushing has been the key stat in this series in determining who wins this game. So far this season, the Vols have the advantage here. Unfortunately, talent-wise, the Gators are better. However, this game is at Neyland Stadium. I expect the Gators to come out and play hard and make this a competitive game. However, I believe Tennessee football will want this game more.

Tennessee: 20 Florida: 14 (Tennessee +4.5, Under 46.5)

Caleb Calhoun

This rivalry is certainly not what it used to be. Tennessee football will be facing the Florida Gators in a game to avoid last place in the SEC East on Saturday. However, with both teams suffering under first-year head coaches and undergoing system changes on both sides of the ball, this is still a big game just to see who can stay in position to reach a bowl game.

Each defense is suffering with the transition to the 3-4. Both teams have one FCS win and one Group of Five win while losing to their one Power Five opponent. Meanwhile, each offense is undergoing a transition. But that’s where the difference comes in. The first-year transition to a pro-style, which Tennessee football is undergoing, is easier than a first-year transition to the spread. Florida will make too many offensive mistakes, and that’ll be enough for the Vols to pull out a hideous victory.

Tennessee: 23 Florida: 21 (Tennessee +4.5; Under 46.5)