Tennessee football: Game-by-game predictions for Vols 2019 season
Game Four
Tennessee Volunteers at Florida Gators
Saturday, Sept. 21; Ben Hill Griffin Stadium; Gainesville, Fla.
If Tennessee football makes it to 3-0, this game could become an epic matchup once again, like it’s a trip back to the 1990s. Well, we have the Vols doing that, so it will depend on whether or not the Florida Gators can beat the Miami Hurricanes and Kentucky Wildcats to get to 3-0 themselves.
Florida is going to be elite this year. Coming off a 10-3 season, Dan Mullen’s offense, true to the Urban Meyer system, is famous for taking off its second year. That won’t change, and the Gators have another advantage with their dominance over the Vols, including a 26-point win last year, while playing this game in The Swamp.
Should UT take care of business early on, though, they may have just the momentum they need in this game, especially if Florida gets beat up with their early schedule. Add in the fact that last year, Jeremy Pruitt did a solid job on Mullen’s offense. It was just the six turnovers and the safety that gave Florida the win.
With a much better offensive line and more experience overall this year, along with a new offensive coordinator, that should be completely different, even with the Vols playing in Gainesville. Whether or not it matters, though, is a different story.
Prediction
It doesn’t matter if the Vols are a much better team. Florida is a much better team too, and they have this game at home. Being more tested early on will give them another advantage, especially if they get through it undefeated. At some point, Pruitt will want to get UT on Florida’s level. That won’t be this year.
Florida: 38 Tennessee: 20