Tennessee football: Vols, SEC, top 25 predictions for Week Four of 2019
Tennessee Volunteers at No. 8 Florida Gators
Line: Florida -14; Over/Under: 49; TV: ESPN
Saturday, Sept. 21 at Noon E.T.; Ben Hill Griffin Stadium; Gainesville, Fla.
Related Story. Grading the Vols in win vs. Chattanooga. light
And here we are, the game that has tormented Tennessee football for three decades now. The rivalry is certainly not what it once was, and that’s sad for college football fans everywhere. This game should never be at noon.
More from Vols Football
- How to Win a GUARANTEED $200 Bonus Betting Just $5 on the Vols vs. Florida!
- Tennessee Football at Florida: Five Keys to a Vols Victory
- Week 3 SEC Power Rankings: Did Tennessee Football’s Win Help At All?
- Week 3 AP Polls: Why Did Tennessee Football Drop in the Polls?
- Tennessee Football: Top Five Performers in 30-13 Win vs. Austin Peay
However, after a horrible start to the season for the Vols, it has less hype this year than even in previous years this decade, which is even more depressing. Conventional wisdom says a top 10 Florida team should blow them out.
UT has improved the last two weeks despite being 1-2 and having yet to play a Power Five school or beat an FBS school. Jarrett Guarantano has struggled severely, while the interior offensive line is still developing and the defense too often gets tricked on running plays. But they are more at full strength now than they were before the season started.
Florida, meanwhile, is 3-0 and not getting the respect they deserve because they looked ugly in their two wins over Power Five schools. Who cares? They beat two Power Five schools! The dominance of their defense, in particular their pass-rush, should be lauded. However, they are banged up right now, and not just with Kyle Trask replacing Feleipe Franks at quarterback.
Prediction
Fully healthy, Florida would blow out Tennessee football. They have the pass rush to wreck a Vols offense that is slow-developing on every passing play, and they already psychologically own UT. This game being played in The Swamp only adds to that.
Next. Top five Vols performers vs. Chattanooga. dark
However, the Gators are banged up enough and have an immobile enough quarterback in Kyle Trask for Pruitt to make this a game given the fact that Daniel Bituli, Bryce Thompson and Trey Smith are back. If he can’t make this interesting as a defensive genius, then there are other concerns. Florida wins, but it’s an ugly, defensive affair.