Tennessee football: Ranking every 2020 game by difficulty

3. Dec. 5 – Florida Gators

If history is any indication, Tennessee football should always have the Florida Gators or Alabama Crimson Tide as its toughest game and the Kentucky Wildcats as its easiest game. After all, Florida has won 14 of the past 15 games. Anyway, this year, they may be renewing their rivalry in a way similar to 2001, as its the first time since then they play in December.

While the Auburn Tigers and Texas A&M Aggies fall into the winnable but likely losses category, Florida flirts between that category and a sure loss. We don’t know where the teams will stand at the end of the year, but it’s safe to say the Vols aren’t likely to be favorites in this one. However, there are a few things working in their favor.

For starters, while home field advantage is irrelevant, it gets cold in the mountains in Knoxville in December. Florida is used to playing most of its November games against Deep South SEC schools, and if they play in December, they are playing in the Georgia Dome in the SEC Championship game. So the weather could benefit the Vols in a big way.

Also, if the Gators are out of contention for the East by then, UT will be much more excited to play the game than they are. These are two big deals. Now, still, Florida is the third toughest team on the schedule. But with this being the final game for both teams, don’t count out how motivated Jeremy Pruitt’s kids might be.