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Tennessee football vs. Florida: 10 keys to the game

By Caleb Calhoun

Jan 2, 2020; Jacksonville, Florida, USA; Tennessee Volunteers head coach Jeremy Pruitt watches his team stretch out before the game against the Indiana Hoosiers in the 2020 Taxslayer Gator Bowl at TIAA Bank Field. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 2, 2020; Jacksonville, Florida, USA; Tennessee Volunteers head coach Jeremy Pruitt watches his team stretch out before the game against the Indiana Hoosiers in the 2020 Taxslayer Gator Bowl at TIAA Bank Field. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 21, 2020; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Florida Gators quarterback Kyle Trask (11) warms up before the game against the Vanderbilt Commodores at Vanderbilt Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 21, 2020; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Florida Gators quarterback Kyle Trask (11) warms up before the game against the Vanderbilt Commodores at Vanderbilt Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports /

1. Will Vols slow down Florida’s passing attack at all?

And here we come to the most obvious reason for belief that the Florida Gators will win in a blowout. Tennessee football’s horrendous secondary against a Heisman Trophy candidate could be disastrous to watch.

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Behind Kyle Trask, the Florida Gators are first in the SEC in passing with 369.6 yards per game. They have 36 passing touchdowns, and nobody else has more than 25. These guys have been dominant all year, and if they are ever threatened or locked in a shootout, Trask has no problem taking over and dominating.

Meanwhile, the Vols have been horrible defending the pass. They allowed the Kentucky Wildcats, who don’t throw at all, to move on their secondary in the second half. Collin Hill looked elite throwing for the South Carolina Gamecocks against them early this year. A busted coverage against the Auburn Tigers erased their momentum with a 10-0 lead.

What really stood out, though, was how they played against the Arkansas Razorbacks. They allowed four straight scoring drives to open the second half all because they couldn’t defend anybody.

To make matters worse, Florida’s top receivers are a speedster in Kadarius Toney and a tight end in Kyle Pitts. UT has more trouble with those guys than wideouts, evidenced by them allowing Shi Smith to go for 140 yards and a touchdown against them in the opener.

Next. Five previous seasons Vols played Florida in December. dark

Trask is locked in a Heisman battle with Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Mac Jones, who had 387 yards against Tennessee football. Can he top that? Dominating the UT secondary is a way to boost your postseason credentials. If the Vols can contain him in any way, it’ll be a success. There’s no reason to believe they can.

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