All for Tennessee
Fansided

Tennessee football: Game by game predictions for 2021 season

By Caleb Calhoun

Sep 22, 2018; Knoxville, TN, USA; Checkerboard end zone at Neyland Stadium before a game between the Tennessee Volunteers and Florida Gators. Mandatory Credit: Bryan Lynn-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 22, 2018; Knoxville, TN, USA; Checkerboard end zone at Neyland Stadium before a game between the Tennessee Volunteers and Florida Gators. Mandatory Credit: Bryan Lynn-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
4 of 13
Next
NASHVILLE, TN – OCTOBER 13: Mascots Albert and Alberta of the Florida Gators pose for a photo on the sideline during a game against the Vanderbilt Commodores at Vanderbilt Stadium on October 13, 2018 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TN – OCTOBER 13: Mascots Albert and Alberta of the Florida Gators pose for a photo on the sideline during a game against the Vanderbilt Commodores at Vanderbilt Stadium on October 13, 2018 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images) /

17. 839. 41. 840. Prediction

Saturday, Sept. 25; Ben Hill Griffin Stadium; Gainesville, Fla.

Josh Heupel is no stranger to SEC play, but Tennessee football’s first SEC game under him is not an ideal one. The Vols have to take on a Florida Gators team that is still rolling under Dan Mullen. This is bad timing for his offense, as it will still be learning the system but is going up against an elite defense led by Todd Grantham.

One bit of good news for the Vols is that Mullen will still be working on his offense at this time as well, as he has to replace Kyle Trask and Kyle Pitts. It won’t matter, though. The Vols will still lose in a blowout, and this will be a standard blowout that isn’t as high-scoring as you think.

Mullen will move the ball but not focus on tempo, allowing him to control the clock. That’s why Florida, despite being one of UT’s three powerhouse foes this year and despite UT’s defense being historically bad, won’t break 50. They’ll barely break 40.

In the process, the Vols’ losing streak to Florida will depressingly go to five games and 16 out of 17 games. Maybe in the future Heupel will be able to make them competitive again, but that won’t happen this early in the season when the two teams face off in The Swamp.

2-2 (0-1)

Home/Vols Football