Tennessee football at Florida: Betting odds and prediction for NCAA Week 4 Saturday game
Saturday night will mark the return of what was once a great rivalry. Tennessee football travels to Gainesville, Fla. to take on the Florida Gators in its first road game of 2021. It’s a battle of 2-1 teams, both of whom are 0-1 against the one Power Five foe they have faced this year and will be opening their SEC season.
The Vols come into this game having beaten the Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles 56-0 and two weeks removed from a 41-34 loss to the Pittsburgh Panthers. Florida, meanwhile, comes into on the heels of a heartbreaking 31-29 loss to the Alabama Crimson Tide.
Under first-year head coach Josh Heupel, Tennessee football will be looking to break a four-year losing streak to UF in The Swamp. Florida, meanwhile, is still ranked No. 11 in both polls and controls its own destiny for everything it wants to accomplish.
Tennessee Volunteers at Florida Gators Week 4 Odds
On the WynnBET Week 4 betting odds, Florida is a 20-point favorite in this game. The over/under is set at 63, and the moneyline is set at Florida -1200 and the Vols +750. This line is based on UF having won 15 of 16 in the series, the last three games being by double digits, two of the last three by at least 26 points and Dan Mullen being 8-0 against UT as a coordinator or head coach.
Tennessee Volunteers at Florida Gators prediction
Look, given the history of the series, where this game is being played and where the programs are at right now, it makes sense to trust Florida to cover this spread. They’re certainly going to walk away with a victory.
However, 20 points is just too high. The Gators have not covered a spread higher than 16 points against UT ever since Peyton Manning left. Sure, they’ve won games by more than that, but the spread was usually closer.
We all remember the infamous 18-point spread in 2001, in which the Vols won as underdogs. Well, even since then, there was 2009. UT was coming off a loss to the unranked UCLA Bruins at home, Florida was No. 1 and favored by over 25 in the game, but they only won by 10. Heck, last year, they were favored by 18 and only won by 12.
Add in the fact that Florida’s first two wins over Group of Five programs were by 21 and 22 points, and it’s just too risky to think they’ll cover this spread, even if they are the better team. History nor this year are on their side.
dark. Next. Vols' stock report following Week 4 win vs. Tennessee Tech
Take the Gators to win a fifth straight and continue their dominance in the series, but take Tennessee football to cover. Avoid the moneyline, though as -1200 is just too much. Florida’s defensive issues at times and Heupel’s offense suggest this game will hit the over. So go Tennessee +20; Over 63. The score will look something like this: Florida 45 Tennessee 30.