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Tennessee football at Florida: 10 keys to the game

By Caleb Calhoun

Nov 3, 2018; Gainesville, FL, USA; A general view of Ben Hill Griffin Stadium during the second half between the Florida Gators and Missouri Tigers . Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 3, 2018; Gainesville, FL, USA; A general view of Ben Hill Griffin Stadium during the second half between the Florida Gators and Missouri Tigers . Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /
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Tennessee Head Coach Josh Heupel during a game at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn. on Thursday, Sept. 2, 2021.Kns Tennessee Bowling Green Football
Tennessee Head Coach Josh Heupel during a game at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn. on Thursday, Sept. 2, 2021.Kns Tennessee Bowling Green Football /

It’s Florida week once again. Tennessee football heads into Gainesville, Fla. this Saturday with the same record as the Florida Gators, and both teams’ only loss was to a Power Five program. Neither has beaten a Power Five program yet. On paper, that would suggest that the Vols have a chance if you look at nothing else.

Of course, when you take into account even the quality of each team’s two wins against lesser opponents, the overall schedule strength and margin of victory, and just what we know about their opponents, Florida has had a way harder schedule. Then there’s the history.

UF has won 15 of the last 16 games in this series, including four straight and three straight by double digits. Simply put, there’s a reason they are a three-score favorite. Does Tennessee football have any chance in this one? Well, let’s see how it could happen and how the Gators could put it away early. These are our 10 keys to the game between Rocky Top and Florida.

10. Morale vs. confidence vs. motivation

Last week’s 31-29 loss to the Alabama Crimson Tide would seem heartbreaking for the Gators. However, it should rejuvenate them. The loss didn’t cost them anything in terms of their goals, and they proved they could hang with the No. 1 team in the country.

On the other side, the Vols gained some confidence back with a shutout win over the Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles, but knowing that the Pittsburgh Panthers, who beat them in Week 2, lost to the Western Michigan Broncos, they have a lot to be embarrassed about. Does that loss kill their confidence, and how does that confidence compare with Florida’s morale?

Of course, then there is Florida’s motivation. They aren’t going to get excited to play Tennessee football the way they used to get. As a result, the mentality of this game could go in any direction. If Florida has low morale leading to lack of motivation and is overconfident, and if UT has regrouped mentally after that Pitt game, this could get interesting.

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