Fearless Prediction: Tennessee vs. Florida
The Fearless Prediction did not expect to be licking our wounds after an unexpected error picking the Tennessee/Arkansas game. But the road to glory is not always linear. It’s time to get back on the winning side of the ledger.
Hopefully we get an easy game to pick this week.
(Looks at Vols schedule)
%&$#@!
Florida. Of course it is Florida. The Fearless Prediction has had its issues when it comes to figuring out the Tennessee/Florida game. But not as bad as the Vols trying to crack that code. How many times over the years has Tennessee gone into this game confident, yet left the field bloodied with a bruised ego and battered psyche?
Ever since James Wilhoit’s redemption kick to beat the Gators in 2004, the Vols have struggled mightily against Florida.
(Takes deep breath) …
There was the botched fake punt in 2005, the phantom personal foul in 2006, Cam Newton steam rolling Dennis Rogan in garbage time in 2007, the 2009 game remembered for Lane Kiffin saying the Vols would “sing Rocky Top all night long,” the 2014 loss in which Florida coach Will Muschamp gave an nWo style postgame taunt to Vols, the 2015 “4th-and-14,” the 63-yard bomb at the end of the 2017 game, and even last year’s loss in which Tennessee played one of its worst games of the Josh Heupel era.
The Fearless Prediction could go into more agonizing detail, but the point is that this game is typically a painful experience for UT. Starting in 2005, the Vols are a woeful 2-17 against Florida.
Yes, the Urban Meyer era teams with Tim Tebow were more talented than the Vols squads that Phillip Fulmer/Lane/Derek Dooley were rolling out, but quite often, UT has been on a level playing field with Florida or was better on paper.
But these games aren’t played on paper.
Heck, even Tennessee’s 38-28 win in 2016 took an improbable 2nd-half rally by the Vols, highlighted by Jauan Jennings’s juggling sideline catch, and UT’s 38-33 victory in 2022 needed to withstand a Florida Hail Mary attempt on the last play of the game.
For whatever reason, Tennessee never plays well against the Gators.
And following their upset loss at Arkansas, there is uncertainty in Big Orange Country. Even though the Vols are favored by 14.5 points, via FanDuel Sportsbook.
That was an unacceptable performance in Fayetteville, and yet another inexplicable road loss. Under Heupel, there have been 1 or 2 major stumbles while away from Neyland Stadium each season.
The good news for the Vols is that this game will be played in Knoxville. Neyland Stadium is once again one of the most intimidating places to play in college football, especially at night. The home crowd will help make life difficult for Gators QBs Graham Mertz and DJ Lagway. Tennessee is ranked 2nd in the nation in total defense, and that unit has only allowed opponents into the end zone 4 times this season.
But what in the name of Jim Bob Cooter is going on with the Tennessee offense?
Heupel slowed things down in the 2nd half of the Oklahoma game, and the Vols never really got on track against Arkansas. The Heisman Trophy for Vols QB Nico Iamaleava probably doesn’t need to be awarded just yet. He has looked more and more like a redshirt freshman these past 2 games, not nearly as assertive as the competition has gotten tougher.
Florida is giving up nearly 400 yards of offense per game, leaving them ranked 95th nationally in total defense. That potentially could help the Volunteers get their fast spaced groove back. In addition, the Vols are 5th in the nation in rushing offense, while the Gators are ranked 101st in rushing defense. Expect Tennessee’s Dylan Sampson to have another big outing.
Florida coach Billy Napier is still on the hot seat, but the Gators might not be as bad as we expected. They are now 3-2 after wins over Mississippi State and Central Florida.
Tennessee started 4-0, but after that Arkansas loss they might not be as good we thought.
That all said, and even with nearly 2 decades of shaky history, the Vols aren’t going to let the Gators walk out of Neyland Stadium with a win on Saturday night. This is a moment for Heupel and Co. to steady the ship.
Fearless Prediction time …
Tennessee 31, Florida 20
That prediction seems about right .. i have Vols to win 28 to 17. Florida will play hard but I feel Tennessee is just better at the time and also has the home crowd to put it over . Crazy things have happened in the last 20 years and Florida winning would not be a shock ( I just can’t pull the trigger to pick them) .
I think it will be a tight game. I think the location of the game could make the difference in this one. I will say it’s a one score game where the teams trade the lead multiple times. I’d be shocked if TN won by more than 10.
Mark Nagl is a puss y. VOLS by fiddy.
Another well thought out classy sassy secxyy SDS commentary, volchoochootrain…you are the goat!
girl i mean this sincerely. you are continuing to show your ignorance and lack of maturity .
If the Gator defense “plays hard,” stays in their gaps and tackles with conviction, this game can be close. If, on the other hand, Napier’s creampuff defense of the Miami and TA&M games shows up, it could get truly ugly in a hurry for the Gators. Heupel will have no mercy.
Which Gator defense shows up Saturday night is anyone’s guess. I wouldn’t bet against Napier’s creampuffs working on another “life lesson.”
TN is thinking about the next 2 weeks. Two of their biggest rivals at home back to back. Win this week, go into next week with some momentum and play a full 60 minutes. Lose this week, they will probably lose next week as well.
Stop TN from running the ball and you’ll keep it close.
Stopping the Vol running game was how the Gators won last year. However, this Gator D hadn’t shown they could stop anybody’s running game until last week, but Tennessee is NOT UCF and that checkerboard square in Knoxville is certainly NOT the Swamp.
So, we’ll see.
If Heupel keeps up with the boneheaded play calling like up the gut on 3rd and 7, it’s gonna be a long night. We need to work more pitches and sweeps into our run game. All Arkansas had to do was jam the middle gaps and they stopped the run.
The Vols always find a way to lose to the Gators. It is in their DNA and is as constant as the North Star. Better call your recruits now.
How many Georgia players have been arrested today? Nothing but a bunch of thugs in Athens. It’s in their DNA.
Kinda like GA against Bammer…lol
Actually, the similarities are remarkable.
It is true. Of course Bama has been a pretty good team over that stretch, unlike the Gators. And we did get that one big win.
Vols?
The Dawgs have been pretty good too. Everything’s relative.
Gators?
And Bama has somehow managed to own the Vols worse over that stretch. Crazy. Like that Arkansas deal. And SC. You know I think it is fair to ask, what with your out of bounds scurrying 8 million dollar QB if not now for Hype-L, when?
Imagine being so pathetic and mentally owned by a team that has been mediocre at best over 2 decades that you decide every morning when you wake up to not only gobble on our cocks but you manage to get our balls in your mouth too. You can’t get enough of us kirkm.
Rent free.
Did you enjoy TN winning a Baseball championship earlier this year? Did that make your lady bits tingle?
Georgia has had to bury more people than they’ve won championships in the last 5 years.
Vols??
Did I do that right?
Congrats on finall catching up to Georgia on the baseball front. I know our CWS title is on in years, but it isnt much older than your football title so I guess it equals out. You seem agitated. Do those losses in games you have already counted as wins agitate you lol?
The Vols LOL…they just aren’t very good
Oh wow…It is the same. 2 wins since 2007. Of course Bama has been the best team in football for most of that time and after 08 the Gators have mostly been a train wreck so is it really the same?
While the UT-UF game has always been intense, the Gators have had UT’s number more often than not, even when UT is favored. Nico is young, and early success has set expectations too high. He is gaining experience and should play better every week. I think UT comes out angry for letting one get past them and win. I don’t think they cover, but do win.
All Nico has to do to win this game is hand the ball off, or keep it and run it himself. He should be up to speed with all the Ward and Reed film he’s reviewed this week.
It’s entirely up to the Gator defense to change their creampuff play narrative. They do have it in them, as demonstrated in this game last year. I have little faith in Napier’s staff bringing it out of them in such a hostile environment.
The only thing I can say about this game is that Napier is in the hot seat
For a good reason.
8-4
Opens the door…
Billy will be around for one more!
Who doesn’t love to see a one legged man winning an arse kickn contest every once in a while? All aboard the humpy hype train…
The anti gaga hath spoken
Honestly if he goes 8-4 he probably deserves another year
First things first: The Gators are more talented on paper (247 Team Talent Composite), and their two losses don’t look as bad in 20-20 hindsight, even if some of the individual performances in those losses still do.
It is a home night game for Tennessee, but the Gators are older and more experienced this year, so I’m not sure that plays a huge role. May be worth a couple false start penalties.
Nico’s final play against Arkansas reminds me of Gator QB David Bowden throwing the ball out of bounds to kill the clock… on fourth down, at the end of the game, against Ole Miss in 1973.
It all comes down to the lines of scrimmage. Are the Gators actually getting better, or was last Saturday night just a one-off? If there is actually a trend of improvement, then yes, the Gators can win.
Billy apparently discovered during the bye week that how physically you practice determines how physically you play, so I suppose there’s hope.
Should be an interesting game.
“Billy apparently discovered during the bye week that how physically you practice determines how physically you play…”
It scares me to think that statement might be true. Where was Billy when Saban’s Tide practiced during the years he was in T-Town? All Tide players bragged about how much harder practices were than actual games.
I for one do not want us to lose another game. However, if we beat the Vols we are 4-2. This still won’t save CBN. The pups are the standard and that will be the measurement of where this team and coaching staff are currently.
The pups ridiculous rash of off field antics and distractions are starting to show up in the product on the field this year, I’m afraid. Still a very solid team but the standard is certainly taking a hit, we’re either not as good as the media and hypetrain claim, or not as focused. But you are right about one thing, the WLOCP is UFs benchmark game every year. This year is no different. I think the G8rs give us all we can handle.
Humpy, unfortunately Kirby took the Meyer path. Recruit the pure dogs and sprinkle some Tebowesque on top for the media and die hard win at all cost boosters.
It always ends bad because the culture falls apart and becomes a NFL launching pad. Maybe he can pull the portal and NIL can slow the matriculation from Juniors but that’s what killed Meyer.
someone needs to wake up Nico before the game – 158 passing yards
Gators will do the same that Arky did last week – control the clock – Arky had the ball for 36 mins to 24 for the Vols
Mark Nagl is a puss y. VOLS by fiddy.
Another well thought out classy sassy secxyy SDS commentary, volchoochootrain…hey wait a minute, didn’t you already use this one?
I did use it, you caught me! I can’t really think for myself so i have to keep using stuff I’ve already said. I did it this time to say we gonna lose by fiddy. We just aren’t very good and our recruits can see that. We will never be Bama or UGA!
Whichever coach loses this game should be fired at the end of the season. Maybe even at the conclusion of the game.
i know you’re not speaking for everyone, but that’s a drastically changed opinion as to where vol nation collectively stood with heupel just 7 days ago.
The Lord built the whole world in six days. That was a lot of change too!
Where’s gaga when we need him? He may be able to explain that drastic line of thinking.
this is one of the best, most unique rivalries in the conf.
all comes crashing down on tn should they lose. i can’t see them being able to mentally overcome a loss here.
for uf, and with their remaining schedule, are they playing for anything beyond pride? would 6 wins really get napier another year?
Boy, I certainly hope not!
It will get Napier another year if he wins.
You have to take UT. UF may or may not be improving, and they may or may not have UT’s number, but I doubt it. The way I look at it is that UF has been highly inconsistent in more than one area of their team. They played fairly well last week, but last week wasn’t UT. So, until UF can begin to play consistently good football you have to pick the other way.
Vegas smart money agrees with you. The line opened this week at Vols by 11. It’s up to Vols by 15.5!
That’s a whole lot of people saying with their money that, where the Gators are concerned, they’re from Missouri.
The dreamer in me says G8rs by 4, the realist is whispering call Vegas and take the Vols, give up the 15points…if only we knew which edition of the lizards are going to show up at rockytop.
The line reflects the sentiments of the crowd and the crowd never played a football game.
The best bet is probably that the Vols don’t cover, but were I a gambler I would not touch this game with a 10-foot pole.
Regardless of what we Gators think about the Gator coaching staff, and we don’t think much of them right about now, the facts are that Florida’s two losses are to the #6 ranked team and the #14/15 ranked team, and the defense is trending upward.
Tennessee is trending in the opposite direction, with a redshirt freshman quarterback who — all-world talent or not — just ran out of bounds with time running out on the game clock. If Florida does somehow manage to bottle up Tennessee’s running game, watch out.
Gators by 9. Fans begin to question their big Nico investment and Hype-L begins to feel warmth in his seat or the fanvase embraces being mid because it is an improvement for them lol. The Vols after all just aren’t very good. Vololol
UF wins game, keeps Coach through 2024.UT loses game and once again is relegated to 2nd tier SEC.
Being “once again” relegated to second tier implies they ever reached top tier status. They are mid at best.
Will this be another Rocky Flop?
Finally gonna get a blowout win over the Gators. Long time coming.
Vols 45
Lot Lizards 17
Gators by 9. Losing to Florida is in your DNA at this point.
Wow. Florida can fuk up a wet dream.
Those intrepid Vols,,, win against UF and still lose 3 spots in the A P, LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLO ! ! !
Well David, let’s see if you’re still laughing come Saturday night.
Large Orange 23
Low Tide 21