(19) FLORIDA GATORS (3-0, 1-0 SEC) at (14) TENNESSEE VOLUNTEERS (3-0)
WHERE: Neyland Stadium, Knoxville, TN
WHEN: Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET
TV: CBS
LINE: Tennessee -6.5
During the ’90s, Tennessee and Florida were the it teams in the SEC and their annual game was among the most intriguing in college football. Fast forward to 2016 and 11 straight victories by the Gators has taken some of the excitement out of this match-up. Although many pundits picked the Vols to win the SEC East and possibly the conference title before the season.
While Florida has an SEC win under their belt after defeating Kentucky two weeks ago, neither team has been tested the way they will on Saturday. For the Gators it starts and stops with defense as their unit is ranked No. 1 nationally in several categories, although they haven’t played the meat of their schedule this defense is still scary good. Tennessee has big playmakers on the offensive side of the football with senior QB Joshua Dobbs and halfback Jalen Hurd. Meanwhile Florida will have to play without starting QB Luke Del Rio after a low hit resulted in a sprained left knee during the Gators 32-0 win over North Texas. Stepping in will be former Purdue QB Austin Appleby.
This game certainly has SEC Championship implications as the winner will have the inside track to a division title, but also playoff implications as both teams come in undefeated looking for their first major win of the season.
