The Tennessee Volunteers are on the road in SEC College Football action Saturday, taking on the Florida Gators. The game is scheduled for a 3:30 p.m. start time and it will be televised nationally on CBS. Currently the betting odds for the game have this one hovering around a pick ‘em, but the Volunteers are gaining some ground.
Florida quarterback Treon Harris has been suspended for this contest, starting corner Jalen Tabor won’t play either. Harris reportedly failed a drug test, Tabor refused to take one according to reports. Head coach Jim McElwain suspended both and has put the focus on backups for the Gators, who will need to step up in this one.
Tennessee could be 3-0, but they blew a huge fourth quarter lead against Oklahoma and fell to the Sooners. Outside of that game the Vols have posted 59 and 55 points in wins over Bowling Green and Western Carolina. Josh Dobbs has led the offense well through the first few games, but it’s been the ground attack that has paced them to victory. Tennessee has 738 yards on the ground already this season, Jalen Hurd leads the way with 300 yards and five scores.
That ground game will be tested against Florida, which ranks seventh nationally in allowing just 55.3 yards per game rushing. The Gators rank 11th nationally in total defense as well, but it’s worth noting they haven’t really beaten anyone, outside of surviving a conference clash with Kentucky last weekend.
Florida will rely on freshman quarterback Will Grier, who has accounted for six touchdowns. The Gators are just 78th in the country in total offense though, Tennessee sits a bit ahead of them in 54th.
The defenses will be tough for both teams, the loss of Tabor in the secondary could prove to be a big loss on the opposite side of Vernon Hargreaves III. If the Vols are able to get a solid game on the ground, they’ll out-score Florida and pick up the win on the road.
Free Pick: Tennessee
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