For the second time in three weeks, College GameDay will be covering a Tennessee Volunteers football game.
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After all, the Volunteers needed overtime to squeak by Appalachian State in Knoxville to commence the season (20-13), turned only a few heads in a 45-24 win over a mediocre Virginia Tech team the following week, and then looked below average yet again in a 28-19 victory over OH last Saturday. Jones said. “This is probably the best defense we faced since I have been here”. They’re going to come out booing you. Florida has allowed 127 rushing yards through three games; the average of 42.3 yards per game is third nationally, and the Gators lead the nation in fewest yards per carry, at 1.31 (91 carries, 127 yards). The Gators also have an FBS-leading 16 sacks. Appleby is completing 40% of his passes for 30 yards this season for Florida.
Issues, meaning Florida’s loss of starting quarterback Luke Del Rio, who suffered a knee issue in a 32-0 blowout of North Texas one week ago.
“I’m just going to tell you that when we go to work this week with my teammates, we’re going to put something together that’s going to be very special on Saturday”.
The Vols came close to doing just that previous year before surrendering a 63-yard touchdown catch to Florida’s Antonio Callaway on 4th-and-14 with 1 minute, 26 seconds remaining in a 28-27 defeat in Gainesville, Fla. And that’s been the blueprint every time the Vols have beaten Florida since the two became divisional dance partners in 1992.
But the Vols realize they’ll be facing a much stronger defense this time. Jarrad Davis is Florida’s top tackler with 18, Marcus Maye has 14 as does Alex Anzalone. Is this the year that the Vols can flip the script and get back to where they believe they should be at the top of the division?
Jones expressed concern about attacking Florida’s defense.
Up front, Florida is allowing just 1.3 yards per carry and has five different players with at least two sacks. End Derek Barnett is one of the SEC’s best defenders and has registered three tackles for a loss through three games.
“That’s just what we do”, cornerback Jalen Tabor said.
Yet Tennessee remains the favorite to win this weekend, both in Las Vegas and by advanced power rating systems like F/+ and ESPN’s Football Power Index. “Meanwhile, Tennessee plays much harder because they want it even more to break the streak”. Nor will they need to worry that the Vols will be 3 dive plays and out if they need to hang onto the ball. Then Georgia plays Tennessee next week.
“That’s a classic right there”, McElwain said of Wilson’s comment “I’ve got to find out what the heck that means”. The Volunteers finished the season 5-6, their first losing season in 17 years. “And somehow we got more points”. “And, not as an excuse, this guy is a good player, so he makes you look bad”. We had one of the best coaching rivalries of all time between Steve Spurrier and Phillip Fulmer, all time great QB showdowns between Heisman winners like Danny Wuerffel and the greatest quarterback of all time, Peyton Manning.
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Tennessee’s task will be making sure Dobbs gets enough protection. However, Tennessee’s offensive line has struggled mightily this year. The game is fair a matchup, and if anything, it favors the Volunteers. Both teams suffered key injuries last week in their games against OH and North Texas with Tennessee losing both Cam Sutton and Quarte Sapp and Florida losing their starting quarterback in Luke Del Rio.
