The Vols return 18 players from last year. The Gators team from this year looks nothing like the team that rallied behind a freshman QB to barely escape Neyland Stadium with a 10-9 win.
Key Tennessee players:
UF offense: 46.3 (67)
UT defense: 77.8 (24) -- advantage Volunteers
UF defense: 86.3 (6) -- advantage Gators
UT offense: 64.9 (40)
Given the Gators' mediocre offense and inept right side offensive line, I expect the offense to maybe score 21 points. The Gator defense should be stout enough to hold the Volunteers to just under 21 points. The variables in that score will probably be Florida's tendency to shoot itself in the foot with penalties, and their inability to kick a field goal. Logic says the Gators should cover the 3-point point spread, but not the 47.5 point O/U. I call it 21-14, Gators, but I would not be surprised to see the Gators struggle against a very game Tennessee team and lose 21-10.
Key Tennessee players:
- QB Josh Dobbs: intelligent, dual-threat quarterback. His stats are down after the Oklahoma game. The Gator defense should be similar in strength as the Oklahoma defense, so it will be up to the Gator offense to keep up with the potentially high scoring Volunteer offense, assuming they find a few creases to throw across the middle of the field or run at the depleted Gator linebacker corps.
- 2015 43 74 474 58.1 6.41 45 5 1 5 131.5 61.3 53.9
2014 112 177 1206 63.3 6.81 52 9 6 12 130.5 63.6 73.2
2013 72 121 695 59.5 5.74 43 2 6 7 103.3 34.1 49.6 - RB Jalen Hurd: explosive, and hard to tackle. The Gator front will have to chip him early and buy time for the nickel and dime backs to complete the tackles, or the Gator defensive front is going to have to penetrate and collapse the gaps on top of the mesh point.
- 2015 58 300 5.2 31 5 2 12 6.0 7 1
2014 190 899 4.7 43 5 35 221 6.3 30 2 - WR Marquez North: At an athletic 6'3", he may pose a serious threat to the Gators' supposedly vaunted DBU defensive backfield. I expect this guy to exploit Gator DB Brian Poole when he lines up on this side, but VH3 should have no problems shutting this guy down on most plays. I do expect VH3 to be a half slower due to hamstring injury, so North will get some yards.
- 2015 4 38 9.5 16 0 0 0 0.0 0 0
2014 30 320 10.7 24 4 0 0 0.0 0 0
2013 38 496 13.1 48 1 1 9 9.0 9 0 - WR Pig Howard: Orlando, FL native Pig Howard may not be as dangerous as Marquez North, but as a 4-star receiver that got away during the Aubrey Hill fiasco, expect him to be comfortable back in his home state and try to prove to the Gator staff that is no longer here that he belongs on this field.
- 2015 1 8 8.0 8 0 2 13 6.5 12 0
2014 54 618 11.4 33 1 15 96 6.4 18 2 - LB Jaylen Reeves-Maybin: expect this guy to play some DE and get in Will Grier's (or Treon Harris') face a lot. If Kelvin Taylor does not block or chip this guy, then expect Grier (or Harris) to spend some time looking up at the lights of the Swamp, or making some bad decisions with hurried throws.
- 2015 3 tackles, 0 sacks, 0 INT
- 2014 101 tackles, 11 TFL, 2 sacks, 1 INT
UF offense: 46.3 (67)
UT defense: 77.8 (24) -- advantage Volunteers
UF defense: 86.3 (6) -- advantage Gators
UT offense: 64.9 (40)
Given the Gators' mediocre offense and inept right side offensive line, I expect the offense to maybe score 21 points. The Gator defense should be stout enough to hold the Volunteers to just under 21 points. The variables in that score will probably be Florida's tendency to shoot itself in the foot with penalties, and their inability to kick a field goal. Logic says the Gators should cover the 3-point point spread, but not the 47.5 point O/U. I call it 21-14, Gators, but I would not be surprised to see the Gators struggle against a very game Tennessee team and lose 21-10.
