Florida eyes TN game as most important

1) Sept. 26 vs. Tennessee


The first game that the Gators will be underdogs in of the 2015 season (though it won’t be the last); this presents a monumental opportunity for McElwain. Not only is a decade long winning streak on the line, but this will be his first SEC home game at the Swamp. If he pieces together a win like this, the fan base should be fully behind him, and Gainesville will be rocking when Ole Miss comes to town the next week. On top of all this, a win would help to ice the hype that the Volunteers will have gained (especially if they beat Oklahoma), and garner the Gators some much needed national exposure.

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volfanhill said:

We could go 11-1, with a loss to Florida, and some idiots on here would be questioning Butch.

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Neyland Law Vol said:

If we lose to UF, we won't be 11-1. "Some idiots on here" can't understand that, and the importance of that UF game to the entire season.

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3. The Gators will make it 11 in a row

After the Vols failed to put away a mediocre Florida team despite a two-score, fourth-quarter lead at home last season, it seems as though the Gators may have Tennessee’s number in this rivalry game. In fact, the Gators have dominated this series for the last 40 years, holding a 23-6 advantage since 1976. New Florida coach Jim McElwain is sure to be motivated to make a good impression in his first SEC game in The Swamp. Combine that with the fact that Butch Jones’ teams have won just three road games in the last two seasons (Vanderbilt, South Carolina and Kentucky), and this has the look of a game that Tennessee may again struggle to win.

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Neyland Law Vol said:

If we lose to UF, we won't be 11-1. "Some idiots on here" can't understand that, and the importance of that UF game to the entire season.

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chargervol said:

Yeah, that would be saying that OSU could lose to a mid pack team like VT and still go 11-1. Impossible imo.

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Neyland Law Vol said:

Nice example.

However, that was not a rival or a conference game. It seems like for the last 10 years the annual early UF loss has put a damper on the entire season going forward. It would be great to have a good record going into October for a change.

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Neyland Law Vol said:

If we lose to UF, we won't be 11-1. "Some idiots on here" can't understand that, and the importance of that UF game to the entire season.

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Neyland Law Vol said:

Nice example.

However, that was not a rival or a conference game. It seems like for the last 10 years the annual early UF loss has put a damper on the entire season going forward. It would be great to have a good record going into October for a change.

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Neyland Law Vol said:

Nice example.

However, that was not a rival or a conference game. It seems like for the last 10 years the annual early UF loss has put a damper on the entire season going forward. It would be great to have a good record going into October for a change.

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volfanhill said:

We have sucked for ten years and it's not because of Florida

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In 2004, George W. Bush was running for his second term in office and ‘Anchorman’ was just released in theaters. That fall, the Tennessee Volunteers defeated the Florida Gators at Neyland Stadium 30-28. Since then, Tennessee has not defeated them.

The most recent matchup between the two teams was a 10-9 loss by the Vols in 2014. It’s safe to say that revenge is long overdue and the Florida Gators need to be careful against the Vols in 2015, because they are coming in hot. 2015 will be Tennessee’s best chance to get anything done. Not only against Florida, but against the rest of the SEC East. The Gators’ weaknesses on offense is something the Vols will be able to take advantage of.

Florida has simply had a terrible offseason thus far, beginning with their offensive line issues. Basically, with numerous injuries and surprise NFL Draft inductees, Florida is going into the 2015 having no lineman with any collegiate experience. Given that this conference is the SEC, this situation is not something that first-year coach Jim McElwain wanted or anticipated. Given Tennessee’s somewhat poor defense, this is the perfect opportunity for them to take serious action.Then there’s the quarterback situation that is happening. As of right now redshirt freshman Will Grier will be the starting QB for Florida this fall, but then again it could change. Returning Sophomore Treon Harris is also in the mix. Assuming that Grier starts though, he is a kid who has never faced an SEC team in his life, and Tennessee will be his first. In that kind of environment it isn’t advised to put that much confidence in Grier to pull out a win just yet.Tennessee’s quarterback situation is much more relaxed. In fact, you could even say that the Vols’ quarterback situation is entirely the opposite of Florida’s. Joshua Dobbs is for sure the starting QB for the Vols in 2015, and he is impressive. Dobbs only started half of the season last year, but in that short amount of time he was able to wrangle together some spectacular ball playing. Now coming back into 2015 he will be more relaxed and have some quality SEC experience under his belt. And with wide receivers like Pig Howard and Marquez North, there should be nobody stopping Dobbs. Joshua Dobbs will be a big part of winning that Florida game.

With all that said I think there is no reason why the Tennessee Volunteers won’t be defeating the Florida Gators this fall. The odds are definitely in their favor. I do not feel like the home-field advantage for Florida will help them, just because of the poor squad that they have for 2015.

The Vols take on the Gators in The Swamp on September 26.

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2. FLORIDA (Sept. 26 in Gainesville)

Tennessee fans are sick and tired of losing to Florida.

And that was before the Gators managed to extend their streak against the Vols to 10 games amid their program's worst two-year run in nearly 30 years.

The decision to start Nathan Peterman in the Swamp in 2013 backfired in a 14-point loss. The Vols botched a very winnable game in a 10-9 loss in Knoxville that was last season's low point. Florida won both times with backup quarterbacks.

Florida has a first-year coach in Jim McElwain, major concerns of inexperience on its offensive line and no clear-cut answer at quarterback, but the Gators should be stingy defensively, particularly in the secondary, and they'll host the Vols this year.

The Gators are there for Tennessee's taking again. Snapping decade-long streaks to one opponent is never easy, but this is a game Tennessee simply must win.

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Neyland Law Vol said:

SDS predicts UF will beat TN this year to make it 11 straight:



5 predictions for Tennessee in 2015

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OrangeCavalry said:

We have to kick that @$$ this year! Our DLine should puch their OLine around and we have the better/more experienced QB! It's just so hard to believe it will actually happen...UGH! kill em! Kill me with fire!!!!

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