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    Can UT Vols bounce back against Gators?

    Eira Gwyneth Posted on

    Tennessee football is back at Neyland Stadium after a four-week break.

    No. 9 Tennessee (4-1, 1-1 SEC) hosts Florida (3-2, 1-1) at Neyland Stadium on Saturday (7 p.m. ET, ESPN).

    Here’s what you should know about the matchup

    Tennessee’s defensive line vs. Florida’s offensive line is a big matchup

    Florida’s offensive line was one of the best in the SEC. The Gators have allowed five sacks and 20 tackles for loss, both the second-fewest in the SEC.

    Tennessee has an outstanding defensive line and recorded 38 tackles for loss. The matchup between Florida’s front line and Tennessee’s defensive line will be crucial.

    Florida doesn’t stop the run well

    Florida’s rushing defense is not impressive. The Gators allow 172.6 rushing yards per game, second-most in the SEC. They have allowed 275 rushing yards per game in two SEC games, including 310 against Texas A&M on September 14th.

    They have also allowed eight rushing touchdowns, which is the second-most rushing touchdowns in the conference.

    RB1: How Dylan Sampson makes the most of his Tennessee football career

    That’s good news for the Vols, who relied on the rushing attack while the passing game struggled in conference play. Dylan Sampson leads the SEC with 12 rushing touchdowns.

    What to think of Florida quarterbacks Graham Mertz and DJ Lagway

    Florida will rely primarily on senior Graham Mertz, who struggled and was injured in the season opener against Miami. Freshman DJ Lagway stepped in and continues to receive playing time alongside Mertz.

    Mertz has completed an SEC-best 77.2% of his passes for 666 yards and five touchdowns with two interceptions. Lagway has thrown for 667 yards and four touchdowns with three interceptions.

    Tennessee vs. Florida is a game by Checker Neyland

    Tennessee hosts a Checker Neyland game against Florida. It will be the eighth such game at Neyland Stadium and the fourth against Florida.

    UT has won twice against Florida with stadium check, including the win in 2022. The Vols beat Florida 38-28 in September 2016 in their first win with stadium check.

    The Vols are 3-4 in Checker Neyland games. They are 2-1 in such games during Josh Heupel’s tenure.

    Tennessee vs Florida Score Prediction

    Tennessee 30, Florida 23: Florida is improving. Things may not be any better in Tennessee right now. For these Vols, recovering from their first loss, playing at Neyland Stadium makes a big difference.

    Mike Wilson covers University of Tennessee athletics. Email him at [email protected] and follow him on Twitter @ByMikeWilson. If you like Mike’s coverage, consider a digital subscription to access everything.

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    Eira Gwyneth
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