Florida Gators vs. Tennessee Vols Spread at -2.5
Carrie Stroup with your Florida Gators vs. Tennessee Vols spread, available for betting at Sportsbook.com here. Claim up to $250 in FREE CASH when you open an online betting account.
Sportsbook.ag Line: Tennessee -3 (-115) & 48
Opening Line & Total: Vols -2.5 & 47
Two once-proud programs quickly getting their swagger back will play their annual meeting on Saturday night when No. 18 Florida visits No. 23 Tennessee, which is ranked for the first time in four seasons.
Both of these schools suffered losing seasons in the SEC last year, as the Gators were 3-5 and the Vols finished 1-7. Florida has won seven straight meetings in this series, including three in a row in Knoxville. The Gators led 30-7 in last year’s meeting and held on for the 33-23 win. Tennessee QB Tyler Bray, who threw for 288 yards, 3 TD and 2 INT in the loss at Gainesville, has 643 passing yards (10.5 YPA), 6 TD and 0 INT in wins over NC State and Georgia State this season. Florida shut out Texas A&M in the second half of its 20-17 win on Saturday. QB Jeff Driskel was 13-of-16 for 162 yards in his first career start, while teammate Mike Gillislee rushed for 83 yards and had both touchdowns. This has been a one-sided series over the years, but the Vols look ready to make this a rivalry once again. The Gators are 0-7 ATS as an underdog in the past three years and don’t have the explosive offense that has given Tennessee so much trouble in the past.
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Driskel showed great composure in a hostile Texas A&M environment last week, but it won’t get any easier in Knoxville. Gillislee actually hurt his groin in the win over the Aggies, but he is expected to start on Saturday. Gillislee did not have a carry in last year’s win over Tennessee, but he did score two touchdowns against the Vols in 2010 despite getting just eight carries for 27 yards. The one major problem with this offense is pass protection, as Florida has already surrendered nine sacks in two games. The defense looked strong against A&M, allowing 334 total yards and 3.5 yards per carry. This unit held Tennessee to minus-9 rushing yards on 21 carries in last year’s meeting.
Bray’s numbers this season are even more impressive considering his top wideout, Da’Rick Rogers, was dismissed from the team shortly before the season opener. Bray has quickly found his new go-to receiver in Justin Hunter, who already has 17 catches for 219 yards and three touchdowns. Bray also has another reliable target in Mychal Rivera (83 rec. yds, 1 TD), who caught a touchdown pass in last year’s meeting with Florida. Vols RB Marlin Lane Jr., who also scored on a TD reception against the Gators in 2011, has rushed for 106 yards on 17 carries (6.2 YPC) this year. However, junior Rajion Neal has gotten more than twice as many carries (35), despite gaining just 118 yards (3.4 YPC) with that extra work, scoring three times. Tennessee’s defense has done a great job in forcing turnovers this season, causing four miscues versus NC State and two last week against Georgia State. Although the pass defense has been below average (237 passing YPG, T-73rd in nation), the run-stop unit has been aces, allowing an average of 106 yards per game on 2.9 YPC.
- Carrie Stroup, Gambling911.com Senior Reporter
