Last weekend, the Gators appeared to have finally found a rhythm on both sides of the football. Scoring on the game’s first drive, the offense showed off some creative playcalling. The more physical team, the Gators eased to a victory over the in-state UCF Knights. Now forced to go on the road, the Gators will take on their toughest opponent to date. Heading to Knoxville Tennessee, the Gators face an angry Vols squad, fresh off a shocking upset loss. Struggling to score the ball last weekend, the Vols offense will be eager to get rolling. Not a top defense, the Gators did put together a complete game defensively, suffocating the UCF offense. Now with a much tougher opponent, the Gators can send a real message. Written off after two early season losses, this team has shown no signs of giving up.
Turning the Corner?
After starting the season a dismal 1-2, many fans believed that the Gators could struggle to win three games. However, two games later and the Gators appear to have found new life. The defense, much maligned all season, held a potent UCF offense to under 275 total yards. Known as a run-first offense, the explosive RJ Harvey only conjured up 75 rushing yards. Mostly coming in the second half, the Gators’ defense dictated the flow of the game. Getting pushed around the first few weeks; it appears this group may have turned the corner. Never allowing quarterback KJ Jefferson to get comfortable, this defense was flying around, making pivotal late down stops. Staying bought in; it appears defensive coordinator Austin Armstrong may have found the right combination of players. Now taking on a top-ten opponent, fans will see if this defense truly has stepped up.
Rivalry Feeling
Although not being in the same state, these are two teams that flat-out hate each other. Pulling off a stunning victory last season, the Gators have owned the Vols this decade. Going 17-2 in their last 19 matches, Florida seems to be Tennessee’s kryptonite no matter the year. Even last year, the Gators were unranked and still defeated the number 11 overall Volunteers. Hoping for a different outcome this season, the Vols enter this affair as the number eight team in the nation, with a 4-1 record. Reaching as high as number four in the polls, they were stunned last weekend on the road against Arkansas. Showing that they can be beaten, the Gators now have a bit of a blueprint on how to pull off another stunner. With last season’s matchup ending in a fight after a late hit, tempers will be flaring.
Creativeness=Key
Fans could argue that the first half of last weekend was the best play-calling they’ve seen from the head coach. Billy Napier allowed both Graham Mertz and DJ Lagway their own freedom to operate the offense. Now on the road in a hostile environment, the Gators must keep the creativity and energy high. Helped last weekend by a loud crowd, the offense found a rhythm and executed Napier’s play calls. Getting the ball downfield and out in space to their playmakers was key for this offense. However, many fans were frustrated by the conservative second-half approach. Failing to score a single point after that first half is inexcusable, as they took their foot off the gas very early. Whether Napier was simply hiding some plays for next weekend remains to be seen. If the Gators want any chance, Napier will have to top last weekend’s creativity.
Contain the Offense
Many will be quick to point out the struggles that the Volunteer offense had last weekend in their upset loss. However, this is an offense littered with playmakers, that has the capacity to explode at any given second. Defensively speaking, the Gators had been struggling tremendously until last weekend. Fans are hoping that wasn’t a fluke performance, and that the defense has made actual strides. From top to bottom, the defense looked vastly improved, albeit against a much easier offense than this Tennessee team. Players will have to step up at all levels, as the secondary and the defensive line will be challenged. Look for players like Jason Marshall Jr., and Jack Pyburn to lead the way defensively. Despite being clear underdogs, this game is indeed winnable. If this same defense from last week shows up, the Vols could have a battle on their hands.
Final Thoughts
This will be a tough test for the Gators on the road. Despite the important win last weekend, this is a whole new level of opponent. Fans should not be fooled by their loss to Arkansas, as they have looked dominant in every other game. Florida has been labeled as 15.5-point underdogs, showing the strength of this Tennessee roster. Even though the Gators have historically beaten the Vols, the two losses have been on the road. One of the top environments in the country, Neyland Stadium will be rocking this weekend. With a high-powered offense and suffocating defense, the Gators will have their hands full. Even though they have built up some momentum, I do not believe it will be enough. This is a Tennessee team hungry to avenge both last season and last weekend’s loss. On the road, the Gators will fall short but will compete till the end.
Prediction: Florida 17 Tennessee 31
