- What: Tennessee vs Florida - College Football Week 3
- When: Saturday, September 16th, 7 PM ET
- Where: Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, Gainesville, Florida
Get ready for some Online college football betting on Saturday with a massive college football Week 3 matchup between SEC rivals Tennessee and Florida. The kick-off is scheduled for 7 PM ET at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, also known as the Swamp. The Vols are currently ranked No. 11 in the nation while the Gators remain unranked. Tennessee just dominated Austin Peay in Week 2 by a score of 30-13, while Florida grabbed their first win of the campaign, putting a 49-7 beat down on McNeese State after a disappointing loss to Utah in the season opener. Continue reading for the Tennessee vs Florida prediction.
Before we get into the odds and analysis as to who could come out on top this Saturday, make sure to check out our reviews of the top online sportsbooks.
Tennessee vs Florida Odds
The Volunteers are favored at -245 odds on the moneyline and also happen to be laying seven points on the spread. They were 10-3 against the spread in 2022. Florida comes back at +205 for this matchup and went 7-6 ATS a year ago. As for head-to-head history, Tennessee won a 38-36 thriller in 22'. However, the Gators have won 16 of the last 17 against their SEC foes.
Can Tennessee Get it Done?
Yes, the Volunteers managed to come out victorious when Florida visited Knoxville last September, but playing in Gainesville is a whole different animal. There's a reason Tennessee hasn't won in the Swamp since 2003. 20 long years. That being said, this is a group certainly capable of ending the cold skid.
Quarterback Joe Milton has really set the tone early on after taking over for Hendon Hooker who left for the NFL. Milton has already thrown for over 400 yards and four touchdowns. He's also scored three TDs on his own by showcasing his impressive speed. On Saturday, Milton was 21 for 33 for 228 yards and two passing touchdowns while also wreaking some havoc with the legs against Austin Peay. Running back Jaylen Wright completely stole the show with a breathtaking performance, rushing for over nine yards per carry and also reeling in three catches.
Austin Peay was really no match for the Vols, who dominated them on both sides of the ball. The running hame was the clear bright spot here, with Jabari Small also rushing for 95 yards. He and Wright are a dynamic duo and will need to do a lot of the same on Saturday if they're going to beat the Gators on the road.
Florida Needs This One
Florida came out and looked extremely flat in Week 1 in a game against a Utah team that didn't even have QB1 Cameron Rising. It presented an opportunity to take advantage of a Utes group missing one of their best players but instead, the Gators put up a mere 11 points.
However, Billy Napier's squad bounced back last weekend with a statement victory against a McNeese State opponent who never really posed much of a threat. While quarterback Graham Mertz looked sharp by completing 14 of 17 passes for 193 yards and a touchdown, it was the running back room that really shined. Trevor Etienne and Montrell Johnson both ran for more than seven yards per carry and combined for three touchdowns while Treyaun Webb also had a pair of scores on 71 yards rushing.
It's clear the Gators have a boatload of weapons in their backfield and that includes Mertz, who is capable of running, too. Expect Napier to rely on his running backs to do some damage on Saturday against Tennessee. Although Florida isn't exactly the most elite program in recent years, the atmosphere in Gainesville is as good as it gets. The Gators will be feeling confident but also know that if they don't bring their absolute best, it will mean a loss to begin the SEC schedule.
Tennessee vs Florida Prediction
The Volunteers are 11-4 in their last 15 ATS which is a good sign but have gone just 1-4 ATS in their previous five meetings with Florida. Since recent meetings have ended up being close, I'd hammer the Tennessee moneyline. I expect them to win this one, but it could very well be a nail-biter that goes right down to the wire.
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