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Kyle Trask and The Gators Prepared to Rock Rocky Top

It’s that time of year again. We’ve waited all off-season and now it’s finally here, the third, uh, first Saturday in September, um… December. Well, it may look a little different on the schedule, but it is time for Florida to take on the Tennessee Vols. This is a game that makes Gators fans yearn with anticipation and Vols fans tuck their tails and run for cover. After all, Florida has won 14 of the past 15 meetings between the two schools, and since Dan Mullen has arrived, they’ve outscored Tennessee 81-24.

Don’t expect things to get any better for the Vols, this season. They are riding a five-game losing streak and boast an offense that ranks 106 in passing and has thrown more interceptions (7) than touchdowns (6). The Vols’ offense also boasts an abysmal third down conversion rate, gaining the yards needed for a first down just 32% of the time. As if that weren’t bad enough, Tennessee has 17 players in quarantine right now. Many of those are either starters or key contributors. However, several of those players are expected to be available by Saturday… after not having practiced for two weeks.

I don’t want to seem like I’m being too negative, though. Tennessee does have Eric Gray. Gray is a solid running back and currently ranks fifth among all backs in the SEC with 651 rushing yards and four touchdowns. If he is able to get through to the second level, he could inflict some real pain against a Gators defense that has been susceptible to explosive plays this year.

On the opposite side of the ball, Kyle Trask will face one of the more porous defenses he’s seen this year. The only real hope Tennessee has of stopping the Heisman front-runner is to apply serious pressure. That, of course, will be easier said than done, as Florida’s offensive line has been superb (mostly) in pass protection. Further handicapping Tennessee is the dismissal of their sacks and tackles for loss leader, Kivon Bennet earlier this week after he was arrested on drugs and weapons charges.

Still, it will be up to Kyle Trask and the Gators to take care of business in Knoxville. With all of their goals in front of them, I have to continue to believe that they will get the job done. Although, I think I speak for all of Gator Nation when I say that hopefully, they do it with a little more gusto this weekend than they have during the previous two outings. I will be looking for Kyle Trask and the offense to get off to a fast start, putting this one away by halftime. With a 3:30 PM kickoff, they’ll have had plenty of time to get the sleep out of their eyes and the blood pumping.

With a win on Saturday, the Gators will clinch the SEC East division and guarantee their spot in Atlanta for the first time since 2016. Even if that weren’t enough motivation, it’s always fun to beat up on Tennessee as has become a Gators rite of passage. I’m taking the Gators in this contest, 45-14.

Florida will face the Tennessee Volunteers live from Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee this Saturday. The game will be televised as the CBS SEC Game of the Week at 3:30 EST.

Check out The Gridiron Growl Podcast preview if Florida – Tennessee: