ChompTalk.com

The Florida Gators are riding a two game winning streak as they head to Knoxville to face the Tennessee Volunteers Saturday. The Gators walloped UCF in the Swamp last weekend to improve to 3-2 on the season.

Florida leads the all-time series, 31-21, between these two programs in a rivalry that dates all the way back to 1916. Since 2005, The Gators have claimed seventeen of the nineteen contests. Just a year ago, Florida rolled past then No. 11 Tennessee, 29-16.

This time, Florida travels to Knoxville to take on the eighth-ranked Vols, who suffered their first loss of the season last week against unranked Arkansas.

Did the Hogs give UF the blueprint to beat the high-powered Volunteers? Will the Gators be able to execute the plan? The following are our staff’s predictions for Florida – Tennessee.

Brian Fox: This has been a weird series, especially over the last twenty years or so. Somehow, Florida seems to overcome the highly rated Volunteers on a yearly basis, even when Tennessee is the resounding favorite. The befuddling part is how Tennessee seems to lose, seemingly finding new ways every meeting. Every indication is that Tennessee should run away with this one, heck, they scored 51 on No. 24 NC State. However, that high-flying offense has scored just 39 points total in their last two games. If the Gators offense can keep the defense off the field with sustained drives, maybe the momentum of the last two wins carries over and Florida upsets Tennessee. Just like I need the Gators to prove they are a decent football team, I need Tennessee to prove they can beat Florida. Gators, 34-31.

Ryan Friedwald: Every bone in my body wants to pick Florida, but the brain is not a bone and I can only be delusional to an extent. Tennessee has everything to lose and Florida has nothing to gain; but confidence. I think Tennessee has a bigger purpose and home field advantage to the point where they’ll come out and shut Florida down early. The Gators will either keep it within a touchdown or they will be down three touchdowns by half. Tennessee, 48-17.

Aiden Wacksman: Florida far exceeded my expectations in last week’s 24-13 win over UCF. The offense clicked in the first half, but I was more impressed with the defense and its ability to eliminate the Knights’ ground game. Tennessee, on the other hand, is coming off a 19-14 loss at Arkansas in which its offense struggled to yield any production. The Volunteers will head into Saturday hungrier than ever after their shocking defeat last weekend. Florida has performed poorly on the road in the Napier era, and I don’t think that will change heading into the matchup at Neyland. Tennessee’s defensive line will likely wreak havoc on the Gators’ offensive front. Tennessee, 30-17.

Florida and Tennessee are set to kickoff from Neyland Stadium at 7:00 PM. The game will be broadcast on ESPN nationally.

What are your expectations heading into the rivalry weekend?