Florida is looking to go 4-0 for the first time since 2012 when they face Tennessee on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. in The Swamp.
The Gators (3-0, 1-0 Southeastern Conference) have won the last 10 against the Volunteers (2-1), taking home the victory by an average of 13.9 points.
But Tennessee, led by third-year head coach Butch Jones, has no plans of backing down. Here’s what to expect from the Volunteers.
Offense:
Tennessee has had a knack for finding the endzone early this season.
Through three games, the Volunteers are averaging 46 points per game, tied with Texas A&M for second in the SEC. The run game carries the Volunteers propelled by sophomore Jalen Hurd who leads UT with 300 rushing yards and five touchdowns on 58 carries. He will look to test Florida — the top-ranked run defense in the conference (55.3 yards/game).
But while Tennessee’s run game is thriving, second-year starting quarterback Josh Dobbs is still finding his rhythm this season. After breaking out late in 2014, the junior has completed just 58.1 percent of his passes and is averaging 158 yards through the air.
Defense:
While the Volunteers have made big plays on offense during its non-conference slate, the defense still has room to grow. Tennessee prides itself on its front-seven and ability to get into the opponent’s backfield.
The Volunteers have 20 tackles for loss, a number that can easily climb if Florida’s offensive line stutters like it has throughout the season. But that’s where the good news ends. The Volunteers are ranked 12th in the 14-team SEC in scoring defense (23.7 points/game), pass defense (236.7 yards/game) and total defense (394.7 yards/game).
They are also without star linebacker Curt Maggitt, a fifth-year senior who is out for the next month with a hip injury.
Special Teams:
If there’s one spot of consistency for the Volunteers, it’s the play of their special teams.
Tennessee has made the return game an offensive play, pacing the SEC with 39.3 yards per kickoff return and ranking second in the conference with 19.9 yards per punt return. Punter Trevor Daniel is fourth in the country with a 47.6-yard punting average and has already pinned half of his 16 punts inside the 20-yard line.
Player to watch: Running back Alvin Kamara.
While Hurd will receive the bulk of the carries on Saturday, Kamara has quickly made a name for himself this season. The sophomore tailback is averaging 7.5 yards per carry this season, the fourth-best average in the SEC and 13th-best in the country among running backs with at least 25 carries.
Follow Jordan McPherson on Twitter @J_McPherson1126
Tennessee head coach Butch Jones yells to his players during warmups before an NCAA college football game against Western Carolina, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2015, in Knoxville, Tenn.
