Florida Gators vs. Tennessee Volunteers Betting Preview
Where: Neyland Stadium, Knoxville
When: Saturday, September 24, 3:30 PM ET
Line: Florida Gators (+6.5) vs. Tennessee Volunteers (-6.5) – view all NCAA Football odds and lines
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Betting on the Florida Gators (+6.5)
That win streak, however, is in jeopardy with the Gators missing starting quarterback Luke Del Rio because of a knee injury he sustained during Florida’s 32-0 annihilation of North Texas last Saturday. In lieu of Del Rio, the Gators will have Austin Appleby under center this Saturday versus Tennessee.
Appleby has made just two appearances thus far on the season, going 2-for-5 with 30 passing yards. It won’t be surprising to see the Gators turn to their backfield more often with Del Rio out. They are 50th in the FBS in rushing yards per game with 202.0.
In any case, it would be Florida’s defense that will carry this team. The Gators are tops in the nation in scoring defense with just 4.7 points allowed.
Betting on the Tennessee Volunteers (-6.5)
The Volunteers haven’t lived up to the hype thus far this year and we learned that as soon as Week 1, when Tennessee barely beat Appalachian State in overtime, 20-13. While they blew Virginia Tech away in the next game, 45-24, the Vols went back to their shaky ways, as evidenced by a too-close-for-comfort 28-19 triumph over Ohio last Saturday. Now they get a real test in the form of Florida.
Tennessee already has one worry out of the way with the more effective Del Rio out for Florida. Facing a backup in Appleby should make life easier for the Vols’ defense that is 35th in the nation, allowing just 18.7 points per game.
Knowing that Florida will look to run the ball more puts Tennessee a step ahead of the Gators. It helps Tennessee’s chances that it will have linebacker Jalen Reeves-Maybin ready for this game after getting hurt in the Ohio game.
On offense, Tennessee expects Joshua Dobbs to outplay Appleby even against Florida’s superior stop unit. Dobbs has passed for 486 passing yards with six touchdowns and three interceptions thus far this season.
Writer’s Prediction
Tennessee (-6.5) wins, 24-17.
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