The Tennessee Volunteers look to bounce back from last week's tough loss as they host the Florida Gators in a Week 7 rivalry game.
The Gators are about the play one of the toughest six-game schedules in recent college football history, but they are on the right track after winning their last two games by double digits.
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The Tennessee matchup is the first in a stretch that sees the Gators play five of their next six games against teams ranked No. 13 or higher. Billy Napier has put some of the calls for him to be fired on hold for the time being, but this run could determine if he returns in 2025.
Tennessee looked like one of the best teams in college football heading into Week 6, but the offense struggled in the recent 19-14 loss at Arkansas. The defense has continued to show it is one of the best units in the country, which is a huge positive. Another plus for the Volunteers is they're back home at Neyland Stadium, where they average 380 yards on the ground.
Caesars Sportsbook lists Tennessee as a 14-point favorite with an over/under of 57.
Let's take a closer look at the odds and trends:
Florida Gators at Tennessee Volunteers
Time/TV: 6 p.m. CT (ESPN)
Spread (via Caesars Sportsbook): Tennessee -14
Total: 57
Moneyline: Tennessee -650, Florida +460
Analysis: The Gators have been playing better football lately, and one of the biggest reasons is Graham Mertz. Many people believed the job would be handed to DJ Lagway after Mertz was injured, but the former Wisconsin quarterback has been playing great football recently.
Mertz has been extremely accurate in his last three games, completing at least 80% of his passes in each contest. Lagway is still playing at certain times, but the starting job is Mertz's for the foreseeable future.
Wide receiver Elijah Badger is the big play threat on this team, as he has 17 catches for 346 yards and two touchdowns. One area the team will have to improve in is the turnover department. Turnovers have been a real issue for the Gators, as they are tied for 101st in the country with a -3 differential.
Nico Iamaleava got off to a fast start this year, but he has come back to Earth after his first two career road starts. One big issue is that he has been taking too many sacks recently, as he was taken down seven times in the last two games alone. For any young quarterback, struggling in your first career road starts is almost the norm, but it showed he isn't quite there yet.
Look for the Volunteers to feed the ball to running back Dylan Sampson, who has rushed for 587 yards and 12 touchdowns in his first five games. Dont'e Thornton Jr. has only eight catches on the season, but his 284 yards and three touchdowns provide Tennessee with big play ability.
The Volunteers need a win to get things going as they prepare for the rest of the SEC season. Expect the hosts to bounce back in a big way.
Prediction: Tennessee 42, Florida 17 (Over 57)
Best bet: Tennessee -15 vs. Florida (-110 at Caesars Sportsbook)