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Tennessee tight end Mychal Rivera makes a catch against Georgia State at Neyland Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 8, 2012. UT won the home opener 51-13.(AMY SMOTHERMAN BURGESS/NEWS SENTINEL)
1 - Head-Butting Time: Finesse football will be played somewhere else tonight, not in Neyland Stadium. For the big boys on Tennessee's defense, this is their night to get busy. Unlike Georgia State, the Gators are coming right at them.
2 - Big Plays, Big Edge: Florida speedsters like Chris Rainey, Jeff Demps and Percy Harvin have bedeviled Tennessee's defense in the recent past. This time, the Vols boast the big-play weapons with Justin Hunter and Cordarrelle Patterson. But it's only an edge if you find ways to turn them loose.
3 - Linebacker Limits: Herman Lathers and Curt Maggitt return to the lineup after a week off, but neither is 100 percent. How long and how strong they can go is critical to the Vols.
4 - Comfort Zone: Neither Tyler Bray nor Jeff Driskel has thrown an interception this season. Bray has been sacked only once, Driskel nine times. Both teams hope to apply pressure but give UT the edge here with Bray's battlefield experience and ability to get the ball away quick.
5 - If the Shoe Fits: The Vols hope lightly tested kicker Derrick Brodus won't be asked to be a hero today. If he is, though, he needs to channel Jeff Hall (1998) and James Wilhoit (2004).
Oregon sends Lady Vols home from…
Cordarrelle Patterson drafted by the…
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Comments » 35
coach799 writes:
Vols win 27-17!
GO VOLS!!
nocleats writes:
The team that makes the fewest mistakes will win... I just want to see a Tennessee team that looks pizzed off all night. I want to see our O line come off the ball and hit people hard. hurt em on purpose! Enough!!!
tovolny writes:
Message to UT BAND: please don't play Rocky Top and ask for noise when we, the Vols, have the ball. I could not not believe they did this several times two years ago. BAND you are a weapon, please use it properly. The idea is to make noise when the opponent has the ball. Don't make me come down there and smack the band leader...it would really look ridiculous, and I would be arrested.
kheights77 writes:
Yes, and don't do the wave when we have the ball!
iowavol writes:
A win would be a step in the right direction. We/DD need this one. The world is watching, get mean, get nasty.
BigVolFaninSC writes:
Will it be an NCAA violation for the VOLS to come away from this game with new gator-hide suitcases and shoes? GBO!
CroKev writes:
Florida's chances rest entirely on Gillessie's groin. What a storyline...
ProfessionalHandicapper writes:
SEC formula for success...Run the ball, time of possession, defense and kicking. Florida is better at all four. NC State ripped UT for 407 yards,22 Fd's and 21 points while UCONN held NC State to only 258 yards , 12 FD's and 10 points. So how good is the UT defense? UT has been a very soft team so far under Dooley and if not for several dropped passes NC State could have easily put up 500 yards. Florida's tight ends should have a field day after watching NC State run wide open across the middle and now UT has two hurting linebackers. Bray has never shown much vs fast SEC defenses nor has UT rushed the football well in these games. Florida wins this one.
123forVOLS writes:
I just guess we all know what it takes. Heck some of us should suit up and take on the Gators N O T! The game is just hours away and we will then see where This Tennessee team is right now. All the "but they gave up... but they can't run...." type nonsense will be either proven or laid to rest. I'm tired of the drivel and hype. I am ready for the GAME. GO VOLS!
Fryinpansvols writes:
Maybe you, Mother Goose, should go back to your nest and lay your eggs. Only positive thoughts now! Florida can't score and Vols will score! GBO!
Fryinpansvols writes:
Ifs and buts are like candy and nuts, if we all had them then we would have a Merry Christmas! How many times do I have to say it? Florida can't score! At best, they score 21 points and UT will outscore them. Tennessee gets it done on Rocky Top tonight! GBO!
jobrando#216494 writes:
DEFENSE in the middle and two picks should do the trick
Shake_Bake writes:
FLA entire offense circles around their RB, who is playing hurt. Their pass offense certainly isn't anything to brag about. They don't have the weapons that they had in previous games; The VOLS will be the faster team tonight! Our team should be very hungry to end this streak tonight!! GO VOLS!!!
LONEWOLF-VOL writes:
bye bye Gators bye bye
GO VOLS!!!
twobits writes:
Not gonna happen vols. You're 2 year QB is gonna get a lesson today. I see at least 3 to 4 picks. 8 in a row!
voloffaith writes:
toobits = can't he get that grammar down... ie. "You're" means you are...your is possessive...so your 2 year QB.... now that lil lesson is out of the way back to YOUR post....
I know from YOUR 'you tube'videos that you are a seasoned citizen so I will be respectful....chompers LOSE(not loose) by 4-7 points tonight in Knoxville. Will be hard game,but VOLS prevail!
bigdisbig writes:
This game scares me for the simple fact that everyone is picking the Vols. Everyone on sports center have picked the Vols and that is scarey. Even Lee Corso picks the Vols.....its the kiss of death when he picks a team.
I hope I'm wrong but I see the gators making it 8 in a row with Bray getting sacked too many times.
10SE writes:
It hasn't felt like this in a long time. Let's go get 'em!
twobits writes:
I have to admit your QB is very talented. I also have to admit that if we(gators) don't watch it and play d this could get away from us. I just don't see it. It's going to be a close game
TheVolSnake writes:
Now I know we will win, you picked NC State to win by a lot, also the dropped passed NC State had were called interceptions.
Vol's by 14
Troll_Here writes:
I'm just excited that this game matters again. Obviously I'd like my Gators to win, but these are the kind of games both of our programs need to play in. I'm sick of hearing about the SEC west. The east is coming back baby!
LCPanthers (Inactive) writes:
I am not in accord with this.
1.Tennessee will be able to run ball.
2.Fl defense will not be able to stop Vol passing game.
3.It will be Vol defense that puts a hurt on FL quarterback.
4.It will not come down to a kicking game.
Tennessee-38
Fl-20
cloudodust writes:
The East will remain somewhat a sidebar until we can consistently or at least occasionally play with their top teams. Alabama under Saban puts one of the if not THE most disciplined-playing teams on the field nearly each week. They play their assignments almost flawless. Yeah, they can be beat but not on a weekly basis. I would say Good Luck to you today but seeing how that just wouldn't be proper, much less honest, I won't. A Gator friend of mine (that sounds like an oxymoron) likes to say, 'May the best team win. They usually do'...Go Vols
LCPanthers (Inactive) writes:
You call that a great defense???They were lucky to win both games.Idont see how Fl defense is nothing but so-so at best.I
would even say Vol defense plays better tonite than Fl.You are dreaming.
Tennessee-38
Fl-20
LCPanthers (Inactive) writes:
Get over all these dreams u are having-----it is lites out tonite in K-town for Fl.Bray is going to lite them up and we are also going to run on them.Fl quarterback will be running for his life and looking up at the stars.
Tennessee-38
Fl-20
LONEWOLF-VOL writes:
um, ok
licknpromise777#651578 writes:
Nice post..Stopping Gillislee is KEY..Gillislee has a groin injury and it's a safe bet he's goonna get the needle pregame..Driskel is pretty good throwing short in routes and GSU got all their yardage doing just that..I hope Chaney isn't foolish enough to open the game trying to run up the gut cause the gators will be keying on that and it will only lead to a 3rd and long..Dooley still believes Young is a inside running threat..Fact is he's not unless he runs behind the FB. Much better off using Watson instead..Getting off to a good start in the passing game is paramount..Will be pretty easy to hit Hunter on short out routes for some easy first downs..Will be interesting to see if Gator CB's give CP a big cushion;Zach has the opportunity to make some big plays also..If Iam not mistaken he's our fastest WR
min32926#266113 writes:
GBO!!!
BIVOLAR_BEARE writes:
This is easy, UT must:
1. Run enough to keep UF honest.
2. Win the turnover battle.
3. Hit and confuse Driskel.
4. Punt effectively and cover kicks.
5. Don't get too hyped and play within yourself.
If UT can achieve 3 out 5 of these things they win, if they achieve all five they win easily..GBO!!
Bark_at_the_Moon writes:
Why do the wave at all? Out dated and stupid! And I agree with both of you on making noise when our offense has the ball. Ignorant!
Bark_at_the_Moon writes:
DITTO & AMEN.
murrayvol writes:
TOP is the most overrated statistic in football. A selfprofessedhandicapper should know this.
murrayvol writes:
1. Not much but it shouldn't matter
2. No they won't
3. We hope
4. We pray
GBO by at least 10
murrayvol writes:
They've lost a few deputies on defense. Not as deep as they once were.
Lizardgrad89 writes:
Last post 5 minutes before the game, after that nothing. ROFL.
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