In the 12-team playoff era, every Power Four team gets a shot at redemption.
That’s good news for Tennessee after their stumble last weekend in Fayetteville. But for the Florida Gators, the road ahead looks far more daunting. They’re entering the toughest part of their schedule, starting with a fired-up Tennessee squad on the road.
Can the Gators hold their ground, or will the Volunteers take out their frustrations on Billy Napier’s team?
Florida vs. Tennessee Betting Preview
All Florida vs. Tennessee odds are from DraftKings Sportsbook and are correct as of Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024. The CFN spread comes from College Football Network’s Football Playoff Meter.
- CFN FPM Spread
Tennessee -16 - Spread
Tennessee -14.5 - Moneyline
Tennessee -600, Florida +440 - Over/Under
55.5 points - Game Time
Oct. 12, 7 p.m. ET - Location
Neyland Stadium, Knoxville, Tenn. - Predicted Weather at Kick
68 degrees, clear, 3 mph winds - How To Watch
ESPN
CFN’s Football Playoff Meter and Las Vegas are aligned on this one, both favoring the Volunteers by around 16 points. With a spread of 14.5 points and a total of 55.5, Vegas implies the score will be close to 35-20, Tennessee.
MORE: CFN Betting Parlay Calculator
There hasn’t been a lot of line movement here. Some books opened at 16 points and that has ticked down. FanDuel currently has this at 14.5 in favor of the Volunteers. The total remains between 54 and 54.5 everywhere I’ve looked.
Prediction for Florida vs. Tennessee
If you’d asked me last week, I might have pointed to this as a potential trap game for the Volunteers ahead of their big matchup with Alabama. But after a tough loss to Arkansas, Tennessee no longer has the luxury of overlooking anyone.
They’re probably also fired up after last week’s underwhelming offensive performance.
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Nico Iamaleava made some of the mistakes you’d expect from a redshirt freshman, but his talent is undeniable, and the run game remains one of the best in the country—even if it didn’t show it last week.
Still, it’s the defense that’s likely to bounce back the quickest.
Florida has had success against weaker defenses but struggled against teams like Miami and Texas A&M. Tennessee’s defense is stronger than both, and they should prove it on Saturday.
Bottom line: I think Florida’s been propped up by wins over two of the weakest teams in their respective Power Four conferences and may be in for a reality check.
There’s always the possibility that Tennessee’s offense doesn’t click, which could complicate things. But I think Florida’s defensive issues remain, and I trust Josh Heupel to get more out of his young offense.
I’m not seeing much value in the total (I’d lean under if I had to pick), but I believe an angry Tennessee team takes care of business at home.
Prediction: Tennessee 41, Florida 13
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