This weekend, two former SEC East rivals, Tennessee and Florida, will face off, rekindling a rivalry with a rich history. Although the SEC no longer has divisions, these two programs have a long-standing tradition of intense matchups.
Historically, Florida has dominated the series, holding a 31-21 advantage over Tennessee. The Volunteers have struggled in recent years, winning only one of the last seven meetings and just two games in the series since 2005. Last season, the Gators secured a 29-16 victory over Tennessee in Gainesville.
Despite Florida’s recent success in the rivalry, this year the Volunteers enter as heavy favorites, with a 15-point edge according to DraftKings. However, this game is often unpredictable, with only four matchups since 2012 being decided by 15 or more points. Regardless of where the teams are ranked or how they’ve performed, the rivalry tends to produce close, hard-fought battles.
Currently ranked in the top 15, Tennessee is expected to rebound from a recent loss to Arkansas. Florida, on the other hand, has had a difficult season but gained some momentum with a win over UCF last weekend. While Tennessee is favored to win by multiple scores, the unpredictable nature of this rivalry means anything could happen on game day.
