Florida football’s 2022 campaign is still months away, but as the summer months begin to creep in, opening weekend will be here quicker than most think. With the spring practice schedule now well in the rearview mirror, it is high time to start looking ahead at what might happen when fall finally arrives.
247Sports’ Austin Nivison took a stab at predicting every Southeastern Conference team’s first loss this coming season, with his prediction for the Gators being a bit unsettling for Florida fans. He believes that the Orange and Blue will fall first in Week 2 against the Tennessee Volunteers in what was once a proud rivalry that has been reduced to an SEC afterthought in recent years.
While the Gators have absolutely dominated the series over nearly the past two decades, winning 16 of the last 17 matchups, given that the game is in Knoxville it could be a good bet for the recent five-game winning streak to come to an end. Here is Vinison’s justification for his selection.
The Volunteers have a legitimate shot to score a rare win over the Gators this fall. However, the history indicates that won’t happen. Since Tennessee’s last win in this series, which came in 2016, Florida has taken control with several wins coming in lopsided fashion. Between home-field advantage, veteran quarterback Hendon Hooker, and all the changes Florida went through in the offseason, Tennessee does have a few things working in its favor. Having said that, the Gators are still plenty talented, and they seem to have a bit of psychological edge in this rivalry game.
The Vols’ only win over the past 17 years came in 2016 when [autotag]Jim McElwain[/autotag]’s team fell short of [autotag]Butch Jones[/autotag]’ squad on the road, 38-28. Of course, that stretch also includes the memorable Heave to Cleve play to beat Tennessee the following year.
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