UT v UF: They're Not Who We Thought They Were?

(Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)

Both Tennessee and Florida learned a lot about themselves after the 23-13 Florida victory last Saturday. The Gators might not be the untouchable No. 1 team they seemed to be, and the Vols still have some fight in them.

Tim Tebow and company were supposed to wipe the floor with Tennessee and were favored by 30 points. But when Eric Berry knocked Tebow flat on his back, the Vols made a statement that they weren’t going down easy.

This game was an all-out war between two SEC teams, and rankings didn’t matter. If a few key plays had gone differently, this game could have gone either way. But in the end, Florida was the better team and came out on top.

Though Tennessee lost the game, they now have some of their swagger back that they had lost after the UCLA game. The Vols head back to Knoxville this Saturday to face the Ohio Bobcats.

Ohio should be an easy win for UT, but blowing the Bobcats out isn’t the focus of this game. It is critical that Jonathan Crompton plays well and gets a confidence boost. Tennessee needs Crompton to be ready to face upcoming SEC opponents Auburn and Georgia.

Crompton needs to work on getting into a rhythm on his throws and work on his accurarcy downfield. Against Florida, it seemed every time Crompton threw a ball further than 15 yards it would be intercepted. This passing needs some serious work if the Vols expect to convert on long third downs.

The running back tandem of Montario Hardesty and Bryce Brown has emerged as a legitimate 1-2 punch. Also with freshman David Oku showing some promise, this backfield could turn into a three-headed monster. The running game is the strength of this Vols offense and these two backs should tear right through the Ohio defensive front.

The Florida game showed that the Vols have a championship level defense and arguably the best defensive player in the country in Eric Berry. If Lane Kiffin can get his offense back on track, this team could be near the top of the SEC East.

Saturday’s game versus Ohio will be a stepping stone for the Vols to get ready for SEC play.

My prediction: Tennessee- 35 Ohio- 7

Quote of the century- After the UT- Florida game. CBS sideline reporter: “Coach Kiffin, I guess you won’t be singing Rocky Top tonight like you planned, but what did you think of the game?” Lane Kiffin: “Pardon me? I can’t hear you. Rocky Top is playing right now.”

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