KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Despite giving up just 19 rushing yards and making multiple timely stops, Florida’s passing attack was too much for Tennessee to overcome in a 31-19 defeat on Saturday inside Neyland Stadium.
Tennessee true-freshman quarterback Harrison Bailey completed 14 of his 21 pass attempts for 111 yards and his first career touchdown toss in his first career start for UT (2-6).
Bailey became the fourth ever Tennessee true-freshman signal caller to make his first career start against a top-10 opponent, joining Erik Ainge, Josh Dobbs and Brian Mauer.
Senior tailback Ty Chandler finished with 64 all-purpose yards, giving him 3,184 for his career. Chandler moved past Jamal Lewis and Travis Henry into fifth all-time in Tennessee history in career all-purpose yards.
The defensive duo of linebacker Henry To’o To’o and cornerback Warren Burrell led the way for the Vols defense, tallying eight total tackles apiece. To’o To’o also recorded a game- and career-high 2.5 tackles for loss.
Tennessee offensive linemen Cade Mays and Cooper Mays each started, becoming the first set of Tennessee brothers to start in the same game since Eli Wolf and Ethan Wolf did so on Sept. 4, 2017 against Georgia Tech at the Chick-Fil-A Kickoff Game in Atlanta.
Florida quarterback Kyle Trask led the way for UF (8-1) with 433 yards through the air and four touchdowns.
The Gators opened the scoring on a 30-yard field goal from Evan McPherson with 9:19 remaining in the opening quarter.
After the teams traded punts to end the first quarter, the Vols marched 96 yards down the field in 11 plays, capped by Bailey’s first career touchdown pass — a 15-yard connection to Gray out of the backfield — to give UT a 7-3 advantage with 9:59 left in the first half.
The drive was the longest scoring drive of the season for the Vols in terms of yardage and the touchdown was Gray’s 10th in his last 10 games.
Florida immediately responded with a six-play, 75-yard drive in just over two minutes to regain a three-point advantage.
On the ensuing drive, the Vols failed to convert on a fake punt from their own 30, but the defense was undaunted with its back against the wall, forcing a three-and-out before McPherson missed a 53-yard field goal attempt.
Following a Tennessee punt, the Gators added their second touchdown of the half to take a 17-7 lead into the locker room.
Getting the first possession of the second half, Florida maintained its momentum with a five-play, 75-yard touchdown drive to increase its lead to 24-7.
The Gators pushed the advantage to 31-7 with another touchdown early in the fourth quarter.
The Vols responded by embarking on an 11-play, 94-yard drive led by reserve quarterback J.T. Shrout. Chandler capped the drive with his third score of the season to cut the Florida lead to 31-13.
Shrout added his first touchdown pass of the year late in the fourth quarter, hitting transfer receiver Velus Jones Jr. on a 22-yard pitch-and-catch to cement the final score of 31-19. Shrout finished the game 12-of-14 passing for 121 yards in limited action.
The Vols return to action next week with a road contest against Vanderbilt. Kickoff time for that game is still to be determined.
As the popular saying goes: The sixth time is the charm.
After five game cancellations over the last two weeks, the 13th-ranked Tennessee basketball team now aims to open its season Tuesday, welcoming Colorado for a 6 p.m. ET tipoff at Thompson-Boling Arena.
The game will be streamed on SEC Network+.
Tennessee is 2-0 all-time against Colorado, picking up wins in Knoxville and Boulder in 1980 and 1981, respectively. Vols head coach Rick Barnes is 13-4 as a head coach against CU.
The Vols are 19-11 all-time against current members of the Pac 12. Tennessee’s most recent action against a Pac 12 opponent resulted in a 75-62 win over 20th-ranked Washington at last season’s James Naismith Classic in Toronto.
The Buffaloes will be the first Pac 12 opponent to visit Thompson-Boling Arena since Southern Cal in December 2010.
Colorado opened this season with a home victory over South Dakota before improving to 2-0 with a road win at Kansas State. Buffs head coach Tad Boyle was Tennessee’s director of basketball operations under head coach Jerry Green during the 1997-98 season.
Second-year Tennessee assistant coach Kim English was an assistant at Colorado before coming to Rocky Top and helped recruit multiple players on the current CU roster.
Tennessee ticket holders will receive pertinent ticket and gameday information via email. Fans should note that the Colorado game is taking place one day earlier than the canceled game against UT Martin that it is replacing (Tuesday instead of Wednesday).
Tennessee wasn’t up to the task against Kyle Trask and the Florida Gators, but at least the Vols showed some fight in the second half and provided enough silver linings to put in a playbook.
Trask registered some gaudy numbers: 35 of 49 for 433 yards and four touchdowns, giving him a nation’s-best 38 on the season.
If there is such a thing as a quiet 433, Trask provided it Saturday as the 6th-ranked Gators (8-1) turned back Tennessee (2-6) 31-19 to record a 15th win in 16 tries against the Vols (or Vowels, if you listen to the TV commentators).
Tennessee has now lost six games in a row for the first time since 1988.
Tennessee coach Jeremy Pruitt sounded encouraged (if you listened closely) by the 12-point defeat.
“There’s probably not as much difference in the team in this locker room and the other locker room, except obviously the record,’’ Pruitt said.
Pruitt said his team needs to discern how much difference there is in the two teams and “let’s figure out how we can get’’ to Florida’s level.
Pruitt was particularly proud of the way UT hung tough in the second half, outscoring Florida 12-7 in the fourth quarter and marching 94 and 96 yards for touchdowns.
“We don’t have an effort problem,’’ Pruitt said. “We don’t have a toughness problem. We have an execution problem.’’
Pruitt lamented the many times UT was playing inside man-to-man pass coverage, only to let Gator receivers maneuver inside and make first-down catches.
After losing by 23 to Georgia and 31 to Alabama, Pruitt was asked if there was a different feeling after this defeat because the closer margin.
“No,’’ Pruitt said. “I came to this stadium to win the game. Thats’ the only goal. … No — that’s the answer.’’
As expected, Tennessee started true freshman Harrison Bailey at quarterback, then went with JT Shrout in the fourth quarterback.
Pruitt said Jarrett Guarantano didn’t play because he had not practiced in 13 days. Guarantano was among about 16 Vols who missed at least a week of work due to contact tracing or having COVID-19.
SEC athletic directors voted Thursday to adopt CDC guidelines which limited isolation to 7 to 10 days, rather than 14. Pruitt said that cleared only three Vols to play.
Pruitt said several Vols who were limited in practice wanted to play despite missing time. But that could have been to their detriment.
“If you don’t shoot any free throws or shoot the ball for a couple of weeks,’’ Pruitt said. “It’s hard to make them in a game. When you don’t guard for a couple of weeks, it’s hard to guard No. 84 (Pitts).’’
It’s hard to guard No. 84 regardless.
“To me, he’s really hard to guard when he’s at wide receiver,’’ Pruitt said. “He’s got wiggle like a wide receiver, but he weighs 240 pounds. He’s a tough cover.’’
Bailey did a respectable job in his first career start, completing 14 of 21 passes for 111 yards and one touchdown.
After UT failed to score on its first four possessions of the second half, Pruitt turned to Shrout, who injured his right labrum at practice Wednesday, but said the soreness in his throwing arm didn’t impact his play.
Shrout directed the two late scoring drives and hit 12 of 14 passes for 121 yards and a score.
Pruitt said he felt both quarterbacks did a “pretty good job,’’ but he bristled a bit when asked about the quarterback competition going forward.
“Every week, so you never have to ask me this again, we’ll see who competes in practice,’’ Pruitt said. “And whoever does the best job and affects the players around him (will start).’’
In addition to the long scoring drives, the Vols did a terrific job of shutting down Florida’s run game, holding the Gators to 19 yards on 17 rushes (although two were sacks).
“I didn’t realize they ran the ball, to be honest,’’ Pruitt said with tongue in cheek.
Tennessee also held Florida without points after the Gators took possession on the UT 30-, 47- and 43-yard lines.
Pruitt sounded like a coach who thinks his team is close to playing at high level if it can eliminate mistakes.
“This game was similar to a lot of games we’ve played,’’ Pruitt said. “About 90 percent of the plays are winning football, maybe top tier in this league.
“But unfortunately you’ve got to count all the plays.’’
KNOXVILLE, TN – OCTOBER 24, 2020 – Defensive lineman Aubrey Solomon #98 of the Tennessee Volunteers during the game between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, TN. Photo By Andrew Ferguson/Tennessee Athletics
Each week, I share my predictions and info on SEC football games.
Below is broadcast info and analysis for Week 11 in the SEC.
These are straight-up winners only. The point spread is just as a barometer for how big of a favorite or underdog each team is.
Last week was my 4th straight undefeated week of predictions. I’ve predicted 23 straight SEC winners correctly. The last missed pick was the Auburn win over LSU on Halloween.
I’m 6-1 in predicting the Vols this season. My one miss was the shocking Kentucky home blowout loss for UT.
2020 SEC Week 10 Game Prediction Record: 6-0 (100%)
2020 SEC Season Prediction Record: 46-9 (85%)
2019 SEC Game Prediction Record: 103-20 (84%)
SEC WEEK 11 – RARE DECEMBER SCHEDULE OPENS IN SEC SATURDAY, December 5
Arkansas (3-5, 3-5 SEC) at Missouri (4-3, 4-3 SEC)
12 p.m. ET • SEC Network
Columbia, Mo. • Faurot Field (62,621)
Series: MIZ leads, 8-3
Last: MIZ, 24-14 (2019 in Fayetteville)
Sirius: 137 • XM: 380/190
Point Spread: Missouri -3 Vince’s View: I’ve been leaning on going with a Razorbacks upset win on the road, but Mizzou has won four straight in the series and Tigers QB Connor Bazelak has been so solid (no INTs at home, 70% completion on the season) that I have to go Missouri’s way. Arkansas RB Rakeem Boyd opting out hurts the weapons available for Feleipe Franks, who’s had a solid season as well (68% completion) as the veteran Arkansas QB. Even though the schedule hasn’t played out as tough as looked entering the season for Mizzou, but what this team has done is impressive.
Score Prediction: Missouri 27 Arkansas 26
#5 Texas A&M (6-1, 6-1 SEC) at Auburn (5-3, 5-3 SEC)
12 p.m. ET • ESPN
Auburn, Ala. • Jordan-Hare Stadium (87,451)
Series: Tied, 5-5
Last: AU, 28-20 (2019 in College Station)
Sirius: 106/98 • XM: 191/192
Point Spread: Texas A&M -5 ½
Vince’s View: The Aggies offense left something to be desired against LSU last week. Kellen Mond’s inconsistency is why I don’t trust the Aggies as the biggest SEC playoff threat after Alabama. I think that’s Florida. The Aggies are best when they run the ball with talented tailback Isaiah Spiller. Auburn has had big issues stopping the run. The Tigers tend to be sleepy in Noon games as well.
Score Prediction: Texas A&M 31 Auburn 17
#6 Florida (7-1, 7-1 SEC) at Tennessee (2-5, 2-5 SEC)
3:30 p.m. ET • CBS
Knoxville, Tenn. • Neyland Stadium (102,455)
Series: UF leads, 29-20
Last: UF, 34-3 (2019 in Gainesville)
Sirius: 81/106 • XM: 81/191
Point Spread: Florida -17 ½
Vince’s View: Florida is not perfect. Tennessee has not been void of positive moments. Those moments have been in the first half only the last 5 games as UT has been outscored 108-14 in the second half during this losing streak. However, it is hard to imagine UT keeping up with UF offensively. If Dan Mullen can keep adding points and pile up stats for Kyle Trask’s Heisman hopes, I’d expect he’d keep doing that.
Yes, Eric Gray has run the ball well the last two weeks for Tennessee, but the Vols can’t turn those yards into points. Tennessee has the league’s worst 3rd down conversion margin in the league, by far, at -18%. So, who slows down TE Kyle Pitts from Florida on that Vols defense that has coverage busts and can’t pressure the quarterback? UT also has a huge issue with opponents making in-game and halftime adjustments and UT having no counters. Plus, if UF jumps out big, UT will either have to abandon the run or they will just keep running to keep the margin of victory down and/or protect the quarterback.
Our Jimmy Hyams reported that Jarrett Guarantano was the Vols QB that was in quarantine last week and this week, but he is back and available. Will Pruitt start him with little to no practice time over the fans’ choice, true freshman QB Harrison Bailey? Even if it is Bailey, we don’t know what to expect from him, so it’s hard to think he’ll be spectacular and upset the #6 team in the country.
On top of all the matchup and personnel issues for the Vols in this matchup, are the ugly numbers under Jeremy Pruitt, especially in big rivalry games. The first two Pruitt vs. Mullen meetings were 47-21 and last season’s previous rock bottom under Pruitt in Gainesville 34-3. Pruitt is 0-8 vs. Florida, Georgia and Alabama. The average score against those big three rivals has been 43-15. 12 of Jeremy Pruitt’s 17 losses have been by 21 points or more. Oh, and beyond Pruitt, the Gators have won 14 of the last 15 games in the series. There are more less than stellar stats, but we’ll spare you.
Those that were excited for a December matchup with the Gators in Knoxville because of the cold or chance for snow that the warm weather rivals would have to deal with, are only getting cool temps and colder hopes of an upset.
Score Prediction: Florida 45 Tennessee 20
South Carolina (2-7, 2-7 SEC) at Kentucky (3-6, 3-6 SEC)
7:30 p.m. ET • SEC Network
Lexington, Ky. • Kroger Field (61,000)
Series: SC leads, 18-12-1
Last: SC, 24-7 (2019 in Columbia)
Sirius: 137 • XM: 380/190
Point Spread: Kentucky -11 ½ Vince’s View: South Carolina has been decimated with a disappointing start, a coaching change, injuries and opt-outs. The Gamecocks have shown fight, but the team is undermanned. More was expected of Kentucky, but the offense, especially the passing game has been brutal. UK should South Carolina over a bunch and maybe even score on defense to pull away. Take the under with 46 ½, if you care about that stuff.
Score Prediction: Kentucky 24 South Carolina 10
#1 Alabama (8-0, 8-0 SEC) at LSU (3-4, 3-4 SEC)
8 p.m. ET • CBS
Baton Rouge, La. • Tiger Stadium (102,321)
Series: UA, 53-26-5
Last: LSU, 46-41 (2019 in Tuscaloosa)
Sirius: 84/81 XM: 84/81
Point Spread: Alabama -29 1/2 Vince’s View: There’s not much to say about this one once you look at LSU’s 121st ranked pass defense being tasked to try and stop one of the nation’s most prolific passing and overall offenses in the country. It’s staggering how much LSU has fallen off from last year’s national championship. LSU is almost 30 point home underdogs. Per VegasInsider, tha last time LSU was this big of a home dog was vs. FSU in 1991. Also, LSU is the biggest underdog by a defending national champion in the last 40 years.
Score Prediction: Alabama 52 LSU 17
Open: Ole Miss (4-4, 4-4 SEC); Mississippi State (2-6, 2-6 SEC) Vanderbilt (0-8, 0-8 SEC) #8 Georgia (6-2, 6-2 SEC)
The last two weekends of games are far from set even though the SEC has a plan. There’s a chance that the final two Tennessee games could be lost as well. With Vanderbilt having COVID-19 issues preventing them from playing at Georgia this week, that could extend into next week. The league also said that if Texas A&M had already clinched a spot in the SEC title game that the game would be canceled and considered a no-contest, since that game is on the same day as the SEC Championship. That would be the case for the rescheduled Vanderbilt/Georgia game December 19, if Georgia has clinched the East.
See the SEC’s full release, including the schedule the next two weeks below.
SEC ANNOUNCES FOOTBALL SCHEDULE FOR DECEMBER 12 AND 19
BIRMINGHAM, Alabama (December 4, 2020) – The Southeastern Conference has announced a schedule for football games to be played on December 12 and December 19 as a result of game postponements during the 2020 season due to the impact of COVID-19.
This rescheduling of games allows for the continued opportunity for all 14 SEC teams to each play ten games in the 2020 season. The revised schedule is contingent on the absence of additional postponements prior to December 12.
Prior to the 2020 season, December 12 was designated as an open date for all schools in order to reschedule postponements that developed during the season due to the impact of COVID-19. December 19 is the date of the SEC Football Championship Game to be played in Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Teams that do not qualify for the championship game are eligible to play rescheduled games on December 19.
Schedule of SEC Football Games for December 12:
LSU at Florida (rescheduled from October 17) Auburn at Mississippi State (rescheduled from November 14) Georgia at Missouri (rescheduled from November 14) Ole Miss at Texas A&M (rescheduled from November 21) Tennessee at Vanderbilt (rescheduled from November 28) Alabama at Arkansas (rescheduled from December 5)
Schedule of SEC Football games for December 19:
Texas A&M at Tennessee (rescheduled from November 14)* Ole Miss at LSU (rescheduled from December 5) Missouri at Mississippi State (rescheduled from December 5) Vanderbilt at Georgia (rescheduled from December 5)# SEC Football Championship, Atlanta, 8 pm ET/7 pm CT
*Should Texas A&M qualify for the SEC Championship Game on December 19, the Texas A&M at Tennessee game would be declared a no-contest and Texas A&M would represent the Western Division in the SEC title game.
#Should Georgia qualify for the SEC Championship Game on December 19, the Vanderbilt at Georgia game would be declared a no-contest and Georgia would represent the Eastern Division in the SEC title game.
The SEC’s COVID-19 management requirements, as developed by the SEC’s Return to Activity and Medical Guidance Task Force, are available on SECsports.com. (full report).
