DEFENSE THE KEY AS #1 FLORIDA BEATS TENNESSEE

Tennessee put up a gutty effort against #1 ranked Florida in ‘The Swamp’, but ultimately the Gators’ defense were too much for the Vols.  Florida held Tennessee to 210 yards of total offense en route to a 23-13 SEC victory on Saturday and in the process won their school record 13th consecutive game.  The Vols fell to 2-7 all time when playing a #1 ranked team.  Florida has now beaten Tennessee in five straight, and has won 10 of the last 12 meetings at home.

Sports gamblers who took the points with UT in their bet on college football were smiling at the end, as Florida never really threatened to cover as -29’ home favorites.  Despite the ATS setback, Florida’s pointspread records remain outstanding—they’re 20-7 ATS overall in the past three years, as well as 13-4 ATS in SEC games and 10-3 ATS at home.  The 36 points scored went well UNDER the posted total of 52.  It was only Florida’s 4th UNDER verdict in their last 14 home games, while Tennessee has now gone UNDER in 14 of their last 18 Southeast Conference contests.  

Florida QB Tim Tebow didn’t have a great day, though he did rush for a touchdown. On the other hand, he failed to put a touchdown pass on the board for the first time in 30 games.  He sounded almost disappointed that the Gators’ weren’t able to dish out more of a beating to their hated rivals:

"It wasn't how we envisioned or hoped. But it's a win and it's good enough for all of us."

First year Vols’ coach Lane Kiffin, who had become a target of scorn for Florida fans and players alike, tried to suggest that it was all part of a master plan:

"It worked perfectly. It took all the pressure off the players. We played the No. 1 team in the nation with no pressure on them. ... It was all on me. We were 30-point underdogs in this place and it really helped them go out and play ball."

Vols QB Jonathan Crompton was held in check by the Florida defense and intercepted twice.  He was less happy with the ‘moral victory’ than his coach:

"I'm not happy. Don't want to lose if you're a competitor. Hate losing more than you like winning. Look at the positives. Got a chance to capitalize early and late."

Gators’ coach Urban Meyer was more upbeat than his hyper competitive quarterback:

"Unbelievable. Vintage Tebow. He had a hell of a day. ... He kind of took that game over on that drive. That was one of the best plays. I can't wait to see that on film. He was this far from out of bounds and got the first down."

Even the Vols’ Kiffin had nothing but praise for Tebow:

"I don't think he's human. I really don't. There were times when I asked the coaches in the booth on the headset, 'Is he ever going to wear down?' But he never does. Our defense worked hard and you just prayed to get it to third-and-4, because if it was third-and-3, he was going to put his head down and run over people."

Meyer concluded with an observation about the pressure his team feels to perform well every week:

"I think there's so much pressure on this team to perform perfectly, which is good. I'd rather be on that end than on, 'Boy, great job. We lost by 10.' I don't want to do that. There's a lot of pressure on these guys and I felt it in there."

The Gators will play their next two games on the road, starting with a trip to the University of Kentucky next weekend.  After a bye week they’ll face perhaps their toughest test of the season as they take on LSU in Baton Rouge on October 10th.  They’ll return home the following weekend to face the University of Arkansas.  Tennessee will play their next three games at Knoxville’s Neyland Stadium, beginning with a non-conference tilt against the University of Ohio next Saturday.  They’ll then face a couple of SEC heavyweights in back to back weeks as they welcome Auburn and Georgia to town.