KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee begins Southeastern Conference play on Saturday and if the recent past is any indication, the Vols are fighting an uphill battle.
The pesky Gators have defeated the Vols 10 consecutive years, including in 2014 when Tennessee blew a late lead and eventually lost 10-9.
Four of the last five games played in Florida have been relative close – the Vols lost three contests at the Swamp by an average of 10.7 points – except for the 59-20 blowout in 2007.
That was the largest margin in a loss for Tennessee in the series that Florida leads 25-19.
The Gators’ have the Vols in the longest losing streak since the series began in 1916. Tennessee, ironically, won the first 10 games – four were shutouts – in the rivalry.
Florida is the first of six straight SEC games for the Vols. They follow the trip to Gainesville with games against Arkansas, Georgia, Alabama, Kentucky and South Carolina.
Saturday's CBS broadcast will feature Verne Lundquist and Gary Danielson in the booth and Allie LaForce reporting from the sidelines. Fans can also listen live on their local Vol Network affiliate with Bob Kesling, Tim Priest and Brent Hubbs in the booth and John Brice on the sidelines. Satellite radio listeners can also tune in to Sirius Channel 119 or XM Channel 192.
Game information
Opponent: Florida
Kickoff: 3:30 p.m.
TV: CBS
Tennessee (2-1) and Florida (3-0) will square off for the 45th time.. The Vols’ last win in the series came on Sept. 18, 2004 as James Wilhoit kicked a 50-yard field goal with seven seconds left to lift Tennessee to a 30-28 victory. That 2004 win also marked the last time Tennessee began an SEC season with a victory.
The Vols are coming off of a 55-10 home win over Western Carolina on Saturday. Florida took a 14-9 win at Kentucky last week in the Gators' SEC opener.
On The Offensive
UT has 138 points over its first three games, marking its most through three games since scoring 171 to start the 1914 season.
The Vols have scored 50-plus points in two of their first three games in a season (59 vs. Bowling Green and 55 vs. Western Carolina) for the first time since 1914.
The Vols rank second in the SEC and 13th in the NCAA in points per game (46).
Led by Jalen Hurd (averaging 100 yards per game) and Alvin Kamara (65), the Vols are rushing for 246.0 yards per game, third in the SEC and 17th in the NCAA.
Hurd has rushed for 100 yards in three of the last four games, including three in a row (122 vs. Iowa, 123 vs. BGSU, 109 vs. OU).
Extra Special Teams
Last Saturday, the Vols had a kickoff return and punt return for touchdown in the same game for the first time since 1950 as Evan Berry had an 88-yard kickoff return for TD and Kamara had a 50-yard punt return for a score.
Kamara became the second Vol ever with a rushing and punt return touchdown in the same game, joining Stanley Morgan vs. Maryland in 1975. Kamara’s punt return TD came on his first-ever punt return (including high school, junior college).
Evan Berry leads the nation in kickoff return average with 45.8. Tennessee ranks third in the NCAA and first in the SEC in kickoff return average with 39.3 yards per return.
The Vols are 17th nationally and second in the SEC in punt return average at 19.9 per return.
Trevor Daniel is fourth in the NCAA and leads the SEC in punting average at 47.6 with eight of 16 punts travelling 50-plus yards.
UT-UF Quick Notes
• In his career, Brian Randolph has totaled 31 tackles (22 solo) against Florida over the previous three years, more than any current Vol. He also has one forced fumble, 2.5 tackles for a loss and one pass breakup against the Gators.
• Alton Howard hauled in 10 catches for 154 yards and one touchdown against Florida over the last two seasons. He hauled in six catches for 79 yards in 2014 and made four grabs for 75 yards and one score in 2013
• The 2014 Tennessee-Florida game marked the first time that the Vols did not play Florida as their SEC opener since 2001, when the game was moved to the end of the season because of the 9/11 attacks.
(E-mail Larry Fleming at larryfleming44@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter @larryfleming44)