Tennessee @ Florida preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 18, 2010 ) Florida 31, Tennessee 17

THE STORY: Tennessee looks to end a six-game losing streak to Florida, its longest skid in series history, as it travels to Gainesville for a matchup of unbeaten SEC East rivals. This game reunites Tennessee coach Derek Dooley and Florida coach Will Muschamp, who worked together at LSU and with the Miami Dolphins under Nick Saban. It’s also a battle between Florida’s tough defense and a potent Tennessee offense.

TV: CBS. LINE: Florida -9.5.

ABOUT TENNESSEE (2-0): The Volunteers feature one of the most prolific aerial offenses in the FBS, ranking fifth in the nation in pass efficiency and ninth in passing offense. Tennessee has gained 970 total yards through two games, and QB Tyler Bray was named SEC Player of the Week after throwing for 405 yards last week. The only other Tennessee signal-caller to tally 400 passing yards in a game? Peyton Manning, who achieved that feat three times. However, the man who protects Bray’s blind side -- LT Dallas Thomas -- is battling a sprained knee.

ABOUT FLORIDA (2-0): The 18th-ranked Gators have outscored their first two opponents by a combined margin of 80-3, and are tied for the top spot in the FBS in scoring defense. Top RB Jeff Demps, one of the fastest players in the country, is probable after leaving last week’s game against UAB with a shoulder injury. Keep an eye on WR/RB Chris Rainey, who had 162 yards of total offense and got the bulk of the carries in Demps’ absence. DE Shariff Floyd is good to go after the NCAA ruled him ineligible for the first two games of the season.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Backup linebacker Dee Finley was arrested on Monday on charges of resisting arrest and driving with a suspended license. It’s the seventh player arrest at Florida since Muschamp took over.

2. The Volunteers have yet to win a game played outside of Tennessee during second-year coach Derek Dooley’s tenure. The Vols won two road games last season, played at Memphis and Vanderbilt.

3. The players involved in this game were still in grade school the last time current Florida offensive coordinator Charlie Weis went against the Vols, but Weis definitely had a successful day. Then the head coach at Notre Dame, Weis’ Irish racked up 346 yards in a 41-21 Notre Dame victory on Nov. 5, 2005.

PREDICTION: Florida 41, Tennessee 21 – Florida has quicker backs and a better running game. Going against a Tennessee front seven with only one veteran starter, that should be the difference.