No. 20 Tennessee @ Florida — Saturday at 6:30 p.m. on ABC
Tennessee is no stranger to electric home crowds with traditions such as their own Checker Neyland and Rocky Top blasting throughout the stadium. However, on Saturday, they will travel to one of college football’s most hostile environments: “The Swamp.”
“Rivalry game here. Will be a great atmosphere down in Gainesville, (Florida),” Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel said in his weekly Monday press conference. “It’s a football game that’s always physical and won in the details of the game.”
For Tennessee’s second-best offense to shine under the Swamp’s lights, they will have to make the most of each possession because of how Florida tends to hold onto the ball longer. Currently, the Volunteers only have possession of the ball for an average of 26:48 minutes per game, 130th in the nation, while the Gators rank 69th in the nation with 29:50 minutes per game.
No. 22 Missouri @ No. 8 Oklahoma — Saturday at 11:00 a.m. on ABC
As No. 8 Oklahoma welcomes No. 22 Missouri, it will look to continue its hot streak in the red zone. Having already played 10 games this season, the Sooners have the best red zone offense in the country, scoring on 100% of their trips to that area of the field.
While the Sooners have an elite red zone offense, they will have to face the 10th best defense in the nation. Missouri has only allowed an average of 277.5 yards per game. Junior defensive end Damon Wilson II has produced 17 total tackles, seven sacks and one interception.
“(Missouri) defense has been playing really well. It has (been) all year,” Oklahoma head coach Brent Venables said in his weekly Tuesday press conference. “All three levels, they’re excellent, well coached. Strong, athletic, long, they can rush the passer. It’s going to be a great challenge for us.”
Kentucky @ No. 14 Vanderbilt — Saturday at 2:30 p.m. on ESPN
As Kentucky travels to Nashville this week, they will be up against a Vanderbilt team led by graduate quarterback Diego Pavia. While passing for 2,440 yards and 21 touchdowns, the veteran quarterback has also rushed for 613 yards and an additional seven scores.
“It puts great pressure on the defense, and it doesn’t matter what defense it is. It doesn’t matter who you are,” Kentucky head coach Mark Stoops said in his weekly Monday press conference. “He makes plays, and he does it in every game he plays in … He’s going to make some plays. We just have to make ours as well.”
If the Wildcats are to stop the Commodores quarterback, the 50th ranked defense in college football will have to play to another standard. Specifically on third down, they will have to keep an eye on Pavia as they allow conversions 41.2% of the time.
