No. 18 Florida (2-0, 1-0 SEC) at No. 23 Tennessee (2-0, 0-0 SEC)
Kickoff: Saturday, 6 p.m. ET (ESPN)
Spread: Tennessee by 3
Watchability: This will be one of the better games of the weekend. After both teams struggled in 2011, the Vols and Gators are trying to get back in the SEC East picture. It will be the first SEC test for Tennessee, a team that has been dominant on offense through two weeks. The Gators were inconsistent against Bowling Green and Texas A&M, but they did enough to win both games. It will be especially fun to watch Tennessee’s explosive offense against the athletic Florida defense.
Shining stars: Tennessee: QB Tyler Bray has been almost flawless through two games. He’s completed 74 percent of his passes for 643 yards, six touchdowns and no interceptions. Now, he must face a defense that sacked him three times and intercepted him twice in a 33-23 Florida victory in 2011. Bray has looked elite at times, but he’s still looking for his first signature SEC win. Florida: Coach Will Muschamp needed a powerful RB to emerge. He found one in Mike Gillislee. Gillislee leads the SEC with 231 rushing yards on 38 attempts. He’s also tied with LSU’s Kenny Hilliard for first in the SEC in touchdown runs with four.
Who could steal the show: Tennessee: WR Justin Hunter tore his ACL on his first reception against Florida in 2011. A year later, he’s back to 100 percent, and is anxious for another shot at the Gators. He has 17 receptions for 219 yards and three touchdowns through two games this season. The 6-foot-4, 200-pound former track athlete is a nightmare matchup even for the most seasoned SEC secondaries. Florida: DE Dominique Easley had two tackles for loss against the Vols in 2011, and he’ll be looking to get in the backfield again this season. He has seven tackles and a sack thus far in 2012. Pass protection is a strength for the Vols, but they struggle running between the tackles. Easley was a big part of the reason the Vols finished last year’s game with negative rushing yards.
You going? Ranking the road trip: It’s hard to do a whole lot better than a trip to see Florida and Tennessee play. All 102,455 seats at Neyland Stadium are sold out, the tailgating will start at sunrise and it should be a loud and hostile environment. The Tennessee fans have a lot of frustration built up from the team's struggles the past few years. Expect them to sing "Rocky Top" even louder than normal.
Magic number for Tennessee: 30. The Vols have reached that score twice in the past 11 games against Florida, but when they did, they won both times. Getting to 30 points, or very close to it, would put the Vols in great position to win Saturday.
Magic number for Florida: 3. Consecutive wins by the Gators against the Vols in Knoxville.
The game comes down to: Which team imposes its tempo? The Vols will use a no-huddle attack and look to move down the field in a hurry. Florida will want to keep the Tennessee offense off the field with its athletic defense, and then it will hope to control the ball with Gillislee and the running game. Injuries could be a factor as well. Tennessee LBs Herman Lathers (shoulder) and Curt Maggitt (toe) are both questionable, while Florida will be without LB Jelani Jenkins (thumb) and CB Cody Riggs (foot). [To read Eye on College Football's keys to the Florida/Tennessee game click here.]
Prediction: Tennessee 28, Florida 21
For more up-to-the minute news and analysis from SEC bloggers Larry Hartstein and Daniel Lewis, follow @CBSSportsSEC.