A classic SEC football rivalry returns to Rocky Top this weekend between a pair of teams that are 1-1 in conference play, as No. 8 Tennessee comes off a loss as it faces Florida in college football’s Week 7 action. Let’s check in with the latest predictions for the game from the model that picks winners.

Tennessee was slow to start and didn’t have enough to finish in an upset loss at unranked Arkansas last weekend, but still ranks fourth nationally in both scoring offense and defense and is 5th in FBS in rushing production.

Florida gave head coach Billy Napier a little more time with a win against UCF last week, a second straight victory that followed a dominant SEC debut against Mississippi State.

Looking ahead to this week’s matchup, let’s check out the latest college football predictions from the Football Power Index computer prediction model.

The model simulates every NCAA college football game 20,000 times and uses key analytics from both teams and picks winners based on a projected scoring margin per game.

As expected, most projections favor the Volunteers over the Gators.

Tennessee is projected to win the game outright in the majority 86.9 percent of the computer’s most recent simulations of the matchup.

That leaves Florida as the expected winner in the remaining 13.1 percent of sims.

In total, the Vols win out in 17,380 of the index’s 20,000 simulations of the game, while the Gators come out ahead in the other 2,620 projections.

Tennessee is projected to be 17.3 points better than Florida on the same field in both teams’ current composition, according to the model’s latest forecast.

If so, that would be enough to cover the spread.

That’s because Tennessee is a 15.5 point favorite against Florida, according to the lines at FanDuel Sportsbook.

FanDuel lists the total at 55.5 points for the game.

And it set the moneyline odds for Tennessee at -700 and for Florida at +500 to win outright.

Most bettors consider Vols the far better team on the field, according to the latest spread consensus picks.

A plurality of bets — 64 percent of them — predict Tennessee will win the game and cover the spread.

The other 36 percent of wagers expect Florida will either win in an upset, or keep the game within the line.

The game’s implied score suggests a comfortable win for Tennessee.

When taking the point spread and total into consideration, it’s implied that Tennessee will defeat Florida by a projected score of 36 to 20 in the game.

Tennessee is fifth among SEC teams with a 48 percent chance to qualify for the College Football Playoff and will win 9.4 games this season, according to the FPI’s metrics.

That model gives Florida a win total projection of 5 games and a 31.2 percent shot at a bowl game.

Football Power Index (FPI) college football rankings and computer prediction model are a measure of team strength that predicts a team’s future performance. 

Rankings and scores predictions are based on 20,000 simulations of a team’s season and games, using a combination of key analytics, including scores to date, quality of opponents, team talent, recruiting, and a team’s schedule.

Teams are ranked not in order of talent like in other rankings, but by a projected point margin per game against an average team on a neutral field.

First-place votes in parentheses

1. Texas (52)
2. Ohio State (9)
3. Oregon
4. Penn State
5. Georgia
6. Miami
7. Alabama
8. Tennessee
9. Ole Miss
10. Clemson
T-11. Iowa State/Notre Dame
13. LSU
14. BYU
15. Texas A&M
16. Utah
17. Boise State
T-18. Kansas State/Indiana/Oklahoma
21. Missouri
22. Pittsburgh
23. Illinois
24. Michigan
25. SMU

–

When: Sat., Oct. 12
Time: 7 p.m. ET | 6 p.m. CT
TV: ESPN network

–

Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.

If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, please call 1-800-GAMBLER.

–

More college football from SI: Top 25 Rankings | Schedule | Teams

Follow College Football HQ: Bookmark | Rankings | Picks

Week 7 of the 2024 Tennessee high school football season is in the books, and High School on SI has published its third computer rankings of the season in the state.

A quick look at the Class 6A computer rankings shows a new No. 1 team in the state, the Oakland Patriots, who remained undefeated last Friday. Right behind them in the No. 2 spot are the Ravenwood Raptors, who are coming off a 45-point victory against the Summit Spartans.

The Class 5A computer rankings also have a new No. 1 team with Sevier County taking over the top spot. A one-loss Powell team comes in at No. 2.

SBLive’s formula was created using its linear algebra-based ranking algorithm inspired by the Colley Bias-Free Ranking Method. Colley’s Method was created by Wes Colley, Ph.D., an astrophysicist at the University of Alabama at Huntsville. He devised his algorithm to help address the subjectivity and controversy regarding BCS college football selections in the 1990s and early 2000s, using a method that used no subjective variables.

• FAQ: SBLive High School Football Computer Rankings

Here are SBLive’s latest Tennessee football computer rankings, as of Oct. 7, 2024:

TENNESSEE HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL COMPUTER RANKINGS

CLASS 6A | CLASS 5A

CLASS 4A | CLASS 3A

CLASS 2A | CLASS 1A

CLASS 2-AAA | CLASS 2-AA | CLASS 2-A

CLASS 8 MAN

— Robin Erickson @sblivesports

The No. 9 Tennessee Volunteers meet a conference opponent when they host the Florida Gators on Saturday, October 12, 2024 at Neyland Stadium in an SEC showdown.

If you are looking to find Volunteers vs. Gators tickets, information is available below.

Tennessee vs. Florida game info

Shop Tennessee vs. Florida tickets

How to buy Tennessee vs. Florida tickets for college football Week 7

You can buy tickets to see the Volunteers play the Gators from multiple sources.

Tennessee vs. Florida betting odds, lines, spreads

• Spread favorite: Volunteers (-15.5)
• Moneyline favorite: Volunteers (-690)
• Total: 54 (O: -110, U: -110)

Odds courtesy of BetMGM

Tennessee Volunteers schedule

• Week 1: Aug. 31 at 12:45 p.m. ET vs. Chattanooga Mocs, 69-3 win
• Week 2: Sept. 7 at 7:30 p.m. ET at North Carolina State Wolfpack, 51-10 win
• Week 3: Sept. 14 at 7:45 p.m. ET vs. Kent State Golden Flashes, 71-0 win
• Week 4: Sept. 21 at 7:30 p.m. ET at Oklahoma Sooners, 25-15 win
• Week 6: Oct. 5 at 7:30 p.m. ET at Arkansas Razorbacks, 19-14 loss
• Week 7: Oct. 12 at 7:00 p.m. ET vs. Florida Gators
• Week 8: Oct. 19 vs. Alabama Crimson Tide
• Week 10: Nov. 2 vs. Kentucky Wildcats
• Week 11: Nov. 9 vs. Mississippi State Bulldogs
• Week 12: Nov. 16 at Georgia Bulldogs
• Week 13: Nov. 23 at 1:00 p.m. ET vs. UTEP Miners
• Week 14: Nov. 30 at Vanderbilt Commodores

Shop Tennessee football tickets

Tennessee Volunteers stats

• Tennessee has been making things happen on both sides of the ball this year, ranking fifth-best in total offense (519 yards per game) and second-best in total defense (227.6 yards allowed per game).
• The Volunteers have been clicking on all fronts this year, as they rank fourth-best in scoring offense (46 points per game) and fourth-best in scoring defense (9.4 points allowed per game).
• Tennessee sports the 47th-ranked offense this year in terms of passing yards (251.8 passing yards per game), and has been better on the other side of the ball, ranking 15th-best with only 159.6 passing yards allowed per game.
• The Volunteers have been thriving on both offense and defense in the running game, ranking fifth-best in rushing offense (267.2 rushing yards per game) and second-best in rushing defense (68 rushing yards allowed per game).

Florida Gators schedule

• Week 1: Aug. 31 at 3:30 p.m. ET vs. Miami (FL) Hurricanes, 41-17 loss
• Week 2: Sept. 7 at 7:00 p.m. ET vs. Samford Bulldogs, 45-7 win
• Week 3: Sept. 14 at 3:30 p.m. ET vs. Texas A&M Aggies, 33-20 loss
• Week 4: Sept. 21 at 12:00 p.m. ET at Mississippi State Bulldogs, 45-28 win
• Week 6: Oct. 5 at 7:45 p.m. ET vs. UCF Knights, 24-13 win
• Week 7: Oct. 12 at 7:00 p.m. ET at Tennessee Volunteers
• Week 8: Oct. 19 vs. Kentucky Wildcats
• Week 10: Nov. 2 at 3:30 p.m. ET at Georgia Bulldogs
• Week 11: Nov. 9 at 12:00 p.m. ET at Texas Longhorns
• Week 12: Nov. 16 vs. LSU Tigers
• Week 13: Nov. 23 at 12:00 p.m. ET vs. Ole Miss Rebels
• Week 14: Nov. 30 at Florida State Seminoles

Shop Florida football tickets

Florida Gators stats

• From an offensive standpoint, Florida is generating 411.2 total yards per game (60th-ranked). It ranks 96th in the FBS defensively (395 total yards given up per game).
• The Gators rank 62nd in the FBS with 30.2 points per contest on offense, and they rank 74th with 24.4 points surrendered per game on the defensive side of the ball.
• From an offensive standpoint, Florida is putting up 268.6 passing yards per game (35th-ranked). It ranks 81st in the FBS on defense (222.4 passing yards given up per game).
• With 142.6 rushing yards per game on offense, the Gators rank 84th in the FBS. Defensively they rank 101st, allowing 172.6 rushing yards per contest.

Shop Tennessee vs. Florida tickets

This content was created for Gannett using technology provided by Data Skrive.