Tennessee won’t be swamped
So far this season, Florida coach Urban Meyer has had no worries. His defending national champions have come out smoking.
But the Gators get their first real test today at home against Southeastern Conference rival Tennessee.
Florida has most of its key parts back from last season’s offense with the notable change being physical sophomore Tim Tebow taking over at quarterback for departed Chris Leak.
Defense, however, is a different issue for the Gators, whose starting lineup is littered with redshirt freshmen and sophomores.
While Florida has opened the season with virtual scrimmages against Western Kentucky and Troy, the Volunteers have played two teams — California and Southern Mississippi — which won bowl games in each of the previous two seasons.
So while many Gators players will find themselves in their first real tussle, the Volunteers already are battle tested.
Also, six of the past nine meetings between these SEC East rivals have been decided by four points or fewer.
I recommend taking Tennessee as an 8-point underdog at “The Swamp.”
Other selections for today (home team in CAPS):
• VIRGINIA TECH (-21) over Ohio: Louisiana-Lafayette gained 534 total yards last week against Ohio, so the Bobcats’ defense could be the perfect tonic for an ailing, lethargic Hokies offense that gets a shot of adrenaline with true freshman Tyrod Taylor taking over at quarterback.
Ohio is 4-8 against the spread versus its past 12 nonconference opponents, and Virginia Tech is 4-1 against the spread off its last five straight-up losses.
• Army (+20) over WAKE FOREST: The Demon Deacons have thrived as underdogs in recent years but fallen flat when placed in the favorite’s role.
Wake Forest is 0-6 against the spread as a favorite of more than 14 points under coach Jim Grobe and 5-20 against the spread in its past 25 games as a favorite of any type.
After opening with marquee opponents Boston College and Nebraska, the Deacons are in a huge sandwich situation here with a winnable Atlantic Coast Conference game against Maryland on deck.
• Fresno State (+161/2) over OREGON: It is no secret that the Western Athletic Conference Bulldogs are coming off a potentially draining overtime loss at Texas A&M. Oregon, meanwhile, brought down “The Big House,” thoroughly dominating Michigan by a 39-7 margin.
Fresno State coach Pat Hill will take his best shot at the Pacific-10 Ducks. In its opener, Oregon struggled against a Houston squad featuring a redshirt freshman quarterback starting his first-ever college game at Autzen Stadium.
• Mississippi-VANDERBILT (Over 46): Mississippi’s defense is not the same without linebacker Patrick Willis, a first-round draft pick of the San Francisco 49ers. The Rebels allowed 467 and 548 yards in their first two games, against Memphis and Missouri.
The Commodores return 10 offensive starters, including the pass-catch combination of Chris Nickson to Earl Bennett. Vanderbilt has allowed an average of 31 points in its past six SEC games, with all those opponents scoring at least 24 points.
Last week: 4-1 against the spread
Season: 8-2
Texas-based handicapper Paul Stone of Vegas Sports Authority (vegassportsauthority.com) is providing weekly college football analysis for the Review-Journal this season.