The 2023 college football season is over, but diehard fans across the country are already looking forward to the 2024 season. Each year, one of the best contests of the season is sure to be the Tennessee vs. Florida rivalry. It is one of the best rivalries in college sports, and almost always lives up to the hype.
This article will tell you everything you need to know about betting on Tennessee vs. Florida.
Where to Bet on Tennessee vs. Florida
The Tennessee-Florida rivalry is one of the bet in the SEC and it is sure to be one of the most bet-on games in the 2024 season. There are a multitude of great sports betting promos on the market to claim and get in the college football action. Here are the best sportsbook bonuses available for Tennessee vs. Florida and more.
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This DraftKings promo offer is layered with three ways to earn bonuses to use on the sportsbook. Here is what it entails and how to claim each leg.
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Making the minimum deposit if at least $5 is required at sign up. Once you complete this step, you receive a $50 bonus bet. It can be used on any market and will be available immediately.
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Tennessee vs. Florida Odds
In their most recent matchup, the Gators defeated the Volunteers 29-16 on Sept. 16, 2023 in Gainesville. The Vols are looking to get their revenge in the next matchup between the two teams, which is set for Oct. 12, 2024 in Knoxville.
There have been several noteworthy streaks in the rivalry. In 2002, the Vols ended the Gators’ five-game winning streak in the rivalry. Not too long before that, the Gators owned an 11-game winning streak against Tennessee. Florida has won 17 of the last 20 matchups since 2004.
Read more about Tennessee Volunteers College Football Odds.
Bets to Make on Tennessee vs. Florida
The Moneyline is a favorite among sports betters because of how easy it is to follow. All you do is place a bet on who you expect to win. The team with the odds offering the lowest payout is the favorite. For example, if Tennessee has odds of -125 and its opponent has odds of +105, that will make Tennessee the favorite to win. However, there is more than one way to wager on college football. Below are other options and examples for you to consider in the upcoming matchup.
Point Spread
A point spread wager is betting on the point differential in a contest. Here is how it may look.
- Tennessee Volunteers -4.5 (-115)
- Florida Gators +4.5 (-105)
These were the odds listed for the Tennessee vs. Florida game from this past college football season. The Vols were favored by 4.5 points on the road. However, they fell short and lost 29-16. Thus, Tennessee bettors were dissapointed while Florida bettors were victorious.
Total or Over/Under
This type of wager is for the combined points scored between two teams, so who wins and who loses doesn’t impact this type of bet. To get in on this type of action, place your wager on the combined final score of a game going Over or Under the listed total. Here is an example based on the same Tennessee vs. Florida game.
- Over 56.5 (-110)
- Under 56.5 (-110)
Point totals are usually listed with odds of -110 on either side, although they can vary slightly. You would need to wager $110 to win $100 on a totals bet with -110 odds. In this game, the final score was 29-16, meaning 45 total points were scored. Thus, under bettors were victorious.
Parlays
Parlay wagers are a single wager with multiple “legs,” or picks within the wager. This wager allows you to stack bets to increase the odds and your payout potential. However, every pick you add to your parlay bet slip must win. You can have five picks in your parlay, and if one of them results in a loss, the entire parlay is a loss.
Prop Bets
Prop bets allow you to wager on player statistics and outcomes of the games. They vary by sportsbook and range from options like will there be overtime to how many passing yards a team’s starting QB will finish with. Below are a couple of examples.
- Tennessee to win by 1-13 points (+500)
- Nico Iamaleavea to throw more than 225 passing yards (-110)
Prop bets are also easy to follow, especially for fans of a team. They are offered in abundance by the top sportsbooks and provide some of the highest-value betting lines come game day.
Tennessee vs. Florida Betting Trends
Now that you have more insight into the betting options, here are a few trends to keep in mind when deciding on wagers.
- Florida is 8-2 in the last 10 matchups.
- Florida is 6-3-1 against the Spread over the last 10 contests.
- Florida has won the last 10 matchups against Tennessee at home. Tennessee’s last win in Gainesville came in 2003.
Tennessee vs. Florida Overall Record
Florida leads the all-time series with a 32-21 record. That includes winning 17 of the last 20. Florida head coach Billy Napier is 1-1 against Tennessee, but he is just 11-14 overall and 6-10 in SEC play in two seasons in Gainesville. Florida is coming off back-to-back losing seasons, so Napier is looking to take a big step forward in 2024. Although, their schedule is among the toughest in the country, which includes a trip to Knoxville to take on the Vols.
On the other side, Josh Heupel is 27-12 in three seasons in Knoxville, and 14-10 in SEC play. But, he is just 1-2 against the Gators. After going 11-2 with an Orange Bowl victory the previous season, the Vols took a bit of a step back last season, going 9-4. They did end the season on a high note, beating Iowa in the Citrus Bowl 35-0. Nico Iamaleavea impressed, going 12 of 19 for 127 yards a touchdown through the air. But he did most of his damage with his legs, rushing for three touchdowns. With Iamaleava at the helm for this upcoming season, hopes are high in Knoxville.
Tennessee vs. Florida History and Traditions
The Tennessee vs. Florida matchup didn’t become a true rivalry until 1992 when the SEC expanded into 12 schools and split into two divisions, although they had plenty of great but infrequent matchups before then. In 1992, both programs were placed in the SEC East and have rotated home games every year since, establishing the rivalry as what it is known as today. Both are historic powerhouse programs that have undergone extensive rebuilding periods recently that has cooled off some of the excitement of the rivalry, but over the last few years, the contest has been trending upward once again.
From 1985 to 2007, both schools were ranked every time they met. That’s only been the case four times since then. Nestled in the 1985 to 2007 timespan is one of the biggest points of contention in the rivalry. Gators’ legend Steve Spurrier led Florida to win eight of their 12 matchups against the Vols as head coach during that time. It’s a sore spot for Tennessee fans given Spurrier was a high school standout QB in Tennessee, and the Vols let him get away to Florida to play college football.
During his time there, he won a Heisman Trophy and beat Tennessee in 1969 by one point as the underdog. He returned to the Gators years later as head coach and continued to be a thorn in the Vols’ side. Before that, the Vols also got the short end of the stick when head coach Doug Dickey left to be the head coach of Florida (his alma mater) after the 1969 season. Dickey left the Vols immediately after a 14-13 defeat to the Gators in the 1969 Gator Bowl, which didn’t go over well in Rocky Top.
Both occurrences played a significant role in the no-love lost relationship between the two schools, which helps fuel the rivalry. Today, the rivalry is being remade as both schools look to rebound from extended droughts. Although the next chapter of the rivalry is underway, the history isn’t lost upon fans from either side.
Top 5 Tennessee vs. Florida Games
Coaches are just one of the storylines in this rivalry as heartbreaking losses have played a significant role in the hatred between the two. The “Third Saturday in September” has produced some of the most memorable moments in college sports. Below are five of the most thrilling matchups between the SEC foes.
No. 5: Sept. 16, 2006, in Knoxville (Florida 21, Tennessee 20)
This game marked the start of the Tim Tebow era in Gainesville. Both teams came into this contest undefeated and ranked top 20. With the game on the line down 20-14 in the fourth quarter, then freshman backup QB Tebow picked up a critical first down on fourth and 11. Starting QB Chris Leak capped off the stellar play with a touchdown to seal the victory. The Gators then went on to win the National Championship vs. Ohio State.
No. 4: Dec. 1, 2001, in Gainesville (Tennessee 34, Florida 32)
The game was delayed from the regular September meeting due to the tragedy on Sept. 11. Ultimately, the game did take place, and when it did, both teams were ranked in the top five. A quick start for the Vols turned into a thrilling game of back of fourth that continued down to the wire. Down eight points with minutes left, Florida QB Rex Grossman led a 77-yard drive to get the Gators within two points.
However, he and the Gators failed on the two-point attempt, and the Vols secured their first win in The Swamp since 1971. The Vols went on to lose to LSU in the Rose Bowl the next week and lost out on a chance to compete for the national title.
No. 3: Sept. 16, 2000, in Knoxville (Florida 27, Tennessee 23)
It isn’t really a rivalry without controversy, and the matchup in 2000 provided just that. With a little more than two minutes left in the game, Gators QB Jesse Palmer drove Florida 91 yards and found Jabar Gaffney in the end zone with seconds left to play. However, Gaffney only had possession briefly before it was knocked away. The officials still ruled it a touchdown, so Florida held on for a victory that was talked about for years afterward.
No. 2 Sept. 19, 1998, in Knoxville (Tennessee 20, Florida 17)
No one expected much from Tennessee in 1998 due to QB Peyton Manning leaving for the NFL. However, new QB Tee Martin helped the Vols do what even Manning couldn’t during his time at Rocky Top. It took the rivalry’s only overtime game for Tennessee to break a five-game losing streak to the Gators, but they did it. With all the marbles on the line in OT, Martin broke a 14-yard scramble up the middle on third down to get the Vols within field goal distance.
They cashed it in and sealed victory in one of the school’s biggest wins in the rivalry.
No. 1: Sept. 18, 2004, in Knoxville (Tennessee 30, Florida 28)
Both teams entered this matchup ranked top 20, although it was Tennessee who pulled off the upset. This one was as thrilling as it gets given that it came down to the kicker twice. After driving down to seemingly tie the game, Vols’ kicker James Wilhoit pushed the extra point right. That left Tennessee down 28-27 with a little over four minutes to play.
Fortunately for Wilhoit, the Vols’ defense held and forced a punt to give the offense another chance. Tennessee drove down to the 33-yard line, setting up Wilhoit for a 50-yard field goal to win the game and redeem his earlier mishap. He just cleared the goal post to give Tennessee its first back-to-back wins in the series since 1971.
Other Rivalry Games to Bet On
Rivalry games are some of the most exciting games to bet on for multiple reasons. One if that despite how much better one team may be than the other when they meet, they are sure to get each other’s best performance of the year. That makes the point spread, Over/Under, player props and more even more enjoyable to follow than regular games. Tennessee vs. Florida is just one of those games this season. Additional rivalry games to consider wagering on include:
Army vs. Navy
This is one of the oldest rivalries in all of sports. It’s played between two of the country’s most prestigious military academies and has been around since 1890. This year’s meeting marks the 125th meeting between the two. Navy owns the all-time series record 62-55-7, although Army has won six of the last eight.
Michigan vs. Ohio State
This is yet another one of the oldest rivalries in all of sports. The two first met back in 1897 and have faced off 119 times. It has produced multiple unforgettable contests and is one of the most watched games every year. Michigan owns the all-time record 61-51-6 and have won the last three under head coach Jim Harbaugh.
Oklahoma s. Texas
Texas and Oklahoma first met back in 1900. After brief interruptions in the series after their inaugural contest, the two have met every year in the Red River Rivalry since 1929. The rivalry produced many of the highest scoring games in college football history over the last decade plus. As of today, the Longhorns own the head-to-head with a 63-51-5 record.
Miami vs. Florida State
This matchup produced must-watch TVs for the vast majority of the 1990s. The programs put players like Ray Lewis, Warren Sapp, Ed Reed, Deion Sanders, Jalen Ramsey, and more in the NFL. It started later than most on this list with the first matchup between the two taking place in 1951, but the two teams are responsible for many electric games in the time they have faced each other. Since the start of the rivalry, they have faced each other 68 times, and the Hurricanes own the head-to-head record 35-33.
Harvard vs. Yale
The Harvard vs. Yale rivalry, also known as “The Game,” is the second-oldest college rivalry in sports. The first matchup between the two took place in 1875, resulting in a 4-0 win for Harvard. However, it’s Yale that owns the head-to-head at 70-61-8.
