By Matt Smith
SouthernPigskin.com

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The #1 SEC rivalry of the 1990’s begins a new era on Saturday in The Swamp.

Tennessee at (16) Florida

Saturday, 3:30

TV: CBS (Verne Lundquist and Gary Danielson)

For about a decade after the SEC split into divisions in 1992, there was no more important September game in college football than Tennessee and Florida. The rivalry has faded some, with the Gators winning the past six meetings, most by a wide margin, including a 31-17 victory in Neyland Stadium last September. While this won’t match the Peyton Manning vs. Danny Wuerffel showdowns we had in the mid-90’s, Tyler Bray and John Brantley have both been very impressive through two games, and this game just might turn into a shootout. The Vols have not topped 20 points against the Gators since their last victory in the series, a 30-28 classic in 2004 in Knoxville. Tennessee last was victorious in Gainesville in 2003, feeding off of a Hail Mary touchdown right before halftime to win their second straight game in the Swamp after a 30-yeard drought.

How Tennessee can win: Yes, Stephen Garcia, Tyler Wilson, and Aaron Murray have all been good, but Tyler Bray is the best quarterback in the SEC. Sure, Da’Rick Rogers and Justin Hunter help, but Bray is the most consistent and accurate passer in the league. Bray played very well in a second-half rally at South Carolina last season, and since has ran off a streak of six wins in seven games. Rogers and Hunter are the best pair of underclassmen receivers in college football, and it’s not even close. They bring great size, but also have home run potential. Florida had a lockdown cornerback in Janoris Jenkins, but his infatuation with marijuana got him booted from the team. Jeff Demps and Chris Rainey are cute little scat backs that Charlie Weis knows how to make the most of, but Tauren Poole will be the best pure running back on the field. Poole topped 100 yards against Oregon, LSU, and Alabama in 2010, and now has the speedy Marlon Lane to complement him as well as a far more experienced offensive line. Cincinnati got a quick strike last weekend, but the Vols responded right away and dominated the rest of the game. Weis’ offense will test the Vols’ secondary, but the back four is by far the strength of the defense.

How Florida can win: What do Memphis, Ole Miss, Vanderbilt, Kentucky, Montana, and Cincinnati have in common? Those are the six teams that Tyler Bray has beaten. To even compare any of those defenses to Florida’s is a major insult to the Gators. Urban Meyer left plenty of talent in Gainesville, but no more so than on the defensive line. If you’ve watched the past five BCS Championship Games, you know that the defensive line, more so than any other position, has turned the tide in favor of the SEC. Comparing Florida’s defensive line to Tennessee’s is like comparing Southern girls to Northern girls. There is freakish talent, plenty of depth, and some guy named Muschamp who has been known to coach up a defense or two in his day. John Brantley can’t run a spread offense, but he has thrived in Weis’ pro-style offense and will continue to do so as SEC plays gets rolling. Weis had Kevin Faulk with the Patriots and Darius Walker at Notre Dame, two backs who his attacking offense helped turn into quality running backs. Neither have near the speed of Demps and Rainey. Austin Johnson is more than adequate at middle linebacker, but A.J. Johnson and Curt Maggitt on the outside are raw freshmen, who don’t have the east-west speed and instincts to stay with the lightning-fast duo. Florida’s offensive line is still a work in progress, but Tennessee does not have the depth to truly exploit it.

Key Player: Tennessee LT Dallas Thomas. Thomas will likely not be 100% by Saturday afternoon, but he is the leader of an emerging offensive line that will play the biggest role in keeping Bray upright. If this game turns into a high-scoring affair, Tennessee has the advantage with Bray. He can’t create plays on his own, so it’s up to Thomas to help give him the time to let Hunter and Rogers be the deep threats that they can be.

Prediction: These two bitter rivals will give us a game for the ages, but as Notre Dame and Michigan proved, a memorable game only goes so far in hiding defensive flaws. Bray and Brantley will lock horns in an aerial war that will resemble a Big 12 game more than an SEC game. Poole will be the difference, grinding out the tough yards in the fourth quarter that Demps and Rainey can’t match. Lane Kiffin promised to “sing Rocky Top all night long” after he beat Florida in his first trip to Gainesville. He couldn’t do it. Derek Dooley will. Tennessee 34, Florida 30.