re: Jokes aside, do the VOLS actually have a shot at beating UF?

Just let 'em be Cocky...this is their 'statement' game!

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There will be maybe 65k there which is about the only positive I can come up with

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I doubt it. Home schedule is crazy weak this year. Tennessee and, wait for it, Florida State are two of the three most appealing games on our home slate in 2019. Not many opportunities to see us play a home game against a team with comparable talent in a game that has a chance to be interesting. Even with the heat, I think the turnout will be solid.

I had this game circled prior to the season as a possible upset because I liked the matchup -- Florida's passing game vs. our secondary and our WRs vs their secondary. Both OLs have similar weaknesses (poor run blocking/ok pass pro) and both teams share a strength at WR. However, without BT our secondary showed a ton of weakness and Alontae has regressed without his cohort beside him (maybe just a sophomore slump but it's showing).

The team has improved since GA St. when we couldn't line up properly which isn't saying a whole lot but they still have a long way to go. No way Gators take this game seriously so that helps but it hurts that Florida's D will probably be rallying to help out a new QB.

I don't expect us to win. I just hope to keep it respectable and have no faith we can do that but some hope that maybe they'll find away. That said, this is the same team that stunned Auburn (as well as UT fans) last year as an even bigger road dogs so anything is possible just not probable.

Guantanamo Bay? Stupid.

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The only way UT hangs with the Gators is if we somehow get pressure on Trask and force turnovers.

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and half the scholarship UF players contract malaria in the next few days

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I don't want to come across as a troll, but your secondary is not that good. Thompson and Taylor were overhyped by the Vol media and were starters only because the cupboard was bare and Pruitt knew he had a mulligan year. If you go back and re-watch your 2018 games, your secondary was one of the worst in the SEC, PFF scores and freshman all-American designations notwithstanding. I've yet to see evidence that anything has changed this year, although the experience level is better.

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Thompson hasn't played this year and Taylor has lost his spot. Taylor was definitely overhyped. I don't think the same will be true for Thompson assuming he gets to play. That said, I did base my observations for the preseason on NATIONAL ratings that have thus far proven incorrect and/or not applicable given Thompson's status. (Vol media and local media are useless and there's not a homer among them - see John Adams for an example.)

Obviously, what I thought in the preseason has changed with Taylor going backwards which is why I said getting Thompson back is so important.

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I do think Florida's inexperienced qb and your experience on offense gives you a decent shot this weekend though, if Guarantano figures out Chaney's scheme.

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Maybe. Anything is possible but the team has a long way to go and our defense is not good. Our offense has struggled as JG has struggled but his issues are mental and if it clicks with him, a lot of stuff will be fixed on offense. Defense has a talent and experience deficit that is much harder to fix. Time and recruiting will help them but as a unit I don't think they will improve to be beyond mediocre given the DL. The secondary will improve instantly if we get Thompson back.