Tennessee Volunteers vs Florida Gators Picks and Predictions February 1st 2025

No. 8 Tennessee Seeks Revenge Against No. 5 Florida in SEC Showdown

The Tennessee Volunteers will look to avenge their worst loss of the season when they host the Florida Gators on Saturday in a marquee SEC clash. Nearly a month after Florida handed Tennessee a humiliating 73-43 defeat, the Volunteers will aim to flip the script in front of their home crowd in Knoxville.

Tennessee Looking for Payback

Tennessee (17-4, 4-4 SEC) was the No. 1 team in the nation and undefeated at 14-0 when they traveled to Gainesville on Jan. 7, only to be stunned in a 30-point blowout. The Volunteers never held a lead in that game, shot a miserable 21.4% (12-of-56) from the field, and trailed by as many as 36 points in what remains their worst offensive performance of the season.

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Since that loss, Tennessee has struggled to regain its early-season dominance. The Volunteers have dropped three of their last four games, including a heartbreaking 78-73 home loss to No. 12 Kentucky on Tuesday.

Despite their recent struggles, head coach Rick Barnes remains confident that his team will bounce back.

“It won’t get any easier. I know our guys are disappointed — which, I know how much they care, I know how hard they work. … So we can get better and we’ve got to get better. And, knowing what I know about these guys, I think we will get better.”

Against Kentucky, Tennessee’s outside shooting woes continued, as the team went just 11-of-45 from three-point range. Zakai Zeigler (1-for-11) and Chaz Lanier (3-for-10) struggled from deep, making it difficult for the Volunteers to keep pace.

Igor Milicic Jr. led Tennessee with 19 points and nine rebounds in the loss, while Lanier, the team’s leading scorer (17.8 ppg), continues to be a focal point on offense. Zeigler (12.3 ppg, 7.4 apg) remains the team’s primary playmaker, and Jordan Gainey (10.8 ppg) adds additional scoring depth.

Despite their recent struggles, Tennessee’s other three losses outside of Florida have come by a combined eight points, indicating their ability to compete against top-tier opponents.

Florida Aims for Season Sweep

Florida (18-2, 5-2 SEC) has been one of the best teams in the country, winning three straight and five of its last six. The Gators, who had a week off following an 89-59 rout of Georgia last Saturday, enter the game well-rested and confident.

Head coach Todd Golden knows the challenge of winning in Knoxville but believes Florida’s earlier win over Tennessee should give his team plenty of confidence.

“Just going into one of the best venues in college basketball and holding on to your guts enough for 40 or 45 minutes, whatever it takes to find a way to win. It would be a great feather to put in our cap.”

Golden has also voiced belief that a win over Tennessee would make the Gators worthy of a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament.

Florida’s balanced attack has been a key to its success. Walter Clayton Jr. (17.8 ppg) and Alijah Martin (16.1 ppg) lead a high-powered offense, and both players shined against Georgia, each scoring 17 points while combining for nine steals.

Despite their dominant win over Tennessee earlier in the season, the Gators have struggled in this matchup historically, winning just three of their last 11 meetings against the Volunteers.

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What to Expect

Tennessee will be highly motivated to erase the embarrassment of its previous loss to Florida, and playing at home should give them an extra edge. The Volunteers need to shoot better from beyond the arc and get their star players—especially Lanier and Zeigler—back in rhythm.

For Florida, maintaining composure in a hostile environment will be crucial. If the Gators can execute their game plan and continue their balanced scoring attack, they could complete the season sweep and solidify their case for a top seed in March Madness.

Will Tennessee get its revenge, or will Florida prove its dominance once again? The battle in Knoxville will be a defining moment for both teams.