Way Too Early SEC East Predictions: Is there hope for Florida football?
![Florida Gators head coach Billy Napier leads his team out of the tunnel and onto the field at Steve Spurrier Field at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, FL on Saturday, October 15, 2022. Before the start of the LSU game. LSU defeated the Gators 45-35. [Doug Engle/Gainesville Sun]Ncaa Football Florida Gators Vs Lsu Tigers](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_1080,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape%2Fcover%2Fsport%2F7d2d4d988943517ac3c90e452a69af8df1ab47d99c758e8b63b19dd371fb2ab1.jpg "Florida Gators head coach Billy Napier leads his team out of the tunnel and onto the field at Steve Spurrier Field at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, FL on Saturday, October 15, 2022. Before the start of the LSU game. LSU defeated the Gators 45-35. [Doug Engle/Gainesville Sun]Ncaa Football Florida Gators Vs Lsu Tigers")
team. 839. . . . Volunteers . 2
SEC Power Rankings: Can Rocky keep on top?
2022 Record: 11-2
2023 FPI Rating: 15.2
ESPN Win Projection: 8-4
The computer models are not in love with Tennessee and have the Vols pegged for an 8-4 season.
That still may be good enough to come in as the runner-up in the SEC East.
Their overall recruiting hasn’t been elite enough to pull away from the rest of the division, and that was reflected in their nail-biting win over Florida football and getting upset by South Carolina.
But Florida is probably being worse this year, and the rest of the pack is yet to rise up over the Vols, it is hard to see good ole Rocky Top being worse than second place in the SEC East.