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SEC Football: 5 most important SEC East games for 2017

By Erich Hilkert

JACKSONVILLE, FL - OCTOBER 29: Head coaches Kirby Smart of the Georgia Bulldogs and Jim McElwain of the Florida Gators shake hands after the game at EverBank Field on October 29, 2016 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Rob Foldy/Getty Images)
JACKSONVILLE, FL - OCTOBER 29: Head coaches Kirby Smart of the Georgia Bulldogs and Jim McElwain of the Florida Gators shake hands after the game at EverBank Field on October 29, 2016 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Rob Foldy/Getty Images) /
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GAINESVILLE, FL – SEPTEMBER 26: Joshua Dobbs #11 of the Tennessee Volunteers rushes  during a game against the Florida Gators at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on September 26, 2015 in Gainesville, Florida.  (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
GAINESVILLE, FL – SEPTEMBER 26: Joshua Dobbs #11 of the Tennessee Volunteers rushes  during a game against the Florida Gators at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on September 26, 2015 in Gainesville, Florida.  (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) /

No. 3 – Tennessee at Florida (Sept. 16)

Tennessee exorcised some demons with a win in 2016. Prior to the 38-28 win, the Vols hadn’t defeated the Gators since 2004. The last time the Vols beat the Gators in Gainesville was in 2003. Florida finished 2016 with a perfect 5-0 home record. In fact, the team’s only home loss under head coach Jim McElwain was against Florida State in 2015.

Both teams lost a lot of talent. More interestingly, Florida lost a depth of talent on defense, while Tennessee lost a lot of production on offense.

The rivalry returns to the third game of the season for the first time since 2013, so this will be each team’s first conference game of the season.

Probably the biggest matchup of the game will be the Tennessee secondary against the Florida receivers. Antonio Callaway is a home run threat any time he touches the ball. Tennessee safeties Nigel Warrior, Todd Kelly, Micah Abernathy, and Evan Berry will compete for starting jobs in a crowded secondary. Kelly led the team in tackles last season, while Warrior has garnered the most buzz with devastating hits on opposing receivers.

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