Florida Gators hosts No. 2 Tennessee In A Huge SEC Matchup. Tennessee has jumped to 2nd in the polls. This is the first time they’ve been a top two team in the poll since the 2018-19 season.
2 Tennessee at Florida, Wednesday, 7 ET on ESPN2 and ESPN-SWFL
The 2007-2008 season is the only other time that Tennessee has reached one of the top two spots in their league. However, the question remains if they will be able to maintain that position.
The upcoming game against the 12-9 Florida Gators could be a challenge, as Florida has won 4 out of their last 5 home games against Tennessee, with each game being decided by double-digit margins (14.2 points per game).
What's Different About This Years Vols?
This Tennessee team is different from previous years as they have become one of the best defensive teams in the country, and potentially of all time. They currently lead Division I in scoring defense, opponent field goal percentage, and three-point percentage.
This is a historic achievement, as no team in the history of the NCAA has ever led Division I in both field goal percentage defense and scoring defense simultaneously.
On the offensive side, Tennessee has four different players averaging double-digit scoring, led by Santiago Vescovi's 12.2 points per game. Five different players have also recorded at least one 20-point game.
As a team, they are shooting 48% from the field during conference play. That's on pace to be their second-best field goal shooting percentage in a single season in the last 25 years
Can The Florida Gators Pull The Upset?
The Florida Gators have a 12-9 record and a 5-3 record in conference play. They recently suffered a 64-50 loss against then-No. 5 Kansas State. In that game, they scored a season-low of 50 points and struggled with their perimeter shooting on the road, making only 4 out of 22 three-point attempts (18.2%).
Florida will look to rely on their defense, which ranks eighth nationally in adjusted defensive efficiency. Colin Castleton leads the SEC in blocks per game with an average of 3.2.With four more blocks, he will pass Joakim Noah (186 blocks) for fourth place on Florida's all-time shot-blocking list.
In order to beat the highly-ranked Tennessee team, Florida will likely need to improve their three-point shooting. The Gators are currently shooting 32.3% from beyond the arc on the season, which ranks eighth in the SEC.
Tennessee has a recent dominance over Florida, having won 7 out of their last 8 meetings. The only win for Florida in that span came at home, when they beat Tennessee 75-49 on January 19, 2021.
More on Shemon and Sheppard later today 2-6pm.
2023 Florida State And County Fair Schedule
Making a list of the Florida Sate And Florida County Fair Schedule was on my calendar since early this year. That's when I realized the Charlotte County fair had already started. Guess I better get to it.
I'm a big fan of going to county fairs especially. Be it the demolition derby at the Collier County Fair, or the Moonlight Madness at the Lee County Fair. There's always something going on. And it's the one time of year I eat deep fried Oreos. Not sure why, but I need those. And you haven't lived until you ride the giant ferris wheel during Moonlight Madness. All those lights on the ground as you rotate up high into the dark sky. Magical.
We usually have tickets to give away to Lee and Collier County Fairs, check here to see if we're currently doing giveaways. Winning a four pack of unlimited ride wristbands is no joke. Just set the kids loose and meet back up a few hours later. Ride everything. Twice. Heck, ten times if you want.
So let's take a look at the Florida County Fair Schedule for 2023. I'll also include the Florida State Fair in Tampa. That one is coming up quite soon, too. Sorry I waited too long to get this out. I was watching cat videos. This list is January-March 2023.
Manatee River Fair, Palmetto
January 12-22, 2023
South Florida Fair and Palm Beach County Expositions, West Palm Beach
Missed this one, too. Here's 2024 Dates: January 12 - January 28, 2024.
Polk County Youth Fair, Bartow
January 21-27
http://www.pcyf.net/uploads/1/5/9/8/15989364/2023_schedule_of_events_-_updated_1-12-23.pdf
Charlotte County Fair, Port Charlotte
January 27-February 5, 2023
DeSoto County Fair, Arcadia
Feb 3, 2023 – Feb 11, 2023
Highlands County Fair, Sebring
February 3 - 11, 2023
Hendry County Fair and Livestock Show, Clewiston
Feb 8-12th
Florida State Fair, Tampa
FEBRUARY 9-20, 2023
Osceola County Fair, Kissimmee
February 10-19
Martin County Fair, Stuart
February 10 - 18, 2023
Hardee County Fair, Wauchula
FEBRUARY 18 - 25, 2023
Pasco County Fair, Dade City
FEBRUARY 20 - 26, 2023
Southeastern Youth Fair, Ocala
February 23 to March 4, 2023
Southwest Florida and Lee County Fair, North Fort Myers
February 23 through Sunday, March 5, 2023
Glades County Youth Livestock Show, Moore Haven
February 27, 2023 - March 4, 2023
Alachua County Youth Fair, Gainesville
March 2 - 7, 2023
Central Florida Fair, Orlando
March 2nd through March 12th
Florida Strawberry Festival, Plant City
March 2 - March 12, 2023
Sumter County Fair, Bushnell
March 3-March 11
Bradford County Fair, Starke
March 7-12
Firefighters’ Indian River County Fair, Vero Beach
March 10th to 19th 2023
Okeechobee County Fair, Okeechobee
March 14-19
Collier County Fair, Naples
March 16 - March 26
Miami-Dade County Youth Fair and Exposition, Miami
MARCH 16 – APRIL 9, 2023
EXCEPT MARCH 27-28 & APRIL 3-4
Putnam County Agricultural Fair, East Palatka
March 17-25
Sarasota County Fair, Sarasota
March 17-26
Suwannee County Fair and Livestock Show, Live Oak
March 17-March 25
Citrus County Fair, Inverness
March 27th - April 2nd
Clay County Agricultural Fair, Green Cove Springs
March 30-April 9th
Santa Rosa County Fair, Milton
April 4th - 8th!
