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Ball with The Beast

On3 imageby:Austin Price•08/31/23•

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The Ball with The Beast weekly podcast presented by Wyatt Insurance kicks off its inaugural game week stop with the return of Paul Fortenberry. The longtime Volquest personality believes there are lots of storylines into the SEC season in 2023.

“You feel like Georgia and Alabama are the cream of the crop but look back at Alabama and they will have four quarterbacks starting in the NFL next Sunday but they have so many questions,” Fortenberry said. “I think of that storyline about who is going to be the quarterback in Tuscaloosa and how they perform really fascinating.

“Replacing Stetson Bennett in Athens and can they keep going? The magic that Tennessee found last season and they lost Hendon Hooker. Can they reproduce that with Joe Milton and improved defense?”

Gators kickoff the season Thursday night outside SEC

Florida will get things rolling on Thursday night outside the SEC when they travel to Salt Lake City to play Utah. Questions around Cam Rising’s availability for the Utes continue to linger but even with his status up in the air, Florida has plenty of unanswered questions as well.

“I think just the defense,” Fortenberry said. “There are so many questions for Florida with Graham Mertz. I’m not sure he can go out there and win you a game away from Gainesville.”

One of the intriguing matchups of the week is Florida State and LSU in Orlando. A matchup of good quarterbacks and good pass rushers.

“Jayden Daniels is a solid quarterback but are they really the fifth best team in the country?” Fortenberry said. “Did I miss something last year? I think Florida State has so many offensive weapons. Then there is Jared Verse and two good defensive tackles. I really like how they have used the portal down at FSU.”

As for the game in Nashville, Paul believes the Vols are set up for big success.

“I’m really excited for this,” Fortenberry said. “I’m rooting for Joe Milton and I’m intrigued by the running game. It’s all on Milton and how much he has improved. The season will count on how improved is the defense.

“I just don’t know Virginia has enough fireworks to keep up with Tennessee. I think it will be a blowout for the Vols.”

For more information on your insurance needs, contact Paul at [email protected] or on the phone at 865-862-3997.

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