KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- Beating Florida has never seemed so simple for Tennessee.

Simple math: The Vols have won 33 consecutive games when their tailback rushes for 100 or more yards.

Simple game plan: Give the ball to Jamal.

UT tailback Jamal Lewis has hit the century mark in 11 of his 14 career starts. Lewis, who missed the last nine games of the 1998 season with a knee injury, had 25 carries for 159 yards and three touchdowns against Wyoming in UT's opener Saturday.

Lewis plans to do even better against the Gators on Sept. 18.

"You want to do your best against the big teams," Lewis said. "It shows the type of player you are, that you can step it up. In a game like this, you want to pound it."

At 6-1 and 233 pounds, Lewis is a jackhammer of a back.

"They'll put eight or nine guys in the box, and it won't matter," said Travis Henry, a powerful 5-10, 220-pounder who backs up Lewis. "It's an advantage to have Jamal pound them, and then I come in there and pound on them some more, and we wear the defense down."

It sounds good to the Vols' offensive linemen.

"We're excited about the challenge we have in front of us," said senior Chad Clifton (6-6, 320), a preseason All-American left tackle. "I think we have a chance to be the best offensive line in Tennessee history."

Cosey Coleman, a 6-5, 315-pound preseason All-America guard, said the Vols are more confident heading into this year's Florida game.

"Having gotten over the hump last year, it takes the pressure off us," Coleman said. "I don't think they'll be as good as they were last year up front. Most of the guys that are starting now were in the rotation, but they weren't as good as the guys starting, so you're looking at the second string."

Lewis, who had 82 yards on 21 carries against Florida last season, plans to send a message.

"There's an intimidation factor," Lewis said. "You come off the line hard, and run hard, and hit hard, and by the second quarter and the third quarter, they're going to be kind of scared to come up -- uh, not scared but hesitant -- about coming up and hitting you."

Offensive line coach Mike Barry pointed out that Tennessee's ability to run the ball was a key in last year's victory.

"The way to beat Florida is to run the ball at them and make the game physical," Barry said. "We gained 171 yards against them running the ball last year. Some was the fullback, some was Jamal, and some was Tee (Martin). But the issue was our will to run the ball."

Lewis says that's all he wants to do.

"I don't want to be arrogant coming into this game," Lewis said. "I just see this as another game. I don't prepare extra, or do anything different. I just want to go into this game and run the ball."

Simple enough.

(Mike Griffith writes for The Knoxville News-Sentinel in Tennessee.)