KNOXVILLE, Tenn. _ Under Urban Meyer, Florida has turned Tennessee into Gator Bait.

Tim Tebow threw two touchdown passes and helped Meyer improve to 4-0 against the self-destructive Volunteers with a 30-6 victory today, the second consecutive lopsided victory for the No. 4 Gators over their SEC East rivals.

Florida took control on the first play of the game with a 52-yard kickoff return by Brandon James.

The Gators (3-0, 1-0 Southeastern Conference) were soon in the end zone, with Tebow flipping 2-yard pass over the top of the line of scrimmage to Aaron Hernandez for a 7-0 lead five minutes into the game.

James, who rank back a punt for a touchdown in last season's 59-20 Gators' victory against the Vols, returned a punt 78 yards for a touchdown to put Florida up 17-0 with 4:42 in the first quarter. At least five Vols defenders missed James as he blew by them.

Tennessee (1-2, 0-1) responded with nothing but mistakes, and coach Phillip Fulmer fell to 5-12 against Florida.

On the Vols' first drive, Arian Foster was charged a 15-yard penalty for shoving a Florida player. Montario Hardesty fumbled the ball when hit after a 1-yard catch. Floria's Ryan Stamper recovered the fumble, and Jonathan Phillips kicked a 39-yard field goal.

Twice Tennessee drove to the Florida 1 and fell apart. With 11:36 in the second quarter, Jonathan Crompton took the snap, backed up and dropped the ball at the 2. Gators defensive end Carlos Dunlap fell on it, and Phillips kicked a 40-yard field goal 12 plays later to put Florida up 20-0.

Crompton again drove the Vols to the 1, seconds before halftime, and threw an interception to Janoris Jenkins in the end zone.

The interception prompted a loud chorus of boos from the Tennessee fans, who started leaving after Tebow connected with Percy Harvin on a 15-yard touchdown pass with 4:42 in the third quarter.

It was another quiet day for the Heisman Trophy winner. Tebow completed eight of 15 passes for 96 yards and no interceptions and ran 12 times for 26 yards — but it hardly mattered as the Gators kept taking advantage of Tennessee's mistakes.

Harvin finished with 49 yards on two catches. Emmanuel Moody ran nine times for 55 yards, mostly in the second half. Florida ran for 147 yards compared to Tennessee's 96.

Tennessee narrowly missed being shut out for the first time since 1994 when Crompton pushed into the end zone on a 1-yard run with 14:18 left in the game. The Vols couldn't convert a 2-point conversion.

Crompton finished 18-for-28 for 162 yards and an interception.

Penalties, like an 11-yard holding call on offensive tackle Chris Scott, and deflected passes ended other Tennessee drives. The Vols were penalized nine times for 95 yards. The Gators were also flagged nine times as the game had its chippy moments. Twice the teams received offsetting unsportsmanlike penalties twice when players tangled or verbally sparred.