OK folks, the preseason is done and now it’s time to get serious. Tennessee’s 3 nonconference games (Furman, Georgia Tech and Kennesaw State) are in the books, and the next 9 will each be in-conference. First up, the Fearless Prediction takes on a tricky and historic matchup as the Vols host Texas.
These 2 legendary programs have somehow only played 3 times, with each of those matchups coming in the Cotton Bowl. This will be the first Tennessee-Texas football game in 57 years.
The Fearless Prediction has been firmly anti-conference realignment for decades, but even we can begrudgingly accept that this will be a special day in Knoxville. Texas has never played at Neyland Stadium, and yet another sellout crowd will be there to greet the Longhorns loudly.
Things get ramped up even more because both teams are ranked in the top 15, with Texas at No. 1 and Tennessee checking in at No. 14. Checker Neyland will be in effect as Vols fans will wear orange or white. Sunny skies and high 60s/low 70s temperatures are in the forecast. Saturday will be a showcase for college football.
Prediction Markets Texas at Tennessee Learn more about Prediction Markets Kalshi Texas 64% Tennessee 37% PredictMaybe the only downside is that this game will be played at noon, but Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel took time during his Monday press conference to get Vols fans to set their alarm clocks before the crack of dawn.
“To our fanbase, however you get ready for game time, wake up early whatever you need to be at your best at 12, make sure you are ready to be at your best at 12 and be a part of the football game for 60 minutes,” he said.
Heupel would love to see the Neyland experience rattle Texas QB Arch Manning in what will be his toughest road test since debuting a year ago at Ohio State. Manning, the grandson of Archie and nephew of Peyton and Eli, has thrown for 661 yards in 3 games, completing 62% of those passes while tossing 7 scores. He’s also been picked off twice. Are those numbers worthy of someone being hailed as a Heisman trophy candidate? Maybe it helps that his last name is Manning and not Jones.
Manning has quality receivers in Cam Coleman and Ryan Wingo, who have combined for 24 receptions, 343 yards and 6 TDs this season. They will try to exploit the Vols’ secondary. Those defensive backs have performed better than expected, but this will be a challenge. Running backs Raleek Brown and Hollywood Smothers combine to average 4.5 yards per carry.
This is a good offense, but probably not what you’d expect to see from the No. 1 team in the land. They are ranked 64th in total offense (417.3 yards per game) and tied for 42nd in scoring offense (37.7 points per game).
As for the Texas defense, DB Jelani McDonald leads the team in tackles with 18, while junior edge rusher Colin Simmons has 2 sacks and 3.5 tackles for loss. Overall, they are ranked 41st in the country in total defense… one spot ahead of the Vols.
Tennessee’s defense looks considerably better at this point under new coordinator Jim Knowles than it did a year ago under Tim Banks. Despite sitting out the first game due to NCAA suspension, linebacker Arion Carter already has 16 tackles, one shy of Amare Campbell’s team-leading 17 stops. Penn State transfer defensive lineman Xavier Gilliam has 6 tackles, with 5.5 of them TFLs.
Offensively, Tennessee will need its running game to continue to thrive. Senior DeSean Bishop has now scored a TD in 7 straight games. He did sit out most of the 2nd half of the Kennesaw State game last weekend with a hip injury, but Heupel expects him to be a full-go against the Longhorns. Should Bishop be limited, sophomore Daune Morris looks ready to carry the load, after rushing for a career-high 116 yards against the Owls.
Mike Matthews is currently the top option in the pass game, with an 18.9 yards-per-catch average. Radarius Jackson and Braylon Staley fill out a trio of pass catchers with a combined 25 grabs for 389 yards through the first quarter of the schedule.
While Arch Manning is in his 2nd year as a starter and 3rd year playing college football, Tennessee QB Faizon Brandon will start only his 4th career game on Saturday. Brandon has been solid, completing 64% of his passes with 6 TDs and no INTs. He’s also scored 3 rushing TDs while averaging 46 yards on the ground per game.
This will be, by far, the biggest game of Brandon’s short college football career. If he can keep his composure, the Vols have a good chance at beating the top-ranked team in the nation for the first time since 1985, when Tennessee knocked off Bo Jackson and the Auburn Tigers.
This is shaping up to be the most compelling game on an action-packed Saturday of football in the SEC.
So far this season, only one of these teams has been tested. Texas rallied from a 20-point deficit in the 4th quarter to beat Ohio State, the previous No. 1 team in the country.
We have seen how the Longhorns respond to adversity. If things don’t go right for the Vols, how will they deal with it?
Tennessee needs Neyland Stadium to live up to its reputation and be 2022 Alabama/2015 Oklahoma level loud.
Fearless Prediction: Texas 31, Tennessee 24
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Fearless Prediction: Tennessee vs. Texas Saturday Down South.
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