CFN: Tennessee vs. Virginia Tech Game Preview

[ChattaTNVol]

Why Tennessee Will Win

Tennessee was obviously playing it close to the vest against Appalachian State and didn’t want to show much of anything for Virginia Tech, right? That would at least make a little bit of sense for a team this experienced and this talented.

But give the Vols this – they got the win. It might have taken a minor miracle, and it might have been ugly, but they won a tight game when nothing was going right. Maybe, just maybe, those were the first week kinks everyone wants to work out.

Yeah, Virginia Tech has plenty of options to play around with offensively, but Tennessee isn’t Liberty. The Hokies didn’t get too many big plays out of the running backs and weren’t able to break free. The Vol linebackers had an okay game against ASU, but they should be stars this week – they’ve got to make plays in space.

Can Joshua Dobbs bounceback after a rough first game? He was all over the place in the opener, but there’s a chance he gets enough time to work to be sharper this week. Virginia Tech’s pass rush wasn’t there against Liberty – the Vol O line has to keep its quarterback clean.

What’s Going To Happen?

How will everyone handle the bizarre environment and strange circumstances? Both teams are going to be charged up and motivated, but the Vols will play with a little extra push. They’re not going to rise up and blowout a good Hokie team with Isaiah Ford and the receiving corps to stick around making several big plays deep, but they’ll play better, sharper, and be more physical for the ground attack. Virginia Tech can ball a little, too – it’ll keep it close in the second half with a good day from Evans.

Tennessee vs. Virginia Tech Prediction

Final Score: Tennessee 31, Virginia Tech 23

Tennessee vs. Virginia Tech Game Preview & Fearless Prediction | College Football News

 

[YankeeVol]

Here's a couple from ESPN

Virginia Tech Hokies (+11.5) vs. Tennessee Volunteers

PickCenter

Fallica: It could serve as a blessing in disguise for Tennessee that the Vols struggled in their opener. Coach Butch Jones has all the material he needs to show the team how much it needs to improve and that the offseason press clippings can be shredded. But at the same time, a lot of the questions I had about Tennessee entering the season still remain true. Can Josh Dobbs and this wide receiver group stretch the field? Is the offensive line good enough? If the Vols couldn't control the line of scrimmage against Appalachian State, how will they fare against the Hokies?

I also love Virginia Tech's offensive skill players; Bucky Hodges and Isaiah Ford in particular could be matchup problems for the Vols, and the Hokies are deep at running back. I don't know if it will result in an outright win for Virginia Tech, but I certainly think taking the points is the way to go.

ATS pick: Tennessee 26, Virginia Tech 24

Coughlin: One can only imagine what practice must have been like for the Vols after their less-than-impressive Week 1 win at home versus Appalachian State. It honestly looked like Tennessee's staff held back from installing any quarterback zone read runs, maybe thinking because it didn't need them versus an underrated Appalachian State team. But the fact is that all those returning starters on the lines of scrimmage for Jones' squad were dominated by an FCS team. Hokies coach Bud Foster is surely loving the film of the UT game last week -- seeing a lack of physicality by the offensive line and a lack of a deep threat in the passing game.

Knowing how successful Foster has been in years past, I think the Hokies keep this game close and lose a tight one to Tennessee, as Vols quarterback Joshua Dobbs and company win a big game.

ATS pick: Tennessee 24, Virginia Tech 20

He should at least know they haven't been FCS for a few years now writing for ESPN

 

[ChattaTNVol]

Here's a couple from ESPN



He should at least know they haven't been FCS for a few years now writing for ESPN

ESPN is going downhill. They've lost 11 million subscribers, lots of layoffs. Remaining guys over there are just mailing it in these days. :birgits_giggle:

 

[gordonr24]

ESPN is going downhill. They've lost 11 million subscribers, lots of layoffs. Remaining guys over there are just mailing it in these days. :birgits_giggle:

It's on a rapid decline.

 

[jakez4ut]

i think both teams left their respective openers with more questions than answers. so i'm not surprised that there are more than a fair share of folks picking VT or picking the game extremely close.

for me, while VT does have some offensive weaponry, if our defense plays to form, and to it's strengths, then i'd expect us to load up to stop the run, and trus Sutton and co. to limit the WR's. i don't see VT lighting up the scoreboard.

conversely, VTs perspective has to be pretty much the same. they play solid defense, and no one has seen anything from TN to make them think we're gonna light it up.

i think this is actually a good match up for both teams.

who will make the plays when the opportunity is presented, and which staff will trust its offense to do just that?

 

[PEPPERJAX]

On talent alone the game should not be close. It is past time for UT to shine on a big stage like this. CBJ needs to earn his money and straight up beat VT by at least 10 points. We play much better competition moving foward and this game will be telling about just how good we really are.

 

[voldawgforever]

This game will be a test to grade.

 

[37405 VOL]

We will win comfortably. Everyone will be saying, "Now that's the Tennessee team we've been waiting to see!" Getting over the App State game will be as easy as getting over a girlfriend from 10 years ago. App State and Va Tech will be in our rear view mirror, we will be 2-0, then we will donkey rack Ohio just in time for the first real showdown.

 

[jakez4ut]

We will win comfortably. Everyone will be saying, "Now that's the Tennessee team we've been waiting to see!" Getting over the App State game will be as easy as getting over a girlfriend from 10 years ago. App State and Va Tech will be in our rear view mirror, we will be 2-0, then we will donkey rack Ohio just in time for the first real showdown.

well, if we get to choose...i choose this.

 

[orangeluvr]

We dropped 8 places in the polls cause pundits and coaches aren't sold on our offensive line , that's the current chatter any way.

 

[jakez4ut]

We dropped 8 places in the polls cause pundits and coaches aren't sold on our offensive line , that's the current chatter any way.

there were two sides to the TN hype train....those that see recruiting stars and returning starters, and those that took the "ill believe it when i see it" approach.

after game one, the ones in the latter seem to have the early edge, and those in the former, have seriously pumped the brakes on the hype train, hence the drop in the polls.

 

[iLuciFear]

We will win comfortably. Everyone will be saying, "Now that's the Tennessee team we've been waiting to see!" Getting over the App State game will be as easy as getting over a girlfriend from 10 years ago. App State and Va Tech will be in our rear view mirror, we will be 2-0, then we will donkey rack Ohio just in time for the first real showdown.

I love it when people present a contoversial opinion and present no facts or even reasons for that opinion. On an aside, what is a donkey rack? Is that even a real thing?

 

[ButchPlz]

I love it when people present a contoversial opinion and present no facts or even reasons for that opinion. On an aside, what is a donkey rack? Is that even a real thing?

You're zero fun.

Also, donkey rack is an excellent term and I will use it frequently going forward.

 

[37405 VOL]

You're zero fun.

Also, donkey rack is an excellent term and I will use it frequently going forward.

She's the definition of Emo.

 

[TucsonVol]

We dropped 8 places in the polls cause pundits and coaches aren't sold on our offensive line , that's the current chatter any way.

Neither am I!

1st down run into the line
2cnd down run into the line
3rd down overthrow the receiver
4th down punt

 

[ChattaTNVol]

From Fox Sports -

Stewart Mandel's Week 2 college football picks against the spread
By Stewart Mandel @slmandel Sep 08, 2016 10:25a ET
Every Thursday during the college football season, I'll be picking the 10 best games of the week against the spread, plus one upset special. Here are my picks for Week 2.

Last week ATS: 9-2

Virginia Tech (+11.5) vs. Tennessee
The Vols’ offense did little to inspire confidence against Appalachian State, but their potentially dominant defense should prompt a bounce back.

Pick: Tennessee 27, Virginia Tech 17 Photo: Wade Payne / AP

Stewart Mandel's Week 2 college football picks against the spread | FOX Sports

 

[ChattaTNVol]

From Athlon -

Outrageous College Football Predictions for Week 2

UCF upsets Michigan

UCF head coach Scott Frost knows how to win football games, literally at every level. His Knights pitched a shutout (albeit against an FCS school) in the season opener and looked like a very confident team in doing so. The difference in caliber of athletes between UCF and Michigan is probably not a big as the causal fan might assume. I like Central Florida's underrated athleticism and depth on offense to keep the Michigan D on its heels all day. On the other side of the ball, don't be shocked if that same athleticism limits Michigan's big plays through the air and renders the Wolverines relatively one-dimensional. UCF is playing with house money, and the longer the Knights keep this one close, the more confident they'll become on their way to the biggest upset of this young season.
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The SEC runs the table (sort of)

Week 1 was not great for the SEC, and as a result, the haters and trolls (myself included) were out in full force. They'll have very little fodder this weekend, as the conference's slate looks a bit less challenging than last week's. Of the non-conference games involving SEC teams, only Tennessee-Virginia Tech, Arkansas-TCU and LSU-Jacksonville State (I'll get to that one later) should be anything close to dicey. Look for Tennessee to have learned from its scare against Appalachian State and come away with a sound win over the Hokies. As far as Arkansas, I like Bret Bielema to have TCU's spread attack scouted perfectly, leading to a Razorback upset. The SEC's only losses will come courtesy of head-to-head matchups within the conference.

- See more at: Outrageous College Football Predictions for Week 2