ESPN Sports Writers LOVE the VOLS (add blue font)

[Volador]

Please raise your hand if you are surprised that 2 ESPN writers think we can beat OSU!

Andrea Adelson​

First round

Texas 28, Clemson 14
Ohio State 27, Tennessee 24
Penn State 24, SMU 23
Notre Dame 38, Indiana 17

Quarterfinals

Texas 33, Arizona State 30
Oregon 35, Ohio St 31
Penn State 38, Boise State 35
Notre Dame 23, Georgia 20

Semifinals

Texas 31, Oregon 30
Notre Dame 27, Penn State 24

National title game

Texas 31, Notre Dame 27

---

Kyle Bonagura​

First round

Texas 31, Clemson 21
Ohio State 28, Tennessee 24
Penn State 31, SMU 17
Indiana 31, Notre Dame 24

Quarterfinals

Oregon 35, Ohio State 28
Arizona State 31, Texas 28
Penn State 38, Boise State 24
Georgia 42, Indiana 38

Semifinals

Oregon 42, Arizona State 31
Georgia 28, Penn State 24

National title game

Oregon 31, Georgia 24

---

Bill Connelly​

First round

Texas 35, Clemson 16
Ohio State 17, Tennessee 10
Penn State 31, SMU 20
Notre Dame 24, Indiana 23

Quarterfinals

Oregon 28, Ohio State 21
Texas 31, Arizona State 17
Penn State 24, Boise State 20
Notre Dame 20, Georgia 16

Semifinals

Oregon 35, Texas 31
Notre Dame 23, Penn State 21

National title game

Oregon 28, Notre Dame 27

• ​

---

David Hale​

First round

Texas 45, Clemson 27
Ohio State 28, Tennessee 27
SMU 30, Penn State 28
Notre Dame 42, Indiana 10

Quarterfinals

Texas 34, Arizona State 21
Ohio State 32, Oregon 31
SMU 36, Boise State 33
Notre Dame 21, Georgia 20

Semifinals

Texas 45, SMU 13
Ohio State 24, Notre Dame 20

National title game

Ohio State 27, Texas 24

---

Eli Lederman​

First round

Texas 41, Clemson 31
Ohio State 24, Tennessee 20
Penn State 31, SMU 28
Notre Dame 34, Indiana 17

Quarterfinals

Texas 30, Arizona State 13
Oregon 35, Ohio State 34
Boise State 28, Penn State 20
Notre Dame 24, Georgia 16

Semifinals

Oregon 24, Texas 20
Notre Dame 27, Boise State 17

National title game

Oregon 27, Notre Dame 24

---

Chris Low​

First round

Texas 31, Clemson 14
Ohio State 27, Tennessee 24
Penn State 35, SMU 21
Indiana 24, Notre Dame 20

Quarterfinals

Texas 34, Arizona State 24
Ohio State 30, Oregon 28
Boise State 28, Penn State 27
Georgia 24, Notre Dame 21

Semifinals

Ohio State 31, Texas 30
Georgia 34, Boise State 21

National title game

Georgia 28, Ohio State 23

---

Max Olson​

First round

Texas 31, Clemson 20
Ohio State 17, Tennessee 14
Penn State 41, SMU 35
Indiana 24, Notre Dame 21

Quarterfinals

Texas 27, Arizona State 17
Oregon 35, Ohio State 13
Penn State 31, Boise State 21
Georgia 27, Indiana 10

Semifinals

Oregon 37, Texas 31
Georgia 20, Penn State 17

National title game

Oregon 34, Georgia 27

---

Adam Rittenberg​

First round

Texas 24, Clemson 16
Ohio State 26, Tennessee 19
Penn State 34, SMU 23
Notre Dame 31, Indiana 21

Quarterfinals

Texas 33, Arizona State 20
Oregon 38, Ohio State 35
Penn State 35, Boise State 31
Notre Dame 19, Georgia 17

Semifinals

Oregon 31, Texas 21
Notre Dame 27, Penn State 26

National title game

Oregon 38, Notre Dame 27

---

Mark Schlabach​

First round

Texas 24, Clemson 20
Ohio State 28, Tennessee 17
Penn State 34, SMU 24
Notre Dame 35, Indiana 21

Quarterfinals

Arizona State 24, Texas 21
Oregon 38, Ohio State 31
Penn State 27, Boise State 24
Georgia 24, Notre Dame 21

Semifinals

Oregon 38, Arizona State 27
Georgia 27, Penn State 21

National title game

Oregon 24, Georgia 20

---

Jake Trotter​

First round

Texas 24, Clemson 12
Tennessee 21, Ohio State 20
Penn State 27, SMU 19
Notre Dame 31, Indiana 23

Quarterfinals

Arizona State 27, Texas 23
Oregon 35, Tennessee 28
Boise State 28, Penn State 27
Notre Dame 16, Georgia 14

Semifinals

Oregon 44, Arizona State 38
Notre Dame 20, Boise State 14

National title game

Oregon 30, Notre Dame 27

---

Paolo Uggetti​

First round

Texas 27, Clemson 14
Ohio State 24, Tennessee 27
Penn State 34, SMU 20
Notre Dame 28, Indiana 17

Quarterfinals

Arizona State 27, Texas 24
Oregon 34, Tennessee 21
Penn State 31, Boise State 27
Notre Dame 21, Georgia 17

Semifinals

Oregon 38, Arizona State 27
Notre Dame 24, Penn State 20

National title game

Oregon 31, Notre Dame 20

---

Dave Wilson​

First round

Texas 27, Clemson 17
Tennessee 34, Ohio State 31
Penn State 37, SMU 30
Notre Dame 24, Indiana 21

Quarterfinals

Texas 34, Arizona State 27
Oregon 30, Tennessee 24
Penn State 41, Boise State 24
Georgia 38, Notre Dame 27

Semifinals

Oregon 31, Texas 17
Georgia 28, Penn State 21

National title game

Oregon 28, Georgia 20

 

[wtmvol]

I’m counting 3 in there.

 

[Volswin98]

I just don’t think we are going to get a fair game called there. CFB loves Ohio State. I will be watching and stressing for every second however.

 

[Jpcisco]

Love it. Love being the underdog. We made the playoffs, we are playing with house money from here on out.

 

[SpookyAction]

I wonder which conference the officiating crew comes from.

 

[Jaxon_Vol2017]

The opening line I think is Tennessee +7. That's crazy to me. No way it should be that high.

 

[HollowaytoSeivers]

I wonder which conference the officiating crew comes from.

Anywhere but the SEC would be fine with me.

 

[UTFranklinVol]

It blows my mind people think this means ESPN hates us lol it's a night game on the road against a higher seeded team where the crowd will be insane crazy. Who in the world would bet for Tennessee to be the favorite?

This was always going to happen. If the game were in Knoxville it would be reversed because home field means everything

 

[Hunerwadel]

I'm happy with the whole shebang. We go to Columbus, kick Ohio State's ass and play the #1 team in the Rose Bowl.

 

[deatojl]

I wonder which conference the officiating crew comes from.

With the disdain the other P4 conferences have for the SEC, I hope we can somehow pull a MWC crew.

 

[GordonC]

Please raise your hand if you DGAF about what ESPN sports writers think

 

[BanditVol]

Interesting that all of them with one exception make it a one score game

 

[OrangeInKy]

Am I supposed to be mad about this? They have opinions. It's not like they're picking Kent State over UT. I don't see the big deal. In fact, I prefer it this way. Underdog life is the life.

 

[LegionnaireOfTheMiserable]

All but one writer picks us to cover with a few picking us to win outright. Not sure this fits the “ESPN hates us” narrative very well.

 

[OrangeInKy]

It blows my mind people think this means ESPN hates us lol it's a night game on the road against a higher seeded team where the crowd will be insane crazy. Who in the world would bet for Tennessee to be the favorite?

This was always going to happen. If the game were in Knoxville it would be reversed because home field means everything

They hate us because they dare believe a top 15 team will beat another top 15 team in a close game at their place. They obviously should've picked UT by 28.

 

[OrangeInKy]

All but one writer picks us to cover with a few picking us to win outright. Not sure this fits the “ESPN hates us” narrative very well.

Don't ruin the fun for them

 

[EZE]

I like our chances.

 

[PC Jr.]

Please raise your hand if you are surprised that 2 ESPN writers think we can beat OSU!

Andrea Adelson​

First round

Texas 28, Clemson 14
Ohio State 27, Tennessee 24
Penn State 24, SMU 23
Notre Dame 38, Indiana 17

Quarterfinals

Texas 33, Arizona State 30
Oregon 35, Ohio St 31
Penn State 38, Boise State 35
Notre Dame 23, Georgia 20

Semifinals

Texas 31, Oregon 30
Notre Dame 27, Penn State 24

National title game

Texas 31, Notre Dame 27

---

Kyle Bonagura​

First round

Texas 31, Clemson 21
Ohio State 28, Tennessee 24
Penn State 31, SMU 17
Indiana 31, Notre Dame 24

Quarterfinals

Oregon 35, Ohio State 28
Arizona State 31, Texas 28
Penn State 38, Boise State 24
Georgia 42, Indiana 38

Semifinals

Oregon 42, Arizona State 31
Georgia 28, Penn State 24

National title game

Oregon 31, Georgia 24

---

Bill Connelly​

First round

Texas 35, Clemson 16
Ohio State 17, Tennessee 10
Penn State 31, SMU 20
Notre Dame 24, Indiana 23

Quarterfinals

Oregon 28, Ohio State 21
Texas 31, Arizona State 17
Penn State 24, Boise State 20
Notre Dame 20, Georgia 16

Semifinals

Oregon 35, Texas 31
Notre Dame 23, Penn State 21

National title game

Oregon 28, Notre Dame 27

• ​

---

David Hale​

First round

Texas 45, Clemson 27
Ohio State 28, Tennessee 27
SMU 30, Penn State 28
Notre Dame 42, Indiana 10

Quarterfinals

Texas 34, Arizona State 21
Ohio State 32, Oregon 31
SMU 36, Boise State 33
Notre Dame 21, Georgia 20

Semifinals

Texas 45, SMU 13
Ohio State 24, Notre Dame 20

National title game

Ohio State 27, Texas 24

---

Eli Lederman​

First round

Texas 41, Clemson 31
Ohio State 24, Tennessee 20
Penn State 31, SMU 28
Notre Dame 34, Indiana 17

Quarterfinals

Texas 30, Arizona State 13
Oregon 35, Ohio State 34
Boise State 28, Penn State 20
Notre Dame 24, Georgia 16

Semifinals

Oregon 24, Texas 20
Notre Dame 27, Boise State 17

National title game

Oregon 27, Notre Dame 24

---

Chris Low​

First round

Texas 31, Clemson 14
Ohio State 27, Tennessee 24
Penn State 35, SMU 21
Indiana 24, Notre Dame 20

Quarterfinals

Texas 34, Arizona State 24
Ohio State 30, Oregon 28
Boise State 28, Penn State 27
Georgia 24, Notre Dame 21

Semifinals

Ohio State 31, Texas 30
Georgia 34, Boise State 21

National title game

Georgia 28, Ohio State 23

---

Max Olson​

First round

Texas 31, Clemson 20
Ohio State 17, Tennessee 14
Penn State 41, SMU 35
Indiana 24, Notre Dame 21

Quarterfinals

Texas 27, Arizona State 17
Oregon 35, Ohio State 13
Penn State 31, Boise State 21
Georgia 27, Indiana 10

Semifinals

Oregon 37, Texas 31
Georgia 20, Penn State 17

National title game

Oregon 34, Georgia 27

---

Adam Rittenberg​

First round

Texas 24, Clemson 16
Ohio State 26, Tennessee 19
Penn State 34, SMU 23
Notre Dame 31, Indiana 21

Quarterfinals

Texas 33, Arizona State 20
Oregon 38, Ohio State 35
Penn State 35, Boise State 31
Notre Dame 19, Georgia 17

Semifinals

Oregon 31, Texas 21
Notre Dame 27, Penn State 26

National title game

Oregon 38, Notre Dame 27

---

Mark Schlabach​

First round

Texas 24, Clemson 20
Ohio State 28, Tennessee 17
Penn State 34, SMU 24
Notre Dame 35, Indiana 21

Quarterfinals

Arizona State 24, Texas 21
Oregon 38, Ohio State 31
Penn State 27, Boise State 24
Georgia 24, Notre Dame 21

Semifinals

Oregon 38, Arizona State 27
Georgia 27, Penn State 21

National title game

Oregon 24, Georgia 20

---

Jake Trotter​

First round

Texas 24, Clemson 12
Tennessee 21, Ohio State 20
Penn State 27, SMU 19
Notre Dame 31, Indiana 23

Quarterfinals

Arizona State 27, Texas 23
Oregon 35, Tennessee 28
Boise State 28, Penn State 27
Notre Dame 16, Georgia 14

Semifinals

Oregon 44, Arizona State 38
Notre Dame 20, Boise State 14

National title game

Oregon 30, Notre Dame 27

---

Paolo Uggetti​

First round

Texas 27, Clemson 14
Ohio State 24, Tennessee 27
Penn State 34, SMU 20
Notre Dame 28, Indiana 17

Quarterfinals

Arizona State 27, Texas 24
Oregon 34, Tennessee 21
Penn State 31, Boise State 27
Notre Dame 21, Georgia 17

Semifinals

Oregon 38, Arizona State 27
Notre Dame 24, Penn State 20

National title game

Oregon 31, Notre Dame 20

---

Dave Wilson​

First round

Texas 27, Clemson 17
Tennessee 34, Ohio State 31
Penn State 37, SMU 30
Notre Dame 24, Indiana 21

Quarterfinals

Texas 34, Arizona State 27
Oregon 30, Tennessee 24
Penn State 41, Boise State 24
Georgia 38, Notre Dame 27

Semifinals

Oregon 31, Texas 17
Georgia 28, Penn State 21

National title game

Oregon 28, Georgia 20

I look forward to seeing all the Vols fans put money on Tennessee to win (they won’t). Based on how the Vols have played on the road this season, I don’t see it. Could they win? Yes they can. Will they out coach and/out execute OSU … that’s the question. The team and the staff can really make a statement in this game. I hope they do.

 

[mscc1998]

Most of the "know it alls" have us losing by a TD or less.
It's up to us to prove them wrong.
We can do this!
GO VOLS!

 

[titansvolsfaninga]

We are not supposed to win. The AP dropped us and elevated osu. It's a night game in Columbus. We're not supposed to win.

 

[chuck0303]

I just don’t think we are going to get a fair game called there. CFB loves Ohio State. I will be watching and stressing for every second however.

Yep, will the refs be giving the edge to the Buckeyes? Bank on it.

 

[volsfan24018]

Excellent! Love being the Underdog! Us against the world. Bring it on!

 

[Carl Pickens]

I hope this pisses off the Vols

 

[BradstarVols]

Lol @ all these people picking ND to go to the championship game

 

[DooleyOrangePants]

I do appreciate the scores are pretty close across the board. Other than that, same old same old with ESPN.