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SEC Football Predictions Week 1: Picking Games Against the Spread

By Nicholas Ian Allen

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Jan 2, 2015; Jacksonville, FL, USA; Tennessee Volunteers quarterback Joshua Dobbs (second from left) is congratulated by wide receiver Johnathon Johnson (81) and guard Jashon Robertson (73) and center Mack Crowder (57) and offensive lineman Marcus Jackson (75) after scoring a touchdown in the third quarter of the 2015 TaxSlayer Bowl against the Iowa Hawkeyes at EverBank Field. The Tennessee Volunteers beat the Iowa Hawkeyes 45-28. Mandatory Credit: Phil Sears-USA TODAY Sports

  • Date: Saturday September 5, 2014
  • Time: 4PM Eastern
  • Location: Nashville, TN
  • TV Channel: SEC Network
  • Spread: Tennessee -21
  • Over/Under Total: 63.5

Much like Arkansas, the Tennessee Vols entered the offseason riding a wave of momentum from the second half of the 2014 campaign. Quarterback Josh Dobbs emerged in October from what had been a planned redshirt season to lead the Vols to a bowl game for the first time since 2010. Now with a pair of talented sophomore running backs in Jalen Hurd and Alvin Kamara, one of the deepest wide receiver groups in the SEC, and ten offensive starters returning, Tennessee should be better than last year’s squad that averaged 28.9 points and 371 yards per game.

Defensively, Tennessee is even more solid. Eight starters return from a unit that improved by five points and more than 50 yards over the 2013 squad’s averages. There is talent at every level, including sack masters Derek Barnett and Curt Maggot, top tackler Jalen Reeves-Maybin, and defensive backs Cam Sutton and Brian Randolph.

Simply put, because of the talent head coach Butch Jones has assembled and the experience those players have received over the last two years, Tennessee is finally ready to compete for an SEC East title in 2015. Of course, before the Vols start thinking about the SEC (or Week 2 opponent Oklahoma), they have to get past a tricky Bowling Green squad.

One of the favorites in the MAC East, the Falcons return ten starters from an offense that scored 30 points and tallied 433 total yards per game last season. The 8-6 Falcons struggled defensively (33.5 points, 494 yards per game), but are still a dangerous team.

That said, look for Tennessee to make a statement with a dominating performance early. The Vols are still building depth, so it shouldn’t be a surprise if Tennessee struggles a little in the second half, but they should build a big early lead and cover.

Next: UTEP at Arkansas

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