NOV. 28, AT VANDERBILT
This game is going to mean a lot to coach Josh Heupel and his Tennessee Volunteers.
Losing to Vanderbilt last season, and having to listen to outrageous quarterback Diego Pavia spout off afterward, was a bitter pill to swallow.
The only way to make amends is to go out and even the score with a victory that would send the Volunteers into the playoffs.
Instead of Pavia doing damage to Tennessee with his feet and his arm, freshman Jared Curtis is a five-star recruit who will have to learn his lessons throughout the SEC season.
The Commodores, who won 10 games last season, have had to replace four offensive line starters with transfers, making the project a key part of the offensive success. Micah Deose from Alabama and North Dakota State’s Bo Johnson are the key replacements.
Running back Sedrick Alexander and receivers Junior Sherrill and Cole Adams, who came from Alabama, are the skill position players who will be intricate to the Vandy success.
Edge rushers Miles Capers, Brian Allen Jr., and Edwin Kolenge are three keys to the Commodore defense. Glenn Seabrooks is the 340-pound anchor of the defensive line.
Linebackers Bryan Longwell and Nick Rinaldi are solid helping with defending the run game.
The secondary is still suspect.
Only Florida and Arkansas were worse in the SEC coming up with third-down stops (43%). In all but two games — Virginia Tech and Charleston Southern — opponents collected more than 200 passing yards.
Fixing that is going to be a challenge. Senior cornerback Martel Hight, who had 35 tackles and four interceptions last year, is the player the Commodores will build around this season.
It may be too soon for Vandy to recover from its amazing season last year. With so many key players gone, it will take a while to plug the holes.
With a spot in the playoff at stake, Tennessee gets the win.
PREDICTION: Tennessee 30, Vanderbilt 24
