Saturday September 10th, is expected to confirm what so many Tennessee fans already know to be true from the past 14 games with Coach Heupel in the cockpit: POINTS, POINTS, POINTS. This high flying offensive attack flown by Coach Josh Heupel, with Hendon Hooker as co-pilot, will be able to score early and often! As a fan, I would love to see Princeton Fant and Jacob Warren be more involved this week. However, with the play of Pittsburgh’s defense last week vs WVU, I expect them to crash down hard after getting gashed by WVU on the ground. Which leaves Cedric Tillman, Bru McCoy, and Jalin Hyatt all to have stellar games. Also, Pitt is going to have a long day if they only focus about those three wideouts and forget the Vols have two other DOGS at WR in Jimmy Holiday and Ramel Keyton. The Volunteers might also have a sleeping giant in their hands with their three headed beast RB which includes Jaylen Wright, Jabari Small, Dylan Sampson, and oh Hendon does his thing too. If Pitt decides to lay back and force the Vols to run. The Vols are more than capable of doing just that. It truly is an offensive explosion that Vol fans haven’t seen in a long time or maybe ever for some younger fans.
The call still remains to be answered on the defensive side of the ball for the Volunteers. As a whole, the defensive unit simply must be more physical. Now before you get “defensive” and think you have a better analysis stewing in your brain. I get it, the 3 turnovers were exciting to see and it’s been a decade since relevancy. So I don’t blame you to feel good about the Volunteers accomplishments week 1 after all the preseason hype. However, in order for the Vols to win and cover. The offense we know will do their thing, but the defense has to set the tone Saturday afternoon.
I truly came into this season believing Tennessee’s defensive line would be the most impressive part of our defense. If the season continues like the first game, boy will I be dead wrong. The most glaring issue on our team was the lack of pressure created from our defensive line. Anyone who watched the game this past Saturday had to take notice as well. The defense had a total of 0 defensive sacks and only 7 QB pressures against Ball State… Being able to create pressure on Pitts quarterback Kedon Slovis will be crucial to Vols success Saturday. So much in fact, I believe this will be the key difference in winning this game on the road. Vols 45- Pitt 34!!
Alex’s Picks for Vols vs PITT. 9.10.22
UT -6 (-110)
O 64.5 (-110)
First Q, O14 total (+110)
TN over 36.5 total (-106)
Pitt over 28.5 total (-110)
Alex’s 9.9.22 College Football Pick
Boise St -17.5 (-110)
Alex’s 9.10.22 College Football Picks
Alabama -20 (-112)
O64.5 (110), Alabama vs Texas
Florida -5.5 (-110)
Miami -24.5 (-110)
Texas A&M -18.5 (-110)
Michigan -52 (-110)
Baylor vs BYU O 52.5 (-110)
Arkansas -9
ASU vs Ok State O57.5
