Tennessee will play host to Arkansas State on September 6 in Neyland Stadium. The Vols hope to be entering this matchup 1-0 and will be taking on a Red Wolves team that will likely be 1-0 as well. A 2-0 start for UT is essential if they plan on playing in a bowl game for the first time since the 2010 season.
Arkansas State hired former North Carolina Offensive Coordinator Blake Anderson in the offseason to take over the program after Bryan Harsin left to become the Boise State Head Coach. The Red Wolves return 12 starters (4 on offense, 8 on defense) from last years team that finished 8-5. They will be looking to make another bowl this season, and a win over UT would go a long way towards doing so.
The Vols cannot overlook Arkansas State, and Butch Jones will not allow his team to do so. While Arkansas State will be coming to Knoxville, looking to pull off the upset, UT needs to prevail in order to play postseason football.
Prediction: Vols will play well on both sides of the ball and win 45–14. They should be 2-0 and heading to Norman, OK for an anticipated matchup with the national title contending Oklahoma Sooners.