Tennessee vs. Oklahoma: Last Minute-Predictions

Tennessee vs. Oklahoma is finally set to happen! Here are our last-minute predictions on the game between the Vols and Sooners.

The Tennessee Vols and Oklahoma Sooners are set for kickoff at 6 p.m. tonight. The game is finally here.

And it’s the first big game for both teams on the season, so everybody is psyched up over this one!

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There are plenty of reasons to believe both teams could win and plenty of reasons to bet against both teams.

The Vols’ terrible track record in big games the last seven years compared to the belief that the program is returning to national glory under Butch Jones in his third year makes this complicated.

Meanwhile, Oklahoma’s collapse at the end of last season compared to how good they really are on paper makes them hard to figure out as well.

Last year, the Sooners destroyed the Vols 34-10 in Norman, but this is clearly a different Tennessee football team.

So here are the last-minute predictions for the Tennessee vs. Oklahoma game at Neyland Stadium this evening.

1. The Sooners Will Have At Least Two Sacks

We know that Tennessee’s offensive line is vastly improved in this game over where they were last year because of experience, more depth, and the switch of Kyler Kerbyson and Jashon Robertson to the left side, where the Vols were torched last year.

But this line is still very young, and Oklahoma still has arguably the best front seven in the country. This complicated 3-4 defense will confuse them a couple of times, and while they will be better and Joshua Dobbs is more mobile than Justin Worley, they will still get to him a couple of times.

2. Jalen Hurd Will Go for 100 Yards

This is almost a must if the Vols simply want to be in this game. And it is a rational belief. Last year, despite the terrible line and passing game, Hurd still ran 14 times for 97 yards.

This year, he and Alvin Kamara are the bread and butter of the offense, and Dobbs will help the rushing attack a lot more. Also, Tennessee will be able to go to the well more because the game should not get out of hand as early as it did last year.

Taking all of that into account, Hurd will have a 100-yard game, and don’t be surprised if some Heisman talk surrounding him begins if the Vols pick up a big win.

3. Joe Mixon Will be Oklahoma’s Top Yards Gainer

So this is a very bold prediction and may just come across as prisoner of the moment from last week. But Lincoln Riley will want to use Joe Mixon again against the Vols because the secondary should do such a great job covering their receivers.

Once Curt Maggitt and Derek Barnett get pressure up front to blow up his air raid, the running backs in the flat will be crucial. Enter Mixon. Mixon will split time with Samaje Perine running the ball, but once you add Mixon’s abilities in the passing game, he will be able to rack up a ton of yards altogether.

And that is exactly what he will do.

4. Tennessee Will Have at Least Two Sacks, Just Like Oklahoma

This is where the tables have turned. Curt Maggitt is fully healthy this year after he was just back from injury in last year’s game. Derek Barnett is more experienced. And without blitzing, the Vols could get to anybody.

They under-achieved last week, but Maggitt and Barnett are stars. Before Joe Mixon gets involved, the Sooners will be looking to throw downfield a lot, and Tennessee’s secondary will be great in coverage. So he’ll have to wait to get the ball off, and that will leave time to get to him.

That will obviously mean a couple of sacks as well.

5. Both Quarterbacks Will Total More than 300 Yards

Baker Mayfield will inevitably do this because of the new offense in Oklahoma. Lincoln Riley is going to throw the ball around a lot, and while the rushing attack will not be what it was last year, throwing 40 to 50 times means a pretty sure bet for a 300-yard passer.

Meanwhile, Dobbs’s mobility is going to be crucial, and while he will pick up quite a few yards throwing, he will have a couple of long runs as well. Consider that with Oklahoma’s complicated blitz packages, there will be some holes to break off big runs. Dobbs will read them at least twice. Combining that with his passing numbers, he will total more than 300 yards overall.

Next: Tennessee vs. Oklahoma: Five Keys for Each Team

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