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Tennessee football: Game by game predictions for Vols 2018 season

By Caleb Calhoun

KNOXVILLE, TN - SEPTEMBER 20: A general view of Neyland Stadium before the start of the Florida Gators versus Tennessee Volunteers on September 20, 2008 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
KNOXVILLE, TN - SEPTEMBER 20: A general view of Neyland Stadium before the start of the Florida Gators versus Tennessee Volunteers on September 20, 2008 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /
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Game 2: East Tennessee State Buccaneers at Tennessee Volunteers

Saturday, Sept. 8; Neyland Stadium; Knoxville, Tenn.

Caleb Calhoun

Jeremy Pruitt’s home opener comes against a former Tennessee football offensive coordinator from the Phillip Fulmer days. That’s right, Randy Sanders is leading the East Tennessee State Buccaneers now. It’ll also be where Pruitt gets his first win.

After a rough loss to the West Virginia Mountaineers, this is a game the Vols shouldn’t even be playing. But they are playing it, and they’ll have no trouble putting this team away easily.

Winner: Tennessee (1-1, 0-0)

Billy Williford

This game is nothing but a cool story for former Tennessee player and coach, Randy Sanders. The Morristown, Tennessee native will coach on the opposite side of Neyland Stadium as the head coach of ETSU.

Things will get out of hand and quick. Jeremy Pruitt will show no mercy in his home debut en route to his first win as the head coach of the Tennessee football team

Winner: Tennessee (1-1, 0-0)

Garrett Sanders

Tennessee football is clearly the more talented team here. I expect Keller Chryst and Jarrett Guarantano to both split 50-50 reps in Jeremy Pruitt’s home debut as head coach on Rocky Top. We may see Will McBride and JT Shrout as well.

The defense will also get plenty of chances to show what Pruitt’s 3-4 scheme will look like in the future. We should see a lot of turnovers, tackles for loss, and sacks in this game. The most important part of this game is to get the younger guys out there and to play. The Vols will need that for depth heading into the gauntlet they will be facing, and it’s also essential they see no injuries. Pruitt will be looking for very few penalties as well.  Ultimately, this is an easy game to mark down as a W.

Winner: Tennessee (1-1, 0-0)

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