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Tennessee football: Vols, SEC, Top 25 predictions for Week 1 of 2018

By Caleb Calhoun

CHARLOTTE, NC - NOVEMBER 11: A general view of the stadium before the game between the Denver Broncos and the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium on November 11, 2012 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
CHARLOTTE, NC - NOVEMBER 11: A general view of the stadium before the game between the Denver Broncos and the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium on November 11, 2012 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /
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Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images
Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images /

Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders at Vanderbilt Commodores

Saturday, Sept. 1 at 7:30 p.m.; Vanderbilt Stadium; Nashville, Tenn.

TV: SEC Network; Line: Vanderbilt -2.5; Over/Under: 56.5

Caleb Calhoun

Now this is an interesting one. The last time we saw the Vanderbilt Commodores on the field, they were beating the brakes of Tennessee football to finish the season with a 5-7 record. This year, Derek Mason is on the hot seat still, and he’s got a very tough opener at his level against the MTSU Blue Raiders. Vandy won last year 28-6, but that was an MTSU team with all new starters. They finished 7-6 and return almost everybody. And we know Rick Stockstill can coach.

Stockstill’s son, Brent Stockstill is back at quarterback after a strong finish to the season. Meanwhile, Mason is no longer calling plays on defense and only has five starters back. I’m sorry, but with all of these facts, I’ve got MTSU in the upset. Still take the under, but Vandy is going to be in trouble early. And they won’t be able to recover in time.

Middle Tennessee: 24 Vanderbilt: 21 (MTSU +2.5; Under)

Billy Williford

Finally, a game with the spread and over/under and I can make you all some money if you take my advice. I love Clay Travis, but if you really want to make money, you have to listen to me. Vanderbilt is not three points better than any team in college football. Honestly, I thought this would be more of a pick’em game.

Vandy has Kyle Shurmur, and MTSU has Brent Stockstill, both are pretty good quarterbacks that should be able to move the ball and score points. I like Vanderbilt in a shootout but take MTSU +3.

Vanderbilt: 38 Middle Tennessee: 37 (MTSU +2.5; Over)

Garrett Sanders

It’s no secret that Derek Mason will be on the hot seat this year for the Commodores. He knows it, and so do his players. Middle Tennessee State has a great team though, even if they are in the Conference USA. If Middle Tennessee State wants to win this game, they will have to outperform Vanderbilt in the passing game. But the odds of that happening are very slim.

Vanderbilt has a great Defense in this matchup. They should be able to slow down the Blue Raiders Offense and force them to go three and out frequently. Expect this game to be a defensive battle. A defensive struggle that Vanderbilt will win.

Vanderbilt: 17 Middle Tennessee State: 14 (Vanderbilt -2.5; Under)

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