Tennessee football preview vs. UTEP: Live stream, game time, TV info

Tennessee football hosts the UTEP Miners in Knoxville Saturday afternoon. Here is the Volunteers’ streaming, game time and television info.

The Tennessee football team plays their second home game of the 2018 season on Saturday. Hopefully, for Volnation they see much of the same as last week. The Vols handled East Tennessee State 59-3.

After a tough first game against an explosive West Virginia offense, the Vols got back on track against an inferior ETSU squad. There wasn’t much to take from the game other than the running backs are genuinely going to be a committee to get the job done.

Madre London and Jeremy Banks scored two touchdowns apiece while Tim Jordan led all Volunteers in rushing yards. Of course, that is without Ty Chandler, who should still make an impact at some point during the season.

The UTEP game appears to be another snoozer, but it could be yet another game to get all the young guys much-needed experience heading into Florida week.

Here is all the information you need for the Vols’ game vs. the UTEP Miners.

Tennessee Volunteers vs. UTEP Miners

When: Saturday, September 15 at 12:00 p.m.

Where: Neyland Stadium; Knoxville, TN

TV: SEC Network

Live Stream: WatchESPN

Line: Tennessee -30.5

Over/Under: 47.5

VIEW OF THE VOLS

Record: 1-1, 0-0 SEC

Last 3: 1-2

Last 5: 1-4

The Vols look to take a two-game winning streak into the Florida week. If for some reason that isn’t the case, Phillip Fulmer might as well cancel the rest of the football season because the fans would be gone.

We haven’t learned much about the Vols this season in the first two games. The West Virginia game got ugly in the second half because Will Grier and the Mountaineers’ wide receivers started taking advantage of the young freshman. Turn around a week, and those same young freshmen dominated the ETSU receivers.

It appears that Jeremy Pruitt is going to coach a bit like Patriots head coach Bill Belichick and have a running back by committee. Which, is not that bad of an idea considering the offensive line is horrid and all four running back can make something out of nothing.

Wide receiver Marquez Callaway has looked outstanding in the first two games of the season. He has 11 receptions for 141 receiving yards thus far. However, as impressive as he has been, Jauan Jennings has been the total opposite. Tennessee really needs Jennings to get going to have a chance against SEC defenses.

The Vols defense has forced four turnovers in two games which ranks tied for ninth in the nation. Pruitt has the defense playing hard and taking chances, and that is what it is going to take if he wants to pull an upset or two.

VIEW OF THE MINERS

Record: 0-2, 0-0 SoCon

Last 3: 0-3

Last 5: 0-5

UTEP is arguably one of the worst teams to step foot inside Neyland Stadium. They bring a 14-game losing streak to Knoxville, and it doesn’t appear they are heading in the right direction. This past week UNLV hung 52 points on them in a 52-24 blowout. And, in week one Northern Arizona beat them 30-10.

Truthfully the only thing the Miners have going for them is the rushing attack, and even that is flawed since quarterback Kai Locksley leads the team in rushing. On 38 attempts Locksley has 169 rushing yards with two touchdowns.

Running back Quardraiz Wadley only has 15 carries on the season but has gained 139 yards from the line of scrimmage. If he keeps this pace up, he will blow last season’s 277 rushing yards out of the water.

Defensively the Miners aren’t good. They rank 118th national by giving up 260 rushing yards per game. However, they do have experience in the defensive backfield so it will be interesting to see how they can fare against a talented group of wide receivers.

View from Us

This game shouldn’t be close. In fact, the Vols could easily hang 60 points. However, I think Tennessee will be looking ahead to the Florida game especially since the Gators are vulnerable after losing to Kentucky.

The Vols have a legitimate chance to start their season out 3-1 before beginning the toughest three-game stretch in the nation. But, they have to get by the Miners first, Tennessee 45 UTEP 7.