Tennessee football: Vols, SEC, top 25 predictions for Week Two of 2019
No. 6 LSU Tigers at No. 9 Texas Longhorns
TV: ABC; Line: LSU -6.5; Over/Under: 55.5
Saturday, Sept. 7 at 7:30 p.m. E.T.; Royal Texas Memorial Stadium; Austin, Texas
Okay, so we get to go from the worst game on the slate this week to probably the best, at the very least the second best. Who would have thought two years ago that the LSU Tigers would be happier with Ed Orgeron in his third year as the full-time coach than Tennessee football would be with Jeremy Pruitt in his second year?
Well, that’s where LSU is. They faced a Georgia Southern Eagles team last week known for giving teams hell with its triple-option, and this time it was under an experienced offense. But the Tigers dominated, winning 55-3. That was an eye-opener for just how good this team can be, as Dave Aranda’s defense has taken off, and they may finally have an offense.
Meanwhile, the Texas Longhorns have hit their stride under Tom Herman. We saw what they did to the Georgia Bulldogs last year, and they were superb in a 45-14 opening win over the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs. With them playing this game at home and Herman once being a favorite for the LSU job, this game has a ton of storylines.
Prediction
I still maintain that Texas is a bit overrated. Teams are always overvalued after winning consolation bowl games. UT quarterback Sam Ehlinger has accuracy issues despite his mobility, and LSU’s defense can exploit that. Meanwhile, they now have the offense. So don’t just take LSU. The Tigers will cover and score enough for this game to hit the over.