Tennessee football: Vols, SEC, top 25 predictions for Week Three of 2019

KNOXVILLE, TN - SEPTEMBER 15: A view of the outside of Neyland Stadium before a game between the Florida Gators and Tennessee Volunteers on September 15, 2012 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by John Sommers II/Getty Images)
KNOXVILLE, TN - SEPTEMBER 15: A view of the outside of Neyland Stadium before a game between the Florida Gators and Tennessee Volunteers on September 15, 2012 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by John Sommers II/Getty Images) /
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Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images
Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images /

Colorado State Rams at Arkansas Razorbacks

Line: Arkansas -9.5; Over/Under: 64; TV: SEC Network

Saturday, Sept. 14 at 4 p.m. E.T.; Razorback Stadium; Fayetteville, Ark.

Are the Arkansas Razorbacks really any better this year than last year? The only reason they were slightly above Tennessee football and the Vanderbilt Commodores in our SEC Power Rankings earlier this week is because they actually do have a win, and they have played at least one Power Five team. But overall, they have proven nothing.

This week is the first chance for Chad Morris to really prove he’s got a better team. Well, he had that chance last week, but a bowl game is not what should be on the table this year. Simple improvement needs to be the focus. At least they were competitive in their loss to the Ole Mis Rebels last week.

In the Colorado State Rams, they host a team that lost its opener to the Colorado Buffaloes 52-31 but then beat Western Illinois, an FCS school, 38-13. This is a team that also beat the Hogs last year in Fort Collins, and after going 3-9 that season under Mike Bobo, they’re looking to get back to where they were as a 7-6 program the three years before.

Prediction

How in the world are the Hogs a nine and a half point favorite? That makes no sense given what’s recently happened. Sorry, but until they prove they deserve respect, Chad Morris’s team gets none. Colorado State pulls off this upset on the road, and this game won’t hit the over because Arkansas still looks like it can’t score a lot.

Colorado State: 28 Arkansas: 24 (Colorado State +9.5; Under 64)