Tennessee football: Week 10 SEC and top 25 picks by Caleb Calhoun

Here are Caleb Calhoun’s Week 10 picks for the Tennessee football Volunteers and other SEC and top 25 games.

While Tennessee football comes off an open date looking for a turnaround this week, I may have been lucky to begin a turnaround during their bye week this past week. Before diving in for my Week 10 predictions, here’s a look at how I performed last Saturday.

Week 9 performance

Straight up: 6-1

Gambling picks: 8-6

• 3-4 against the spread
• 5-2 over/under

Overall performance for 2020

Straight up: 39-14

Gambling picks: 49-57

• 20-33 against the spread
• 29-24 over/under

As you can see, I’m still having a horrible year. However, last week got me a bit closer back to that .500 mark, and this week provides me plenty of opportunities to get back on track. There are plenty of huge games to cover.

Our week starts on Friday with a crucial top 25 matchup out west that should be fun to watch. There are three non-conference top 25 games for us to pick this week plus four SEC games, including Tennessee football’s matchup, to make for seven overall. Let’s go ahead and dive in now with these picks.

Boise State +3.5; Over 63.5

The Boise State Broncos have scored over 40 points both games this year, and the BYU Cougars have crossed that mark in three straight. As a result, take the over. With both teams undefeated, this should be a thriller. Boise State is an underdog at home for only the second time this century. It won the first time in 2018. Take the over and BSU to cover, and I’m picking them to win outright.

Indiana +3.5; Over 54.5

The last team to beat the Indiana Hoosiers is Tennessee football. All of a sudden, this offense looks impressive. With the Michigan Wolverines coming to town and reeling behind all the talk of Jim Harbaugh being done, they will lose outright to Tom Allen’s team. Indiana will score just enough for this game to hit the over as well.

Georgia -3.5; Over 53.5

Don’t sleep on the Florida Gators’ defense fixing its issues with two weeks off. That looked to be the case against the Missouri Tigers, and the Georgia Bulldogs have fallen apart offensively. However, they are still the better team, and what happened last week appears as if it was a mirage. Georgia will cover, and Kyle Trask will force them to keep scoring, so it hits the over.

Vanderbilt +18.5; Over 44.5

I’ve been wrongly betting on the Mississippi State Bulldogs for weeks. This will be a typical Mike Leach game, as the Vanderbilt Commodores don’t play defense. However, they proved last week they can score on some bad defenses. As a result, this game hits the over. MSU wins but doesn’t cover. I’m done betting on them against the spread.

Texas A&M -10.5; Over 58.5

We don’t know what to make of the South Carolina Gamecocks from week to week, but the Texas A&M Aggies are rolling on offense. Coming off a bye, USC’s offense could get better too. However, their defense hasn’t shown anything, so this will be another shootout that hits the over while Jimbo Fisher’s team covers ahead of Tennessee football next week.

Clemson -5.5; Under50.5

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish rely on their rushing attack, the Clemson Tigers don’t have Trevor Lawrence, and both teams are among the best in the ACC in rush defense. As a result, take the under here. This game sets up perfectly for the Irish to control the clock and keep it low-scoring, but Clemson will still pull away with a late touchdown to cover.

Tennessee +0.5; Under 52.5

The line opened with Tennessee football as the favorite and has since moved to the Arkansas Razorbacks. However, take the Vols outright. UT’s issues in the past three losses have been turnovers in the passing game. When they can establish the run, they win. Also, then Jarrett Guarantano can’t throw interceptions, which is the only way the Hogs win.

Arkansas has a poorly rated defensive line, and the Vols have had two weeks off to get healthy on the offensive line. This game will look like the Missouri Tigers game at the beginning of the year, only closer. UT controls the clock, beats the spread and keeps it on the ground, which is why this game hits the under.