All for Tennessee
Fansided

Tennessee football: SEC and top 25 picks and gambling bets for Week 1 of 2021

By Caleb Calhoun

Sep 22, 2018; Knoxville, TN, USA; General view of Neyland Stadium during the fourth quarter of the game between the Florida Gators and the Tennessee Volunteers. Florida won 47 to 21. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 22, 2018; Knoxville, TN, USA; General view of Neyland Stadium during the fourth quarter of the game between the Florida Gators and the Tennessee Volunteers. Florida won 47 to 21. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
16 of 18
Next
Aug 28, 2021; Pasadena, California, USA; A general overall view of the Rose Bowl facade prior to the game between the UCLA Bruins and the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors . Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 28, 2021; Pasadena, California, USA; A general overall view of the Rose Bowl facade prior to the game between the UCLA Bruins and the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors . Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /

No. 16 LSU Tigers at UCLA Bruins (FOX)

Saturday, Sept. 4 at 8:30 p.m. ET; Rose Bowl Stadium; Pasadena, Calif.

Line: LSU -3; Over/Under: 65

Moneyline: LSU -145; UCLA +125

It’s crazy that the Georgia Bulldogs are the ones trying to take the next step under Kirby Smart but Ed Orgeron of the LSU Tigers is the one on the hot seat a year removed from winning the national title. Tennessee football would do anything to be able to replicate Orgeron’s success.

Last year, the Tigers disappointed everybody, stumbling to a 5-5 record. Now, there is a lot of talk about this being a program on the decline, and the loss of Steve Ensminger as an offensive coordinator has analysts more skeptical of what he could do this year.

On the other hand, the UCLA Bruins seem like a program on the rise under Chip Kelly. After a rough start, they went 3-4 last year in all Pac-12 play but lost all four games by one possession. This seems like the year in which that offense finally turns the corner, and that combined with Orgeron’s hot seat is why this is expected to be a game.

Prediction

LSU has always performed best under Orgeron with his back against the wall. That will show up here, as the Tigers dominate UCLA. They will prove their offense is fine despite the transitions, and as a result, this team will pull away in a shootout. Take LSU to cover on the road while the game hits the over.

LSU: 41 UCLA: 34 (LSU-3; Over 65)

Make your pick for this game now on WynnBET

Home/Vols Football