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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 /
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COLUMBIA, MO – NOVEMBER 7: A general view of the field taken during the game between the Baylor Bears and the Missouri Tigers at Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium on November 7, 2009 in Columbia, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
COLUMBIA, MO – NOVEMBER 7: A general view of the field taken during the game between the Baylor Bears and the Missouri Tigers at Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium on November 7, 2009 in Columbia, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) /

Central Michigan Chippewas at Missouri Tigers (SECN)

Saturday, Sept. 4 at 4 p.m. ET; Faurot Field; Columbia, Mo.

Line: Missouri -14.5; Over/Under: 60.5

Moneyline: Missouri -630; Central Michigan +450

Our last slide involved a school that a former Tennessee football coach was at before he joined the Vols. Well, this slide involves two schools related to UT. The Central Michigan Chippewas had Butch Jones from 2007 to 2009, and the Missouri Tigers had Josh Heupel as an offensive coordinator in 2016 and 2017.

Now, CMU is led by former Florida Gators head coach Jim McElwain, who won the MAC West in 2019 with former UT quarterback Quentin Dormady. Last year, McElwain went 3-3, but expectations are for improvement this year.

However, McElwain won’t be on the sidelines for the game Saturday, as he is undergoing surgery for appendicitis. On the other side, Mizzou should take a major step forward. After losing 35-12 to the Vols last year, Eliah Drinkwitz’s program took off, and he finished with an impressive 5-5 record. If his program did build on that, great things are in store for this year.

Prediction

Given how Drinkwitz performed last year and the fact that McElwain won’t be in this game, the line is way too unfair to Mizzou. Bet on Drinkwitz’s team to cover in dominant fashion. His offense will take off, but given how he’s able to control the clock, the game will hit the under.

Missouri: 31 Central Michigan: 14 (Missouri -14.5; Under 60.5)

Make your pick for this game now on WynnBET

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