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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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Sep 15, 2018; Austin, TX, USA; General overall view of the Texas Longhorns logo at midfield at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 15, 2018; Austin, TX, USA; General overall view of the Texas Longhorns logo at midfield at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /

No. 23 Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns at No. 21 Texas Longhorns (FOX)

Saturday, Sept. 4 at 4:30 p.m. ET; DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium; Austin, Texas

Line: Texas -8; Over/Under: 58

Moneyline: Texas -330; Louisiana +255

Two former Nick Saban assistants are set to go head to head with each other. Tennessee football could have used either of them as a head coach too instead of Jeremy Pruitt. Well, no use crying over spilled milk.

Anyway, Steve Sarkisian is now with the Texas Longhorns and looking to restore them to prominence after Tom Herman was fired. Sarkisian walks into some decent talent and has a great first test for his team. He inherits an elite running game that should be a perfect fit for his pro-style offense, and that’s where he’ll build the foundation.

On the other hand, Bill Napier is running a low-level powerhouse with the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns. Last year, he went 10-1 and won a share of the Sun Belt title after winning back to back division titles his first two years there. Louisiana returns everybody, and this is the perfect first test for the program, against an elite school with a new head coach.

Prediction

The oddsmakers are overreacting to Texas firing Herman and Lafayette’s play last year and have set the line way too small. Louisiana is good, but Texas is still talented. Sark will win this game on the ground. Take the over, but take the Longhorns to cover.

Texas: 45 Louisiana: 21 (Texas -8; Over 58)

Make your pick for this game now on WynnBET

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