Tennessee football: SEC, top 25 picks and bets for Week 2 of 2021
Missouri Tigers at Kentucky Wildcats (SECN)
Saturday, Sept. 11 at 7:30 p.m. ET; Kroger Field; Lexington, Ky.
Line: Kentucky -5.5; Over/Under: 56
Moneyline: Kentucky -215; Missouri +170
The first SEC game of the year is a good one, and it involves two teams Tennessee football faces on the road this year, both of which are labeled likely losses for the Vols. This matchup might give Vol fans a better idea of which team they have a better chance of upsetting.
Last week, the Missouri Tigers scored an ugly victory over the Central Michigan Chippewas, winning 34-24. Eliah Drinkwitz enters his second year with high expectations after a strong run towards the end of his first year, but with Jim McElwain not even on the sidelines for CMU in the game last week, Mizzou’s struggles are concerning.
On the other side, the Kentucky Wildcats had a dominant 45-10 victory over the Louisiana Monroe Warhawks. Unlike previous years, though, they look even scarier thanks to the fact that they have a passing game now. Mark Stoops could have a complete program.
Prediction
No Kentucky-Missouri game has gotten even close to 56 points ever since Josh Heupel left Mizzou. UK’s performance last week doesn’t mean it’ll happen here, so take the under. So who wins? Well, Kentucky is at home and has a more complete team, and they’ll take Mizzou more seriously. They’ll win a close one, but Missouri covers. The best bet is the under.
Kentucky: 17 Missouri: 13 (Missouri +5.5; Under 56)