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Tennessee football: Week 3 SEC and top 25 picks and bets

By Caleb Calhoun

The sun peeks over Neyland Stadium before the University of Kentucky and the University of Tennessee college football game on Volunteer Boulevard in Knoxville, Tenn., on Saturday, Oct. 17, 2020.Kentucky Vs Tennessee Football 202095971
The sun peeks over Neyland Stadium before the University of Kentucky and the University of Tennessee college football game on Volunteer Boulevard in Knoxville, Tenn., on Saturday, Oct. 17, 2020.Kentucky Vs Tennessee Football 202095971 /
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KNOXVILLE, TN – OCTOBER 11: Detailed view of the checkered endzone at Neyland Stadium during a game between the Tennessee Volunteers and the Chattanooga Mocs on October 11, 2014 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Tennessee won the game 45-10. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
KNOXVILLE, TN – OCTOBER 11: Detailed view of the checkered endzone at Neyland Stadium during a game between the Tennessee Volunteers and the Chattanooga Mocs on October 11, 2014 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Tennessee won the game 45-10. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) /

Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles at Tennessee Volunteers (ESPN+/SECN+)

Saturday, Sept. 18 at Noon ET; Neyland Stadium; Knoxville, Tenn.

Outside of a bye week, this is the dullest week for us covering Tennessee football during the season. It’s not just about the fact that they have an easy victory on their hands. There are plenty of circled games both ways to cover. The issue is that there are no fun betting picks to make.

Coming off a heartbreaking 41-34 loss to the Pittsburgh Panthers, the Vols are trying to rebound at 1-1. Their first win, a 38-6 ugly blowout over the Bowling Green Falcons, wasn’t that impressive either. Can they finally put a complete game together under Josh Heupel?

On the other side, the Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles are falling apart under Dewayne Alexander. They haven’t yet had a winning season under him, and he’s in his fourth year as head coach. Their best year was a 6-6 campaign in 2019. This year, they started 0-2 with blowout losses to the Samford Bulldogs and Furman Paladins. However, we all know they circled this game.

Prediction

Even the worst in-state teams are capable of giving Tennessee football trouble if you look at history. The Vols in their heyday under Phillip Fulmer always struggled with the Memphis Tigers and Vanderbilt Commodores.

Next. Tennessee-Tennessee Tech: 10 keys to the game. dark

It’s different, though, with FCS schools. Ever since playing them regularly in 2010, UT has won every one of them by at least 26, and they won the last eight by at least 35. One was a 55-0 thrashing of TTU in 2016. They’ll have a similar performance here. The Vols win in a blowout, and Heupel’s offense at least looks like it’s come together.

Tennessee: 59 Tennessee Tech: 7

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