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Tennessee football at Kentucky: Five last-minute predictions for Week 10 matchup

By Caleb Calhoun

Oct 2, 2021; Columbia, Missouri, USA; Tennessee Volunteers head coach Josh Heupel reacts during the first half against the Missouri Tigers at Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 2, 2021; Columbia, Missouri, USA; Tennessee Volunteers head coach Josh Heupel reacts during the first half against the Missouri Tigers at Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports /
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Sep 11, 2021; Lexington, Kentucky, USA; Kentucky Wildcats defensive end Josh Paschal (4) and linebacker DeAndre Square (5) celebrate a defensive play during the fourth quarter against the Missouri Tigers at Kroger Field. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Prather-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 11, 2021; Lexington, Kentucky, USA; Kentucky Wildcats defensive end Josh Paschal (4) and linebacker DeAndre Square (5) celebrate a defensive play during the fourth quarter against the Missouri Tigers at Kroger Field. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Prather-USA TODAY Sports /

2. DeAndre Square and J.J. Weaver will each have a sack.

For the year, Tennessee football has been horrendous at avoiding sacks. Part of that is due to Hendon Hooker, or Joe Milton III when he’s in the game, trying to extend plays with their mobility. Another part of it is due to the injuries on the offensive line. Either way, though, they allow 3.5 sacks a game, which is worst in the SEC and No. 123 nationally.

Kentucky isn’t the best team at getting sacks, as they average 2 a game. That ties them at No. 76 nationally and No. 11 in the SEC. However, they have a couple of specific players who know how to rack up sacks, and that’s what will happen here.

Linebacker DeAndre Square has come away with three sacks on the season. J.J. Weaver, who was supposed to be a rotational edge rusher, has stepped up in a big way with Jordan Wright banged up, and he has four sacks on the year.

Josh Paschal is the other big playmaker in this group, but he’s more of a tackles for a loss guy. The sacks are the key, and Square and Weaver have come up huge for UK throughout the year. As a result, they’ll each come away with one against the Vols, and at least one of them will have a huge impact on the game.

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