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Tennessee football: Vols, SEC and top 25 picks and bets for Week 0 and Week 1 of 2022

By Caleb Calhoun

The Tennessee football team runs through the T during a NCAA football game against Tennessee Tech at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn. on Saturday, Sept. 18, 2021.Kns Tennessee Tenn Tech Football
The Tennessee football team runs through the T during a NCAA football game against Tennessee Tech at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn. on Saturday, Sept. 18, 2021.Kns Tennessee Tenn Tech Football /
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The Ohio State Buckeyes take the field for Saturday’s NCAA Division I football game against the Miami (Oh) Redhawks at Ohio Stadium in Columbus on September 21, 2019. [Barbara J. Perenic/Dispatch]Lnabazi8hvjygtdiyhdb89az6f
The Ohio State Buckeyes take the field for Saturday’s NCAA Division I football game against the Miami (Oh) Redhawks at Ohio Stadium in Columbus on September 21, 2019. [Barbara J. Perenic/Dispatch]Lnabazi8hvjygtdiyhdb89az6f /

Ohio Stadium; Columbus, Ohio. ABC. 819. Saturday, Sept. 3. 0. 812. 7:30 p.m. ET. 0

Gambling odds

  • Line: Ohio State -17
  • Over/Under: 59
  • Moneyline: Ohio State -850; Notre Dame +575

Could the Notre Dame Fighting Irish feel anymore disrespected? They are a top five team just like the Ohio State Buckeyes but are a two-touchdown underdog in this opening matchup. Talk about an unfair way to kick off the Marcus Freeman campaign after Brian Kelly took the LSU Tigers job. Tennessee football gets to face Kelly now.

Anyway, Notre Dame came close to making the playoff last year and also came closer than it has in 30 years to winning a meaningful bowl game, only losing 37-35 to the Oklahoma State Cowboys in the Fiesta Bowl. The offense has to replace its anchors, but the defense has everybody back, which should set it up nicely.

Ohio State, meanwhile, would be a clear-cut national championship favorite in any other year if Alabama didn’t exist. Instead, They enter this season No. 2 with Heisman Trophy candidate C.J. Stroud. Getting to host Notre Dame to open the season is the best chance for Stroud to make his early Heisman case, but will he?

Prediction

Yes, Ohio State will win. Stroud will also play well. However, despite the questions surrounding Notre Dame’s offense, it’s hard to bet against this defense. Ignore the Fiesta Bowl. Everybody back, a full offseason working under Freeman and Al Golden coming in as defensive coordinator should help a ton.

As a result, Notre Dame will keep this close for three quarters. Stroud won’t look like the Heisman candidate we all expected. He’ll finally turn it on in the fourth to deliver a solid victory, but OSU won’t cover, and the game won’t hit the over.

Ohio State: 30 Notre Dame: 21 (Notre Dame +17; Under 59)

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