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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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Nov 25, 2017; Auburn, AL, USA; An overall view of the field prior to the game between the Auburn Tigers and the Alabama Crimson Tide at Jordan-Hare Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hagy-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 25, 2017; Auburn, AL, USA; An overall view of the field prior to the game between the Auburn Tigers and the Alabama Crimson Tide at Jordan-Hare Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hagy-USA TODAY Sports /

Mercer Bears at Auburn Tigers

Saturday, Sept. 3 | 7 p.m. ET | SEC Network+/ESPN+ | Jordan-Hare Stadium; Auburn, Ala.

Gambling odds

  • Line: Auburn -31.5
  • Over/Under: 54
  • Moneyline: N/A

If anybody needed a guaranteed win to restore confidence and morale at the start of the season, it’s the Auburn Tigers. Early on last year, Bryan Harsin appeared to be doing the best job of any first-year head coach. Tennessee football’s Josh Heupel eventually took the title, though, as Auburn stumbled to a 6-7 season.

Then came the offseason and the reported scandals surrounding Harsin, but he didn’t go anywhere. Now, he enters his second season at Auburn amidst a cloud of drama, and there’s no way of knowing what will come of that. With a new offensive coordinator and an unproven quarterback situation, the ground game will carry this team.

They get a solid FCS team to open the season, though, so it’s not like this is a guarantee given their drama. The Mercer Bears went 7-3 last year in Drew Cronic’s second season, and they return enough to be even better this year, making them a top 25 FCS team.

Prediction

Honestly, this is going to be one of those games where the far superior FBS team struggles for a while against an FCS team. Only Tennessee football never has that issue. Too many things are in play for Auburn. They’ll win the game, but it’ll be a hideous showing. Mercer will cover the spread, and the game will actually hit the under.

Auburn: 31 Mercer: 20 (Mercer +31.5; Under 54)

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