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Tennessee football, SEC, top 25 picks and bets for Week 2 of 2022

By Caleb Calhoun

Jan 23, 2011; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; General view of the downtown Pittsburgh skyline and the Ohio River. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 23, 2011; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; General view of the downtown Pittsburgh skyline and the Ohio River. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oct 9, 2021; Provo, Utah, USA; A general view of LaVell Edwards Stadium prior to a game between the Brigham Young Cougars and the Boise State Broncos. Mandatory Credit: Rob Gray-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 9, 2021; Provo, Utah, USA; A general view of LaVell Edwards Stadium prior to a game between the Brigham Young Cougars and the Boise State Broncos. Mandatory Credit: Rob Gray-USA TODAY Sports /

ESPN. Saturday, Sept. 10. 1-0. 10:15 p.m. ET. 860. 861. LaVell Edwards Stadium; Provo, Utah. 1-0

Gambling odds according to WynnBET

  • Spread: BYU -3.5
  • Over/Under: 53
  • Moneyline: BYU -165; Baylor +135

Welcome to the only non-SEC top 25 matchup to start the season. The Baylor Bears picked up right where they left off from last year’s 12-2 and Big 12 Championship season under Dave Aranda, and they blew out the Albany Great Danes 69-10 to open up the season.

Now, ranked No. 9 in the AP Poll and No. 8 in the Coaches Poll, this dominant program is trying to prove it’s a dark-horse national title contender. An early top 25 matchup is a great chance to see if that’s true, and they have to go on the road to do it. This is also a preview of a future Big 12 matchup once Texas and the Oklahoma Sooners leave for the SEC.

On the other side, the BYU Cougars, ranked No. 21 in the AP Poll and No. 25 in the Coaches Poll, obliterated the South Florida Bulls 50-21 to open the season. Kalani Sitake may have his best team ever coming off a 10-3 campaign, and as they showed against Tennessee football in 2019, they don’t have to have one of their best teams to beat Power Five foes.

Prediction

You’re looking at two complete offenses with a ton of starters back that also both bring balance. Since both teams have questionable defensive fronts, that’ll make this an offense performance, but it won’t be one that involves quick strikes back and forth all game.

When that matchup happens, the Power Five team gets the edge usually with its defensive power, and Baylor has a bit more of that. Aranda, as an elite defensive coach, also gives Baylor the edge, so while the game hits the over, take Baylor to pull off the upset outright in what should be the most exciting game of the weekend.

Baylor: 35 BYU: 31 (Baylor +3.5; Over 53)

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