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Tennessee football: Week 8 Vols, SEC and top 25 picks and bets

By Caleb Calhoun

Tennessee players warm up before Tennessee’s home football game against Akron in Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn., on Saturday, Sept. 17, 2022.Kns Ut Akron Football Bp
Tennessee players warm up before Tennessee’s home football game against Akron in Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn., on Saturday, Sept. 17, 2022.Kns Ut Akron Football Bp /
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Oct 15, 2022; Knoxville, Tennessee, USA; General view before the game between the Tennessee Volunteers and the Alabama Crimson Tide at Neyland Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 15, 2022; Knoxville, Tennessee, USA; General view before the game between the Tennessee Volunteers and the Alabama Crimson Tide at Neyland Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports /

UT-Martin Skyhawks at Tennessee Volunteers

Saturday, Oct. 22 | Noon ET | SEC Network | Neyland Stadium; Knoxville, Tenn.

Gambling odds according to WynnBET

  • Line: Tennessee -38
  • Over/Under: 70
  • Moneyline: N/A

Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change

After three weeks of tough tests, Tennessee football finally gets another breather. They got one during their bye week, but they haven’t had a game that they are all but guaranteed to win since Week 3 against the Akron Zips. Are they guaranteed to win this game, though?

The UT-Martin Skyhawks are top 20 in both FCS polls, they are on track to repeat as Ohio Valley Conference Champions under 17th-year head coach Jason Simpson, and they have hit their stride recently. They also have a great offense at the FCS level, specifically with an elite passing attack, and the Vols’ pass defense is their biggest weak spot.

On the other side, Tennessee football is still basking in its win over Alabama, and it’ll obviously be looking ahead to two ranked games after this one, against Kentucky and Georgia. Ranked No. 3 in the AP Poll and No. 4 in the Coaches Poll, Josh Heupel has the program, but how does he get them ready to play this game.

Prediction

Given all the dynamics we mentioned and the fact that the Vols desperately want this game over early so they can make it an effective bye week while they work to get healthy, UT-Martin will give them some trouble early. Simpson’s team has been off for two weeks, so he’s had time to prepare.

Tennessee-UT Martin: 10 keys to the game. dark. Next

As a result, the Skyhawks will hit a couple strikes early before Tennessee football regroups and takes control. That’ll be enough to keep the Vols from covering the insane spread, but they’ll win in a blowout, and the game will hit the over. UT-Martin is actually better than Akron, so the Vols will have to play hard for two quarters rather than one.

Tennessee: 52 UT-Martin: 21 (UT-Martin +38; Over 70)

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