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Tennessee football’s five best prop best for Kentucky

By Caleb Calhoun

Oct 22, 2022; Knoxville, Tennessee, USA; A view of a new goal post during the first half of the game between the Tennessee Volunteers and the Tennessee Martin Skyhawks at Neyland Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 22, 2022; Knoxville, Tennessee, USA; A view of a new goal post during the first half of the game between the Tennessee Volunteers and the Tennessee Martin Skyhawks at Neyland Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 30, 2021; Nashville, TN, USA; Tennessee Volunteers running back Jabari Small (2) runs the ball against the Purdue Boilermakers during the second half at Nissan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Roberts-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 30, 2021; Nashville, TN, USA; Tennessee Volunteers running back Jabari Small (2) runs the ball against the Purdue Boilermakers during the second half at Nissan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Roberts-USA TODAY Sports /

3. Jabari Small scores a touchdown (-175 on FanDuel)

Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change

Just because Hendon Hooker won’t go over 40 yards doesn’t mean Tennessee football won’t run the ball well. Kentucky runs a defensive scheme that allows backs to pick up four yards a carry, and the Vols have a highly ranked run game because they stay committed to it. Alex Golesh has his team averaging over 200 yards a game.

Part of that commitment, a huge transition over last year, is that the Vols can actually convert short-yardage plays. A huge reason for that is Jabari Small putting on 15 pounds in the offseason. He has scored numerous goal-line touchdowns this year. In fact, he has a touchdown in every game except against the Akron Zips, when he got hurt in the first quarter.

With Kentucky’s commitment to not letting Hooker beat them on the ground and their secondary’s ability to prevent big plays, the Vols are bound to have a couple of drives where they just move the ball downfield into the red zone. When that happens, Josh Heupel will turn to Small.

Don’t look now, but Small is threatening Gene McEver’s record in rushing touchdowns on Rocky Top. McEver set that with 18 in 1929, and that was skewed with five against the South Carolina Gamecocks. If Small has one Jalin Hyatt-type performance, he’ll be there. That could be this game.

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