Each week, the two sports editors at The Daily Beacon, Trevor McGee and Alex Sarkis, give their keys and predictions for Tennessee’s upcoming football matchup.
Darkness will descend upon Neyland Stadium.
No. 14 Tennessee is set to welcome No. 18 Oklahoma for a primetime battle with the ability to stay alive for a College Football Playoff birth on the line. The Vols enter the scene fresh off a standout offensive outing against Kentucky, but now have to deal with the Sooners’ SEC-best defensive unit. It’s bound to be a heavyweight fight.
Keys
Trevor McGee, Sports Editor
1. Timely football
Tennessee engaged in a shootout last week, and it came out on the right end of it by playing timely football when absolutely needed. In no way is it territory to brag when the Wildcats set records galore on the Vols’ defense, but they can come away with a slight bit of hope knowing it was never a close game in the second half.
Kentucky creeped up to make it a one-score game late in the second, but then Tennessee put two-minute drill struggles in the past to push the lead back to a pair of touchdowns. Then, the defense limited the Wildcats to a six-play drive that ended in a punt, where Tennessee put the dagger in with a 62-yard touchdown pass to make it a three-score game early in the third.
Oklahoma is a good football team, as is the rest of the SEC. The defense likely won’t stop John Mateer often, but it must ensure that when there is a stop, a score ensues.
2. Air it out
Joey Aguilar had his best game as a Vol at Kentucky. He distributed the ball equally to his leading trio of receivers, added a season-high 396 passing yards and tallied four passing plays of 45-plus yards.
It was a recipe for success. The same game plan had Tennessee in the driver’s seat to upset Georgia earlier in the year. That success faltered against Alabama when the Vols failed to stretch the field vertically.
To take down an impressive Oklahoma team, Tennessee must utilize a heavy air attack against a physical defensive line.
Score prediction: Oklahoma 49, Tennessee 42
Letting a putrid Kentucky offense do numbers on your defense in front of a lackluster crowd does not give much faith moving to a hungry Sooners squad fresh off a home loss. Once Heisman Trophy candidate Mateer has not looked the same since his thumb surgery over a month ago, but typical Tennessee fashion would allow him right back in the race with a 400-plus-yard, five-touchdown performance to upset the Vols on home grass in a dark environment.
Alex Sarkis, Assistant Sports Editor
1. Protect Aguilar
It’s no secret that Oklahoma’s defense is a frightening unit.
The Sooners rank third in the country with 29 sacks, boasting one of the SEC’s top pass rushers in R Mason Thomas. Oklahoma is allowing just 12.5 points per game, but is coming off a poor showing against Ole Miss, where it surrendered a season-worst 34 points. Head coach Brent Venables’ guys are going to be hungry to get back on the right track.
On Tennessee’s side of things, the offensive line has been a bright spot so far this campaign. Glen Elarbee’s contingent will face the best opposition they’ve seen so far on Saturday. The Vols like to rotate their protection personnel throughout the action, a trend that has found them success while keeping guys fresh.
The Vols allowed four sacks the last time they lined up against one of the conference’s premier Alabama pass rushes, a mark they have to prevent to give Aguilar some time to find his breakout receiver trio. Tennessee’s signal-caller showed some of his best work against Kentucky and will want to keep things rolling in his team’s biggest game thus far.
2. Points off turnovers
It didn’t feel like Tennessee’s defense relying on turnovers to get stops would be sustainable earlier in the year.
But now, forcing giveaways has become one of the trademarks for Tim Banks’ group. The Vols have forced at least two turnovers in six contests this year, capitalizing on five of them for defensive touchdowns.
Where Tennessee has run into some trouble is when a defensive score isn’t the result of the turnover play. Against Georgia and Alabama, the Vols failed to take full advantage of prime field position after their defense made an impact play. Both of these instances contributed to losses.
Tennessee must get the most out of these scenarios this week, prioritizing a trip to the endzone through correct playcalling and clean execution.
Score prediction: Oklahoma 24, Tennessee 28
It’s time for Tennessee’s defense to make a statement. The Oklahoma defense is going to put up solid resistance for the Vols’ offense – things won’t be nearly as easy as they were against Kentucky. John Mateer has been pedestrian at best since his hand surgery, but he should be getting much closer to 100%.
If this game were played anywhere other than Neyland Stadium at nighttime, I would side with the Sooners. The atmosphere will play a factor, and the Vols will force a turnover or two and finally get some pressure in the backfield after some quiet weeks.
Tennessee’s national championship hopes stay alive.
