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.
Revenge is a dish best served cold, a strong notion that emanates from the Vols locker room as they prepare to host Arkansas in their only home game during October.
No. 12 Tennessee enters this year’s meeting with the Razorbacks with memories of the scars they suffered in Fayetteville a season ago. While the same man who helped engineer the upset remains under center, Taylen Green won’t have the same head coach pacing his sidelines.
Sam Pittman met his demise with the Hogs following a blowout loss to Notre Dame, prompting the return of Bobby Petrino to the Arkansas helm for the first time since 2011. Both squads have had their adequate time to prepare for the Neyland Stadium duel with a bye week, a resting point on the schedule that came at a particularly convenient time for Tennessee with its slough of bumps and bruises.
Trevor McGee, Sports Editor
1. Don’t let off the gas
Tennessee’s offense took a massive halt after the bye week last season, which ultimately led to a loss at Arkansas when the Vols returned to the field. Whether that was a product of the personnel Tennessee employed last season or a simple lull, that is to be discussed another time.
The Vols are rolling offensively, averaging 45.8 points per game, including 41 points a piece in their two conference games. So the goal coming out of the bye week this year should be to not let that momentum falter.
Arkansas’ defense is bad. That is why the Hogs cleared its defensive coordinator. Attack the Hogs — vertically, horizontally, whatever it takes.
2. Win the turnover battle
Stress-induced outcomes have defined the Vols’ first two SEC games. Turnovers have been at the forefront of that.
Tennessee has not played its cleanest football in its two conference games. Joey Aguilar has thrown four of his five interceptions in SEC play, though they have almost all been tip-drill plays. Regardless, a clean sheet in the interception department would do some good — especially when he said he wanted to spend his bye week correcting the mechanical reasoning for the interceptions. It would show work paying off.
Additionally, Tennessee has come up with timely defensive turnovers that have aided the Vols in staying competitive. Against Georgia, it was a Joshua Josephs strip sack that gave Tennessee fourth-quarter momentum. Against Mississippi State, Colton Hood recorded a first-quarter pick-six to aid an offensive lull, while Josephs provided a scoop-and-score in the fourth to completely shift momentum.
But the biggest point of emphasis should be playing cleanly on special teams. Tennessee has had trouble fielding punts — and a muff-free week against Arkansas could build confidence moving forward.
The Vols are minus one in the turnover margin category. Arkansas is minus two in the column. That is already a win for Tennessee — so carry it through 60 minutes of football on Saturday.
Score prediction: Tennessee 40, Arkansas 28
Alex Sarkis, Assistant Sports Editor
Contain Green
For the first time this season, the Tennessee defense will have to deal with a true running quarterback.
When Green decides to use his legs this season, he is averaging 8.2 yards per attempt. This mark lands him king amongst the rest of the SEC. A year ago, Tim Banks’ group found a way to greatly limit the rushing damage from the senior signal-caller, but this year’s Vols resistance doesn’t boast the same resume.
Tennessee is allowing 373.4 yards a game through five games, a number that slots it 77th in the country for total defense. Opposing quarterbacks have enjoyed solid performances despite a Vols pass rush that usually sees elite success in getting home. The Vols are tied for second in the nation with 21 sacks, an element of their game they would love to stay consistent in hopes of shutting down the versatility of the shifty Green.
Tennessee gets a nice defensive line piece back for this week in Daevin Hobbs. The junior hasn’t seen a snap this season due to a lower-body injury, but will be relied upon immediately to help take some pressure off of a secondary that remains without Jermod McCoy and Rickey Gibson III. The Vols need to sustain pressure to force Green into mistakes.
2. Bounce back on the ground
For the best total offense in the land, it’s a little weird that the usual staple of head coach Josh Heupel’s scheme is having somewhat of a down year.
Tennessee’s running game hasn’t been the explosive kind that usually sits towards the top of the charts each week, but fortunately for the Vols, they haven’t really needed it. Improved quarterback play by Aguilar and a breakout start to the season from wide receiver Chris Brazzell II have seen much more weight placed on attacking through the air.
Arkansas has the worst rushing defense in the SEC, allowing 168 yards per week. While Tennessee likes to seek splash plays down the field to its wideouts, this matchup looks like a good one to get the ground game rolling on paper. Against Mississippi State, DeSean Bishop’s longest rush of the game was only 11 yards until his 25-yard touchdown burst in overtime. Look for Heupel to get his backs involved earlier in this one, because that’s a margin of this game that Tennessee can win in.
Score prediction: Tennessee 45, Arkansas 31
