What is your take on this game? I hope the Vols can win this one for the SEC. I think it will be close game in front of a packed house in Knoxville.
I'll go with Tenn. Lynch is a good back, but he'll get a taste of what SEC run defenses are like. If that Volunteer D plays up to its potential, Cal will wish it had never scheduled this game.
I'm glad we're not playing Cal in our opener. I think it will be an upset if UT wins. For them to win I think their offense is going to have to be much better than it was last year because they aren't going to shut Cal down completely and Cal also has some great athletes on defense.
Over the last few years when people talked about all the things going on at UT the concensus was "if that program falls, it will fall in on itself. It won't be something outside (IE: NCAA) that damages it." Keep that in mind when you think of last year. A fluke? Some think so, but all accounts/facts attribute the collapse due to discipline issues. Do you think that replacing one coach, the OC, is going to correct discipline problems abundant throughout all of their athletic programs? It's a culture now. All that being said... ..."a taste of what SEC run defenses are like?" UT is replacing all but one of their front seven with the exception of a Sr. on the left side of the line. Now, they are returning their defensive backfield (1Jr. 3 Sr.'s) but that doesn't bode well for opening the year with a good running team as your opponent. Losing to Cal is a very distinct possibility. When UT has faced an opponent of a decent caliber they haven't had a lot of success. Air Force (next opponent) is a given, then it's UF. What does that lead me to think? A distinct possibility UT finds itself 1-2 after UF, and then 3-3 going into their game versus Bama. Unless UT gets it together when they face Memphis and Marshall their season could tank, and tank quickly. Do you think a team made up of the personalities that UT has could rebound after a loss to UF, UGA and Cal? Then to face Bama, SOS lead South Carolina, LSU? This game means A LOT to UT's season. I'd say as much as a win in Starkville means to USC. If S. Car. loses to MSU they can kiss their season goodbye. A loss to Cal and Florida and the same can be said for UT.
cal will win a low scoring affair. 26-17. phattimus has too little offensive ingenuity to beat tedford. i hope im wrong. he can only beat lester.
I follow 17 different betting lines. Sportsbook is OFF on this one. Out of the other 16, 11 have the line at 1.5. So, what do we take from that...it's about even money being wagered on both sides with a slight edge to Cal since UT is carrying 3 on home field advantage... On a different note, sportsbetting.com had the Vandy - Michigan spread at -7 for MI Sunday AM...jumped all over that...it is up to 25 this morning.
if you got it at 7, I'm sure your bet will be voided. And instead of watching 17 different sportsbooks, their is a site that does it for you. 69% of the offshore betting public is on Cal in this one. The line open at 2 and list for 1.5 to 1 on the offshore books. So no SMART MONEY on this one. The majority of the money coming in is backing the 69%... hence the slight drop in the line.
