BOWLING GREEN (0-0) vs. NO. 25 TENNESSEE (0-0)
4:01 p.m. * Nissan Stadium, Nashville * SEC Network & 106.5 FM
THE MATCHUP
With two new starters in its secondary - Malik Foreman at nickel cornerback and Evan Berry at safety - Tennessee opens the season against Bowling Green's up-tempo, pass-happy offense. The Falcons spread the field and don't flip receivers between plays, which explains why they ran the fourth-most plays in the country in 2014. QB Matt Johnson completed 64 percent of his passes and threw for nearly 3,500 yards with 25 touchdowns and just seven interceptions in 2013, but he suffered a season-ending hip injury in the 2014 opener. While Tennessee's defensive line faces one of the nation's most experienced offensive lines, the onus will be on a secondary led by cornerbacks Cameron Sutton and Emmanuel Moseley and safety Brian Randolph as Tennessee takes aim on cutting down on the 56 plays of 20-plus yards it allowed last season. The Volunteers will have to communicate efficiently and tackle well in space to get the job done.
ONE TO WATCH
It's been 2,803 days since the 2008 Capital One Bowl, which was the last time Vols offensive coordinator Mike DeBord called plays in a college game. He'll have to settle back into the role quickly for an offense oozing potential this season. Even with a supremely talented receiving corps, the Vols want to be a run-first offense and impose a physical style on opposing defenses. Tennessee has the quarterback and the running backs to be that kind of team, but it all starts with the offensive line. It's likely Coleman Thomas and Brett Kendrick will join Kyler Kerbyson, Jashon Robertson and Dylan Wiesman in the starting lineup at center and right tackle, and the Vols will hope to debut some of their freshman linemen, too. The linemen are aware of the perception that they're the weak link in Tennessee's offense, and the unit will be eager to start on the right foot against a defense that allowed 40-plus points six times last season.
IN THE END
Tennessee faces one of the upper-echelon mid-major programs for a third year in a row after playing Western Kentucky (coached by Bobby Petrino) in 2013 and Utah State in 2014. Less talented Vols teams than this one won those games by 32 and 31 points. Bowling Green played for the MAC championship each of the past two seasons and recorded 26 wins the past three, so the Falcons likewise are no slouch. Tennessee's offense should be able to roll up as many points and yards as it wants, but the defense will have to be ready for a test. All the Vols have heard for eight months is how good they will be this season, and after a preseason in which five players sustained season-ending injuries, they should be ready to go. If that's the case, Tennessee won't be troubled.
PREDICTION: TENNESSEE 48, BOWLING GREEN 21
- Patrick Brown