TENNESSEE VS. NO. 17 WEST VIRGINIA
3:30 p.m. at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina
VIDEO & RADIO
CBS/106.5 FM
THE MATCHUP
This is the first meeting between two staples of the Appalachian region's college football scene. Tennessee's Vols and West Virginia's Mountaineers have played the sport for a combined 249 seasons without ever facing each other on the field. There are only six other Power Five conference teams the Vols have not faced in their history: Arizona, Arizona State, Illinois, Michigan State, Stanford and Washington. The Mountaineers enter as a trendy pick to make a run at the Big 12 title in Dana Holgorsen's eighth season as head coach. It will be Holgorsen's offensive wit against the defensive prowess of Jeremy Pruitt, who is making his head coaching debut on the Tennessee sideline. The Vols are 5-0-1 all-time in season openers played at a neutral site.
ONES TO WATCH
Tennessee's secondary, which includes a freshman cornerback, will be tested mightily by preseason All-American quarterback Will Grier and a receiving corps that should be one of the best in the Big 12, if not the country. Look for Grier to test the cornerbacks deep almost immediately. If the Vols prove they can handle touted receivers such as Gary Jennings and David Sills in one-on-one coverage, it will free up Pruitt up to call blitzes. Stifling West Virginia's passing attack is nearly impossible, but showing some level of competency in containing it will be crucial to Tennessee's chances. If the Volunteers hope to keep up, they will need their offensive line to dominate West Virginia's defensive front. The Mountaineers added graduated transfers Kenny Bigelow (Southern California) and Jabril Robinson (Clemson) to their defensive line, and both are expected to start. The Vols' offensive line is expected to be much better than last year, too, and if it can open up holes for runners, Tennessee will have a chance to stay in this game.
IN THE END
This is not a favorable matchup for Tennessee, which is breaking in three new cornerbacks, a first-time head coach and a first-time Power Five offensive coordinator in Tyson Helton. The Vols will need to win the turnover battle and catch the Mountaineers off guard with Helton's play calls in order to have a chance. Expect Tennessee to show progress from last season, but don't expect the Vols to rock the college football landscape just yet. Tennessee should hang around into the second half, but the West Virginia offense is too prolific and the Vols' secondary too unproven to reasonably expect a Tennessee victory.
PREDICTION: West Virginia 38, Tennessee 27