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Friday forecast: Tennessee vs. Nebraska (Music City Bowl)

Nebraska coach Mike Riley (left) and Tennessee coach Butch Jones (right) pose with the Music City Bowl trophy during a joint press conference the day before the Cornhuskers and Vols play in Nashville.
Nebraska coach Mike Riley (left) and Tennessee coach Butch Jones (right) pose with the Music City Bowl trophy during a joint press conference the day before the Cornhuskers and Vols play in Nashville. Nebraska coach Mike Riley (left) and Tennessee coach Butch Jones (right) pose with the Music City Bowl trophy during a joint press conference the day before the Cornhuskers and Vols play in Nashville.

By Patrick Brown 5 min read

NEBRASKA (9-3) VS. NO. 21 TENNESSEE (8-4)

3:30 p.m. * Music City Bowl (Nissan Stadium, Nashville, Tenn.) * ESPN/106.5 FM

THE MATCHUP

photo Tennessee receiver Josh Malone looks on during the team’s practice for the Music City Bowl at Montgomery Bell Academy on Dec. 27, 2016.

By the end of the season, Tennessee’s offense had to operate in shootout mode, where the state of its defense prompted the need to score on basically every possession. The Vols wound up with a 36-point scoring average, good for second in the SEC and 31st nationally.

Nebraska boasts a top-25 defense statistically, and only Oregon, Ohio State and Iowa surpassed the 30-point barrier against the Cornhuskers. Thanks to the trio of quarterback Josh Dobbs, running back Alvin Kamara and wide receiver Josh Malone, the Vols were among the SEC’s leaders in big plays, but Nebraska doesn’t give up many gains of 20-plus yards.