Tennessee linebacker Jonathan Kongbo pressures ETSU quarterback Logan Marchi during last Saturday’s game at Neyland Stadium. The Vols host UTEP today before beginning SEC play next week against Florida.TENNESSEE (1-1) VS. UTEP (0-2)
Noon at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville
VIDEO & RADIO
SEC Network & 106.5 FM
THE MATCHUP
Each team is in its first season with a new head coach after going winless in conference play last season. In fact, the University of Texas at El Paso, which competes in Conference USA, went winless overall (0-12) last season. Orange is the primary color for both schools, and they also have the “UT” connection. In addition, the Miners’ offense is coordinated by Mike Canales, who was the quarterbacks coach at Tennessee last season. One area in which these programs differ vastly, however, is talent. This game will serve as a final dress rehearsal for the Volunteers before they begin Southeastern Conference play next week, when Florida visits Neyland Stadium. UTEP, meanwhile, will receive a nice paycheck to serve as a tackling dummy against a team that has more elite athletes than any program will face in conference play.
ONE TO WATCH
Keep an eye on Tennessee fifth-year senior outside linebacker Jonathan Kongbo to see if he can generate any sort of pass rush against the Miners’ injury-laden offensive line. Tennessee’s only true sack through two games came in the opener against West Virginia when defensive tackle Shy Tuttle surged through the interior. The other two sacks were credited when opposing quarterbacks chose to run but did not make it back to the line of scrimmage. The blame for the poor pass-rush statistics falls largely on Tennessee’s outside linebackers. If Kongbo and redshirt junior Darrell Taylor are ever going to be pass-rush menaces, this is the time. UTEP has an elusive quarterback in Kai Locksley, but the Miners allowed five sacks in their first two games. If the Vols can’t get to the quarterback today, they may not do it at all this season.
IN THE END
Tennessee should win this game easily, not because it is a great football team at this point but because UTEP is coming off a winless season and is early in the building stage of a new regime in a weak conference. For the Vols, it’s a chance to gain more confidence after last year’s 4-8 season and continue solidifying an identity. Are the Vols a power running team capable of grinding opponents down with a stable of running backs? Could a young secondary actually emerge as one of the stronger points of a defense that is struggling to generate a pass rush? Will the Vols find a steady combination of five players on the offensive line? This game won’t give us all the answers, but with the SEC schedule up next, it will provide a new set of clues to unpack.
PREDICTION
Tennessee 52, UTEP 13