This one has been circled on the calendar for months, now it’s finally here. The Tennessee Volunteers will take on the Texas Longhorns on Saturday for the first time since 1969. It will be the first time every that these teams have met outside of the Cotton Bowl.
Of course, it will also mark the return of a Manning returning to play inside of Neyland Stadium. Arch Manning, the nephew of Tennessee legend Peyton Manning, currently has Texas ranked at No. 1 in the AP Poll following last weekend’s comeback
in against Ohio State.
Texas entered the season as one of a handful of favorites, and that hasn’t changed with SEC play set to get rolling for the Longhorns this weekend. However, this is one of those tricky road spots on the schedule, with Neyland Stadium reemerging as one of the toughest places to play in the country in recent years. The oddsmakers agree.
According to Fanduel Sportsbook, Tennessee is a 5.5 point underdog. The total is set at 55.5.
Both sides were sort of sleep walking on Saturday night in obvious look ahead spots. Texas beat UTSA 30-6, while Tennessee handled Kennesaw State 42-9.
“Clearly, we’re going to need to play better next week in Knoxville against a good football team,” Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian said on Saturday.
New Tennessee defensive coordinator Jim Knowles will have his hands full on Saturday as he tries to slow Manning and his loaded offense. Cam Coleman and Ryan Wingo form perhaps the best receiving duo in the nation, then Raleek Brown and Hollywood Smothers hold things down in the backfield. Don’t forget about Manning’s rushing ability, either.
However, Tennessee has proven to be no slouch either. Faizon Brandon has been dynamic so far, looking in control of the offense and giving the Volunteers a different dynamic in the run game.
Once again, Knoxville should be electric on Saturday. College Gameday will be in town to preview and get things going in the morning, followed by a noon ET kickoff. With such an early kickoff, it will be interesting to see who comes out with the energy.
