October 18th – at Ole Miss
Daniel: The Vols haven’t had any luck in drawing their opponents from the West. Obviously Alabama is going to be tough every season for the foreseeable future and the rotating opponent has been a rough draw too. That trend doesn’t chance this year with Ole Miss – a team I believe could make a lot of noise in the SEC this season if the Rebels can stay disciplined on offense. They have one of the most underrated defenses in the nation heading into this season and there are plenty of skill players to move the ball on offense. I don’t see UT coming out of Oxford with a win in this one. Winner: Ole Miss
Houston: Ole Miss is a year ahead of Tennessee in terms of their program rebuild and this game is likely to show it. Ole Miss has a nice nucleus of solid older players to go along with their talented youngsters. Bo Wallace is a hit-or-miss player at quarterback, but has the ability to pile up points in a hurry if given time in the pocket. He’ll be keyed in on Laquon Treadwell at receiver who is a matchup nightmare for any cornerback in the SEC. Ole Miss has a strong defensive line and a few playmakers sprinkled in at linebacker and the secondary that will make things tough on the Vol offense in Oxford. If Wallace is in turnover-mode then the Vols will have a chance, but if he comes out hot then the Vols will have little hope at the upset. Winner: Rebels
Reed: The Rebels return the majority of their production on both sides of the ball from last year’s 8-5 squad and they have been tough at home under Hugh Freeze. Tennessee hasn’t beaten a team on the road as talented as Ole Miss in almost a decade. Their defense should be top-5 in conference and their explosive front seven against Tennessee’s inexperienced offensive line will be the matchup to watch. If the Vol OL is starting to find its stride, Tennessee will have a shot. If not, it’ll be a long day for the men in Orange. Winner: Ole Miss
