NCAAF Betting – Tennessee Volunteers Overlooked In SEC
NCAA football odds – Tennessee Volunteers
- Georgia, Florida overshadow Tennessee in SEC
- Can head coach Philip Fulmer work his magic again with a first-year starter at quarterback?
- Is the BCS in reach for Knoxville?
The Tennessee Volunteers haven't been getting much love from those who are betting on sports. They didn't last year either as they reached the top of the East Division in the SEC. And in the Championship game, they lost 21-14 to the LSU Tigers, the eventual BCS Champions.
The Vols return 15 starters from last year's squad but no one seems to be paying attention and they are far from a favorite. On offense, they bring back four of their five starters along the offensive line and running back Arian Foster, who is one of the best in the conference.
The big change on offense is at quarterback where junior Jonathan Crompton takes over for the departed Erik Ainge. Crompton is a first-time starter, which could lead to some inconsistency, but Crompton has the potential to be much better than Ainge was. Fulmer is 39-11 in his 17 years at Tennessee when a first-time quarterback is starting.
A change at offensive coordinator is worth noting as the Vols did well under David Cutcliff, then struggled when he left for Ole Miss, then played well when he returned last year and now have to move on without him.
Online betting sharps watched the defense let the Vols down at times last year but the problem wasn't a lack of talent. There is plenty of it but the front lines failed to perform consistently.
Defensive tackle Demonte Bolden could be a phenomenal player but he hasn't come close to scratching that level yet. Dan Williams is another player that needs to step up.
When these two tackles are inconsistent, the Vols get gashed on the ground. When they play well, they are tough to beat. The defensive ends also have to play to their potential after underachieving last year.
Tennessee fields one of the best secondaries in the nation with about six players who would start on most teams. Obviously, two of them will have to play in the rotation but this is a very good, deep unit.
The schedule seems loaded but the Vols should be capable. A trip to UCLA to start doesn't seem so daunting now that both of their starting quarterbacks are out for the season. A visit from Florida isn't necessarily a loss especially when you consider that this is a revenge game after the Gators ran up the score last year. That leaves a trip to Georgia and a trip to Auburn as the stiffest tests. The Vols will win at least eight games this year and depending on how quickly Crompton develops, the question is how many more wins on top of that?
Matt Jeremy's Pick: Tennessee Over 8
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After working on the college football recruiting trail as an assistant, Matt Jeremy employed his knowledge of personnel into handicapping the sport. From stadium nuances to coaching strategies, Jeremy has a sharper perspective on the sport than the average capper. He's got you covered from sideline to sideline.
