Vols: Prediction For Bowling Green University Game

Vols Team 119 debuts today in Nashville against Bowling Green University.

Head Coach Butch Jones will lead his young football team onto the field at Nissan Stadium in Nashville today. Kick off is set for 3:00 Central.

I have been a Tennessee fan my entire life. I went to school there when Johnny Majors rebuilt Tennessee’s football program. I was there in 1985 when Tennessee won their first SEC crown in years. My Wife went there. I have two children that have already graduated from Tennessee, and one that is Junior this year.

This day is special. It is like Christmas morning to my family and thousands of other Volunteer fans. But although I am a Vol through and through, I am also a realist. I know a little about football as well.

More from Tennessee Volunteers

A few years back when I would go to the Orange and White game I would watch the players closely and evaluate. I would come back to Franklin, Tennessee and people would start asking me about what I saw. I could tell them I saw a team that could possibly win 4-5 games.

It would fly all over my Vol friends. They would laugh and say “oh you are just being negative”. No, I was being honest. There was not enough talent. It was easy to see. Most fans were thinking about which bowl game we would be going to, only because we were Tennessee. I knew better.

Well I am here to tell you that I am excited as I have been in a while. Team 119 is good. They are talented. They are fast, They are strong. They are back. They will not be overwhelmed by anyone anymore.

That is not to say they are SEC Championship ready. But they are getting closer. One more recruiting class like the past few and this team will play in Atlanta next year. But this year? Well, it is possible. Tennessee should be in every game they play. Oklahoma, Georgia, and Alabama may still be better.

The Vols are equal or better to the rest of the teams they will play. I expect 8-9 wins this season….if Joshua Dobbs stays healthy, and injuries stop pursuing the Vols, it will a fun season. A season that will be a stepping stone to an SEC Championship opportunity in 2016. Heck, it is possible for this team to win the East this season.

Live Feed

Rams breakout rookie's unique path went from convenience store job to NFL /

FanSided

Walter Nolen transfer portal rumors: 5 destinations for No. 1 overall recruitFanSided

CFB transfer portal rumors: Michigan QB target, Dillon Gabriel favorite, Texas WR buzzFanSided

Every College Football Head Coach's Against the Spread Record in Bowl GamesBetsided

Opening Odds for Every College Football Bowl GameBetsided

How many SEC teams made bowl games in 2023? Schedule, dates and full listFanSided

So how will today go? Again, usually my friends get upset with me. Well today they should be happy. I believe Tennessee will name the score today. There is no way Bowling Green University holds Tennessee under 40 points today.

Wait til you see Jalen Hurd this season. He does not even look like the same back. He will have a huge day of over 100 yards today. He would go over 200 if Alvin Kamara was not there. But he is, and he will be over 100 today for the Vols as well. The Falcons will not be able to withstand the Tennessee running game.

They can not match up with any of the receivers as well. It will be interesting to see who comes out as Joshua Dobbs top target today. I have a suspicion it will end up being Jauan Jennings in the slot. I am really hoping to see Josh Malone break out as today though. The Vols really need Malone this season to come into his five star form.

The thing I am most excited about is seeing Tennessee’s defensive line. It is going to be extremely good. I mean extremely good! I can not wait to see Kahlil McKenzie take the field for the first time. I bet you the offensive lineman ends up on his backside if they do not double team him on that first snap.

The defense will be the factor today. Bowling Green brings in a Oregon style of attack. I do think it will take the Vols a little time to settle in against this jailbreak style. They snap the ball quick, so it will not allow the Vols to substitute those lineman in and out like they want. But the Vols are in shape, and they play against a similar style every day in practice.

As stated, I expect Bowling Green to score a few early, but after half time, I think Tennessee stops them cold. One of the reasons that I believe Tennessee will win so big today is that I feel like they will run a lot of offensive snaps.

Since the Falcons are so fast at snapping the ball, it will be imperative for them to control the ball and keep the Tennessee offense on the sideline. If they go three and out, and take off only 1:30 off of the clock, they may have to add a new set of light bulbs to the scoreboard at Nissan to keep up with Tennessee’s scoring.

Tennessee wins big today. 48 – 17.

More from Tenn Truth

Home/Tennessee Volunteers