Vols: Prediction For Oklahoma Game

The Tennessee Vols and the Oklahoma Sooners are about as equal as two teams can be.

That is welcome news to Vol fans all over the country. Head coach Butch Jones has recruited Tennessee back to being relevant in the college football world. A short three years ago the Vols hit rock bottom.

The Vols even lost to Vanderbilt for the first time since T Top Trans Ams roamed the earth. Derek Dooley had allowed the team to wither away with the exception of some NFL type offensive lineman, some NFL type receivers, and a strong armed quarterback. The team had no talent on the defensive side of the ball at all. It was bad.

Along came Jones. He is selling the Vol program, and five star recruits are buying. The result….Tennessee now has the talent level needed to compete in the SEC East. If you can compete in the SEC, you can play with anyone in the country. Today we will find out just how far Tennessee has come.

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There is a reason Vegas sets this as a one point game. The Vols are favored by one point. Vegas odds guy usually gives the home team three points just for being at home. So Vegas thinks the Sooners are two points better than the Vols actually. Suffice it to say the gap has closed from last season where the Sooners were double digit favorites.

Last week the game was easier to predict. You kind of knew what to expect. Tennessee was better than Bowling Green. The better team usually wins.

Today, who knows what will happen? It is a toss up. I am so conflicted that it is hard to come up with a definitive prediction. My heart says Vols. My head says Sooners.

So here is how it goes…….

The Vols have closed the gap on Oklahoma. That is for sure. But has Tennessee closed the gap in the trenches on the Sooners? That is what I just do not know. I know what Tennessee has, but I am not sure what Oklahoma has up front. That is where the game will be won.

Last season poor Justin Worley looked like a tackling dummy. The Oklahoma defensive front used Worley as there own personal sack stat builder. The Vols put freshman Coleman Thomas in at right tackle against the Sooners last season, because that is all they had.

Oklahoma’s defenders in many cases were in Tennessee’s backfield before Thomas got out of his stance. Now Thomas is at Center. It is his natural position. He will look to pay back some of the Sooners today. I think he will get his revenge.

Thomas showed that he could pull from the Center position last week against Bowling Green. That could be huge today in trapping Oklahoma’s front four into building running lanes for the Vols dynamic duo, Jalen Hurd and Alvin Kamara. These guys showed what they can do last week. They will show it again today.

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The offensive tackles are a little better this year. Kyler Kerbison will protect the blind side of Joshua Dobbs. Sophomore Brett Kendrick will be at right tackle. He will be the key. Can he slow the edge rush of Oklahoma? I don’t know. The guards of Tennessee are really good. Jashon Robertson is a future All SEC guard, and Dylan Wiesman can get the job done.

You see, here is where I get excited with my heart. The Vols have multiple offensive weapons. I just don’t think you can stop all of them. The Vols throw out two distinctly different running backs in Hurd and Kamara. I hate the “thunder and lightning” tag, but it does fit.

Hurd is a beast. He is big, strong and fast. Kamara is quick to the hole and fast out his break. Then you have Dobbs to deal with. I wrote earlier that I think Dobbs play will determine the outcome of this game. If he is flawless in execution Tennessee will not only win, they will win going away.

Dobbs is the X factor. The linebackers of Oklahoma have to respect Dobbs running ability as well as Hurd and Kamara. Dobbs can take it the distance on you as well as the backs. By holding the Oklahoma linebackers in just for a split second, that will open up either tight end Ethan Wolf or slot receivers Pig Howard and Jauan Jennings to have a few explosive plays down field.

Tennessee did not have this option last season. They have multiple options. They can also get the running backs out on the perimeter by throwing to these guys. Tennessee did not show that at all against the Falcons last week. They did not have to. Bottom line, I don’t think you can stop this offense cold.

The only way to stop the Vols offense is for the Oklahoma front four to cave in the Tennessee offensive line. So, there it is. Who wins that battle up front? If the Vols have time, they will pick Oklahoma apart. If Oklahoma’s defensive front wins, it will be a long day.

Defensively I think Tennessee will play much better. Emmanuel Moseley looked really bad last week. I don’t think that will happen again today. Tennessee will play a lot of man coverage, but they will mix in the zone a little more against Oklahoma.

The Oklahoma quarterback is Baker Mayfield. He can spin the football. If he has time today to throw, it will be tough to stop the Oklahoma passing attack. The Sooners have four wideouts that are top notch. Tennessee has one defensive back that is top notch in Cameron Sutton. 4-1 is not good.

The key for the Tennessee defense is to pressure Mayfield early and often. I think Tennessee can do so. In order to get to Mayfield the Vols will have a big decision to make. The Oklahoma running game is stout. They have great backs. The offensive line is very young for the Sooners. They had a hard time against Akron running the ball.

So does Tennessee sell out to stop the run at all cost and invite Oklahoma to throw, or does Tennessee drop back in coverage to stop the passing game and invite the Sooners to run. Who do you want to have a big day? The quarterback Mayfield or the running back Perine? You make the call.

I think Tennessee will be able to pressure with the front four only. That will be mandatory for a win today. Barnett will have to have a big day, but Curt Maggitt will be the difference maker today. They can not block them both. Maggitt will probably draw the easier match up. He must make it very uncomfortable for Mayfield.

With all of this said, I think the Vols win this game today. It is just too good of a story. The fans are ready. Is Butch Jones and staff ready? They have not had an opportunity to show that they can match wits with a team that is equal and out coach their opponents. Today is that day. Can they come up with something for this Sooner team that is unexpected?

It is going to be a great game. It is going to be a game of emotional swings. The Vols will have to withstand a early scoring blitz by the Sooners. I believe Tennessee will get down early, and come back late. Tennessee wins the game late on a Josh Dobbs keeper. Final in Knoxville ….Tennessee 34 Oklahoma 31.

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