A couple of schools that like to run the football, Head Coach Jeremy Pruitt and the Tennessee Volunteers (+17) are set to take on their conference rival No. 21 Auburn Tigers (-17) at Jordan-Hare Stadium. This afternoon game will start at 12:00 p.m. ET and fans can watch the action on SEC Network.
Tennessee Volunteers at Auburn Tigers Betting Preview
Tennessee is a live dog in this one and is currently getting 17 points. If they want to play the moneyline, bettors would currently need to wager $1,200 in order to win $100 back on the Tigers (-1200). The Volunteers are getting +710 moneyline odds. There could be multiple good in-game betting opportunities for this matchup.
The game’s opening line was originally set at -18 and the early action has swayed in favor of the Volunteers.
The Volunteers are 2-3 against the spread (ATS) and have lost 2.0 units so far. The team’s posted an O/U record of 2-3. The Tigers have lost 4.5 units for moneyline bettors this season. They’re 2-4 ATS and own an O/U record of 1-5.
The Volunteers have gone 2-3 straight up (SU), including 0-2 SU against SEC opponents. The Tigers are 4-2 SU overall and 1-2 SU in conference play.
The Vols lost to Georgia 38-12 in a blowout where their defense allowed the Bulldogs to run for 251 yards on 50 rush attempts, including five rush TDs. Elijah Holyfield had a productive day for the Bulldogs in that one with 78 rushing yards on 16 attempts. On the offense, Jarrett Guarantano completed 13 passes for only 143 yards and two touchdowns. Jeremy Banks (only 18 rushing yards on six attempts) led the ground attack in the loss while Ty Chandler (four receptions, 53 yards, one TD) and Marquez Callaway (two catches, 21 yards) shared the receiving duties.
Back on October 6, Mississippi State took care of this Auburn crew by a score of 23-9. The Tigers defense allowed the Bulldogs to run for 349 yards on 57 rush attempts, including two rush TDs. Nick Fitzgerald was on a different level for Mississippi State, recording 195 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 28 attempts. For Auburn, Jarrett Stidham completed 19-of-38 passes for 214 yards. JaTarvious Whitlow (88 yards on eight rush attempts) spearheaded the ground attack in the defeat while Ryan Davis (eight receptions, 91 yards) and Darius Slayton (four catches, 58 yards) led the pass-catching corps.
Tennessee has run the ball on 66.6 percent of its offensive plays this year, including 63.2 percent across possessions in conference play. Auburn has an overall run percentage of 57.9 percent, and has rushed the ball 51.9 percent of the time when facing SEC opponents. The Volunteers have rushed for 177 yards per game (including 111 per game versus Southeastern opponents) and have 10 scores via handoffs this year. The Tigers are averaging 164 rush yards per game (104 in conference) and have 13 total rushing TDs.
The Vols offensive scheme has tallied 183 yards per contest through the air overall (176 per game versus conference opposition) and has five passing scores so far. The Tigers have recorded 200 pass yards per outing (182.0 in the SEC) and also have five total pass TDs.
Defensively, Tennessee has allowed opponents to run for an average of 158 yards and pass for 183 yards per game. The Auburn defense has allowed 188.0 yards per game to opposing passers and 135.5 yards per game on the ground. The Tigers are allowing an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of only 3.67 to opposing QBs, while the Volunteers have given up a 6.73 ANY/A.
Offensively, Guarantano has put up 637 passing yards this season. He’s completed 69 percent of his 75 attempts with four passing scores and has yet to throw an interception. Guarantano’s got an 8.29 adjusted net yards per pass attempt overall, although that number is 5.69 over the last two games.
Ty Chandler, Marquez Callaway and Jauan Jennings have combined to account for 305 total yards over the last two outings.
In the home locker room, Jarrett Stidham has completed 82-of-135 passes for 932 yards, three TDs and two INTs. Stidham’s ANY/A stands at 5.72 for the season and 5.79 over his last two games.
We’re looking for the Tigers to control the game’s pace by pounding the defense with their running backs. In addition to Darius Slayton (155 receiving yards, one receiving TD this season), JaTarvious Whitlow (391 rush yards, four rush TDs) and Kam Martin (161 rush yards, one rush TD) have brought significant production to the Tigers’ recent offensive gameplans.
These two conference foes did not get a chance to face one another last year.
RELATED: Week 7 College Football Betting Odds and Predictions
NCAA Pick: Tennessee Volunteers at Auburn Tigers
SU Winner – Auburn, ATS Winner – Auburn
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Notes
Betting Notes
Tennessee has produced 4.3953488372093 yards per carry over its last three games and 2.8 over its last two.
Auburn has averaged 3.0 yards per carry over its last three contests and 3.3 over its past two.
Both teams have lost seven fumbles this season.
The Volunteers offense has tallied four pass plays of 40+ yards, while the Tigers have put up five such plays.
The Tennessee defense has allowed two pass plays of 40 yards or more, while Auburn has given up three such plays.
The Tennessee offense has created seven rushing plays of 20+ yards, while Auburn has created three such runs.
The Volunteers defense has allowed five rushing plays of 20 yards or more, while the Tigers have given up eight such runs.
The Auburn defense has registered 15 sacks on the year while Tennessee has 10.
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