For a team that began the season with high hopes and a major bowl as a goal, traveling three hours west to Nashville, Tenn. is a disappointing way to end the season for the University of Tennessee (8-4), but disappointment is what this team is all about. They’ll face off against Nebraska (9-3) in the Music City Bowl inside Nissan Stadium on Dec. 30. Kick off is set for 3:30 p.m.
The Game: Nebraska vs Tennessee (-6.5, 59 O/U)
Nebraska Cornhuskers (9-3)
After opening the season 7-0, Nebraska hit a skid that brought them all the way to the birthplace of country music. And while I’m sure Husker Nation might enjoy a good Dolly Parton or Hank Williams tune, they probably had a lot higher hopes than playing the mid-day bowl on the day before New Year’s Eve. The Huskers can thank their offense for their 2-3 finish as they were outscored 125-30 in their three late-season losses.
Nebraska’s offense is an anemic, plodding unit under NFL castoff Mike Riley, averaging just 26.8 points a game. Their defense, on the other hand, almost single-handedly put them in a bowl game, holding opposing teams to 22.8 points per game and that number is even skewed. If you take out the 62-3 ass-kicking from Oklahoma, the Huskers’ defense held everybody else to 19.1 points per game. In college football that’s outstanding.
The offense runs through senior quarterback Tommy Armstrong Jr., but he won’t be playing after being listed as “doubtful” on the last injury report. That means Star Wars fighter pilot Ryker Fyfe will step in and, oh shit should Nebraska be worried. When Fyfe did play, he was terrible. He’s completed 49.2 percent of his passes for 315 total yards, two touchdowns and an interception. Granted, he’s had over a month to prepare for this start, but this is a guy that has started a total of TWO games his entire college career. And this offense is terrible to begin with.
The Cornhuskers are stacked on defense with potential NFL players. Outside linebacker Josh Banderas projects as a late round pick. This season he recorded 89 tackles, 0.5 sacks and eight tackles for a loss. Strong safety Nathan Gerry should also find his way onto an NFL roster next season. He’s second on the team with 74 tackles, seven for a loss, 0.5 sacks and four interceptions.
Tennessee Volunteers (8-4)
The Vols stumble into their bowl coming off the worst loss of the Butch Jones era, a 45-34 embarrassment against cross-state rival Vanderbilt. Now they return to the scene of the bed-shitting, though it’s in a much nicer stadium.
When it’s on, Tennessee’s offense can move the ball against anyone. They average 36.2 points per game behind quarterback Joshua Dobbs, who everyone I talk to around here hates. I like Dobbs, I just don’t care much for his offensive coaches or the Tennessee gameplan and his wideouts dropping footballs like somebody paid them to do it. And we all know they’re getting paid to do the exact opposite.
Dobbs completed 63.3 percent of his passes this season for 2,655 yards, 26 touchdowns and 12 picks to go with 139 rushes for 713 yards and nine touchdowns. Vols fans want more and are convinced Quinten Dormady can give it to them. Not with Mike DeBord calling the plays.
At wide receiver Josh Malone has had a break out season when he actually catches the ball. He has 45 receptions for 852 yards and 10 touchdowns. The best wideout on the team is Juan Jennings. The converted QB has 34 catches for 521 yards and seven touchdowns, one of which was the Hail Mary that beat Georgia.
The true stars on this Tennessee team are on the defense, or they would be if they weren’t all injured. Jalen Reeves-Mayben, Kahlil McKenzie, Shy Tuttle and Quart’e Sapp are all out for the season and Danny O’Brien got kicked off the team. The Vols still have Derek Barnett up front and he’s a guy to keep an eye on in this game as he tries to drive up his draft stop into a Top 10 pick. Barnett has 12 sacks, 18 tackles for a loss, 50 total tackles, one interception, four passes defended and two forced fumbles this season. He’s a beast.
Trends and Notes
Tennessee is 6-1 against the spread this season. The Cornhuskers are 6-4-2.
Nebraska played the 46th toughest schedule in college football in 2016. The Volunteers’ schedule was ranked No. 37.
The Music City Bowl has been played since 1998 and has featured an SEC team in all but one of game. Virginia beat Minnesota 34-31 in 2005.
Though an SEC team played in every Music City Bowl from 1998-2004, the first win for the conference came in 2003 when Auburn beat Wisconsin 28-24. Before that the SEC was 0-5.
This is Tennessee’s second trip to the Music City Bowl. They lost 30-27 to North Carolina in 2010.
The Pick
Make no mistake. If Tommy Armstrong Jr. was playing in this game, Nebraska would blow out Tennessee. The Vols have just been that kind of team in the second half of the season. As it is, it will be far too close, but Tennessee should claim the victory, not just on the field, but in the Championship of Life. Tennessee 34, Nebraska 10
