A couple of schools that prefer to deploy their running games, Coach Jeremy Pruitt and the Tennessee Volunteers are getting four points as they prepare to welcome their in-conference counterpart No. 12 Kentucky Wildcats to Neyland Stadium. This daytime game is scheduled to start at 3:30 p.m. ET and SEC Network will broadcast the action.
Kentucky Wildcats at Tennessee Volunteers Betting Preview
Tennessee is projected to play the role of underdog and is currently getting 4 points in this Saturday SEC matchup. The Wildcats are also receiving -185 moneyline odds while the Volunteers are +165. Oddsmakers have set the over/under (O/U) at 42.5 points, and it appears that there should be some solid live betting possibilities during this game.
The line opened at 3.5. The game’s total hasn’t moved since it opened at 42.5.
Each of these teams has posted a positive return this year as the Wildcats have gained 10.8 units and the Volunteers are up 3.0 units.
The Wildcats have gone 7-2 straight up (SU), including 5-2 SU against conference opponents. The Volunteers are 4-5 SU overall and 1-4 SU in conference play.
The Wildcats dropped one to Georgia 34-17 in a thumping where the passing attack was on point, as Terry Wilson completed 23 passes on 29 attempts for 226 yards and one touchdown. Benny Snell (73 rushing yards on 20 attempts, one TD) and the signal-caller Wilson (12 yards on 12 carries) led the ground attack in the loss. Lynn Bowden (six receptions, 52 yards) and Asim Rose (four catches, 59 yards, one TD) shared the receiving duties.
Tennessee is coming off of a 14-3 win over Charlotte. The let the 49ers put up 152 yards through the air and 92 more on the ground. Benny LeMay was a bright spot in the loss for Charlotte, recording 81 rushing yards on 24 attempts. For Tennessee, Jarrett Guarantano completed 16-of-21 passes for 172 yards and one touchdown. Jeremy Banks (24 rushing yards on 11 attempts) handled the ground game in the win as Josh Palmer (four receptions, 71 yards, one TD) and Marquez Callaway (three catches, 30 yards) led the receiving corps.
Kentucky has run the ball on 64.5 percent of its offensive possessions this year while Tennessee has a rush percentage of 60.2 percent. The Wildcats have produced 200 rush yards/game (including 179 per game versus Southeastern opponents) and have 18 scores via handoffs this year. The Vols are averaging 128 rushing yards per game (93 in conference) and have 11 total rush TDs.
It seems like the Wildcats may have an edge in all aspects of the ground game. Their backfield has generated 4.8 yards per carry while their defense is allowing a YPC of 3.8 to opponents. The Volunteers have recorded 3.4 yards per carry and given up a YPC of 4.5 to opponents.
The Wildcats offense has averaged 157 yards through the air overall (143 per game against conference opposition) and has nine passing TDs so far. The Vols have put up 205 pass yards per game (222.6 in the SEC) and have 12 total pass scores.
Defensively, Kentucky appears to have the upper hand in both facets. The team has let opponents run for an average of 133 yards and pass for 179 yards per game. The Tennessee defense has allowed 207.3 yards per game to opposing passers and 161.1 yards per game on the ground. The Wildcats are allowing an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of just 4.33 to opponents, while the Vols have given up a 6.65 ANY/A.
Offensively, Wilson is up to 947 passing yards this season, and has connected on 101-of-151 attempts with five passing scores and five interceptions. He has a 4.39 adjusted net yards per pass attempt overall, although that number is 6.55 over the past two games.
The Wildcats have tried to control the pace by getting the ball into the hands of their running backs. In addition to receiver Lynn Bowden (343 receiving yards and three touchdowns), Benny Snell (941 rush yards, 10 rush TDs, 52 receiving yards) and Asim Rose (253 rush yards, four rush TDs, 62 receiving yards, one receiving TD) have delivered in the Kentucky offensive scheme.
Jarrett Guarantano has managed to complete 101-of-156 passes for 1,364 yards, seven TDs and two INTs for Tennessee. His ANY/A stands at 7.55 for the year and 6.47 over his last two outings.
The Vols will also try to control the game’s pace by turning to their backfield. In addition to Marquez Callaway (316 receiving yards), Tim Jordan (352 rush yards, two rush TDs) and Josh Palmer (27 rush yards, one rush TD, 385 receiving yards, two TDs) have gotten a lot of looks recently.
When these two teams faced each other a year ago, Kentucky knocked off Tennessee by a field goal 29-26.
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Notes
Team Betting Notes
The O/U for Kentucky’s last game going into it was 47.5. The over cashed in the team’s 34-17 defeat to Georgia.
Kentucky has rushed for 3.7 yards per attempt across its last three outings and 2.5 over its last two.
Tennessee has averaged 2.2 yards per carry over its last three contests and 2.7 over its last two.
The Tennessee offense has lost eight fumbles this season while Kentucky has lost seven.
In its last three matches, Kentucky is 1-2 ATS and the under cashed in two of those three.
The O/U for Tennessee’s last game was set at 46. The under cashed in the team’s 14-3 victory over Charlotte.
Over its last three games, Tennessee is 1-2 ATS and the under cashed in two of those three.
The Wildcats offense has recorded five pass plays of 40+ yards, while the Volunteers have accounted for seven such plays.
The Kentucky defense has allowed three pass plays of 40 yards or more, while Tennessee has given up six such plays.
The Kentucky offense has created 17 rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while Tennessee has created seven such runs.
The Wildcats defense has allowed 10 rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while the Volunteers have given up 11 such runs.
The Kentucky defense has 22 sacks on the year while Tennessee has just 16.
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