Missouri Tigers at Tennessee Volunteers College Football Betting Preview
Two teams with opposite starts to the season meet this weekend in Week 2 of the SEC schedule as the Missouri Tigers (0-1) face the No. 21 Tennessee Volunteers (1-0). Missouri lost at home last weekend to Alabama 38-19 but covered the spread while Tennessee pushed at South Carolina with a 31-27 win. The game kicks off at Noon ET on Saturday, October 3 at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, TN and will be televised on SEC Network
These teams have met eight times in their history, all since Missouri joined the SEC in 2012. The Tigers lead the series 5-3 with a 3-1 record in Knoxville. Tennessee won last year’s meeting 24-20 in Missouri, their first win since 2016.
Missouri Tigers Betting Outlook: Get Robinson Going
In new coach Eli Drinkwitz’s debut, Missouri fell behind 35-3 against the Tide but rallied with a big fourth quarter. They are third from the bottom in all of college football with 69 rushing yards and ranked 34th in passing yards with 253. The defense allowed 303 passing yards and 111 rushing yards and rank 61st in the nation in scoring defense at 38.0 ppg.
The Tigers played both of their quarterbacks against Alabama but TCU transfer Shawn Robinson had the much better day. He was 19-for-25 for 185 yards with a touchdown. Coming back from injury, Connor Bazelak was 7-for-14 for 68 yards while also running for 12 yards with a touchdown.
RB Larry Rountreee III ran for 67 yards on 14 carries and no other player had more than 12 rushing yards. Last year the Vols held Rountree to just 43 yards on 16 carries in their win.
WR Damon Hazleton, a Virginia Tech transfer, had five catches for 34 yards while RB Jalen Knox had five catches for 63 yards. RB Tyler Badle had the only TD reception on a 54-yard catch and run. Overall Missouri had 11 different players catch at least one pass against the Tide.
The Missouri Tigers defense had just two sacks against the Tide but did record nine TFLs, led by Martez Manuel with 3.5. Tre Williams had a sack fumble of Alabama backup QB Bryce Young in the fourth quarter for the lone Missouri turnover
Tennessee Volunteers Betting Outlook: Stop the Run
The Vols grabbed a four-point road win with a game-clinching muffed punt fumble recovery at South Carolina. The offense is middle of the pack in most categories with 261 passing yards, 133 rushing yards, 394 total yards and 31 points scored. The defense held USC to 89 rushing yards, 13th best in the nation, while allowing 290 passing yards and 27 points.
Tennessee QB Jarrett Guarantano had a great night in South Carolina completing 19-of-31 passes for 259 yards and a touchdown. He also ran five times for 12 yards and didn’t turn the ball over. Last season he torched Missouri for a career-high 415 passing yards and two touchdowns in the Tennessee win.
Two backs got carries against South Carolina with Ty Chandler gaining 86 yards on 13 carries and Eric Gray totaled 40 yards on 12 carries. Gray scored a touchdown and also had a 31-yard reception while Chandler had one catch for 10 yards.
WR Josh Palmer had a touchdown with six catches for 85 yards. Brandon Johnson was the big-play receiver with 73 yards on three catches while Velus Jones. Jr. had five catches for 29 yards. Missouri didn’t have an answer for Palmer last year as he caught six passes for 124 yards.
Deandre Johnson led the Vols defense with 2.5 sacks on Saturday and they totaled four sacks and nine TFLs. Henry To’o To’l had an interception while Johnson forced a fumble.
Missouri Tigers at Tennessee Volunteers Betting Line
Missouri spread: +11.5 (-110) Missouri money line: +325
Tennessee spread: -11.5 (-110) Tennessee money line: -425
Total: 48.5 points (Over -110, Under -110)
Missouri Tigers couldn’t get off the field Saturday with Alabama converting 9-of-14 third downs and four-of-six first half drives ended in Tide touchdowns. They need to limit Guarantano’s conversions or Saturday could turn into another long night. Tennessee has won seven games in a row and they have been great against the run bus suspect against the pass.
