No. 15 Tennessee heads into Saturday afternoon’s SEC trip to Arkansas with momentum back on its side, and the matchup sets up as a chance for the Volunteers to keep rolling after a convincing response to their lone loss of the season.
Tennessee was beaten by Texas two weeks ago, then steadied itself with a 24-14 win over Auburn last week. Arkansas, meanwhile, has had a far bumpier ride. The Razorbacks were blown out 34-7 at Texas A&M last week as 13.5-point underdogs, another example of how inconsistent their season has been.
These two teams already met last October, when Tennessee came away with a 34-31 win while laying 10.5 points.
The biggest offensive storyline for Tennessee is DeSean Bishop, who delivered his best game yet against Auburn. The junior running back piled up a career-high 220 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 34 carries. That was a sharp turnaround after he was limited to 34 yards on 11 carries against Texas and 42 yards on nine carries the game before that.
Bishop gets an appealing setup again this week. Arkansas just gave up 231 rushing yards to Texas A&M, and Tennessee’s offense has already shown it can separate from the Razorbacks in a big way. Arkansas is 1-4 against the spread this season, with its lone cover coming as a 6.5-point favorite in a blowout win over Tulsa.
Tennessee, by contrast, has been the more trustworthy side in the bigger games. The Volunteers have already covered as 11.5-point favorites in a 45-24 road win at Georgia Tech, and Utah, Georgia, and Texas A&M all handled Arkansas comfortably as well. That’s why the pick here leans Tennessee by at least two touchdowns again.
In Other News...
Arkansas Gymnastics Fans Just Got A New Reason To Pack Bud Walton
Arkansas gymnastics has put 2027 season tickets on sale, and the timing gives Razorback fans another reason to circle Bud Walton Arena on the calendar. Renewals are open now, new seats are available for $55, and the Gymbacks are set to bring five home meets to the arena as they continue settling into one of college gymnastics premier atmospheres.
The home schedule brings SEC opposition, themed nights and, in the biggest spring date of all, the NCAA Fayetteville Regional from April 1-4. With the 2027 season set to be the third full year for the Gymbacks at Bud Walton, Arkansas is leaning into the kind of setting that has already made the arena a major draw for the sport. [Read more 🡒]
Caliparis Early Read On Arkansas New Guards Will Fire Up Fans
John Calipari has spent plenty of time around new faces this fall, and the early signs are enough to make Arkansas fans lean in. The Hall of Fame coach recently pointed to the work ethic and shooting gains he has seen from Jordan Smith Jr. and JJ Andrews, while also drawing comparisons to former players Darius Acuff Jr. and Meleek Thomas. He also singled out Georgia transfer Jeremiah Wilkinson, whose shooting routine has clearly made an impression as the Razorbacks start to take shape under Calipari's watch.
The bigger picture is just as encouraging for Arkansas, because Calipari believes the roster has real NBA-level upside if the growth keeps coming. He has talked about confidence in the group and gone as far as projecting that several players could hear their names called in the draft someday. For a team trying to build not just a season but a standard, those are the kinds of early evaluations that can raise expectations fast, even if the real proof still has to come when the games begin. [Read more 🡒]
Davion Thompson Could Give Arkansas Backcourt Depth Sooner Than Expected
Davion Thompson arrived in Fayetteville with the sort of rsum that tends to make a staff think ahead, and Arkansas is already looking at him as a freshman guard who can help sooner rather than later. The reclassified 2026 recruit signed with the Razorbacks after showing scoring and playmaking touch in different leagues, and John Calipari has pointed to Thompsons defensive ability as one of the traits that stood out early.
For Arkansas, the appeal is not just long-term upside. Backcourt depth is always a priority in the SEC, and Thompsons development against physical play has given the staff more reason to believe he can handle a real role when the season gets rolling. If his adjustment continues at this pace, the Razorbacks may have another young guard who can take some pressure off the veterans and give the rotation a little more flexibility than expected. [Read more 🡒]