The weekly prediction round has arrived for Tennessee football, and the mood around the Volunteers is clear: the road trip to South Carolina is being treated like the toughest one yet.
A few of the Vols on SI voices see Columbia as a real test, especially with South Carolina’s defense built to slow down the run. Sisk pointed to that matchup as a major hurdle for DeSean Bishop, but also laid out a path for Tennessee to attack through Braylon Staley, calling his South Carolina roots a factor in a possible breakout. Sisk closed with Tennessee winning by two scores.
Dowden’s read leaned on the same core idea: Tennessee may have to live on the ground and let its defense set the tone. He noted that South Carolina’s LaNorris Sellers can threaten teams in more than one way, making it important for Tennessee to contain him and cut off the explosive plays, especially when he breaks loose with his legs. On offense, Dowden said Tennessee should keep leaning into what has worked, with George MacIntyre distributing efficiently rather than trying to carry everything himself.
The broader theme among the predictions was that Tennessee’s defense, under Jim Knowles, can travel. One prediction noted that the Vols are headed into a loud SEC road environment and that Columbia should be rocking on Saturday. That same line of thought emphasized Tennessee staying committed to the run game while asking Knowles’ defense to do what it does best.
Mays also highlighted MacIntyre’s growing comfort level, saying he could have a poised day if the offensive line keeps improving. Mays added that Mike Matthews should be featured heavily and that Braylon Staley could be more involved again.
A few predictions zeroed in on the emotional angle after Tennessee’s win over Alabama. Passons said the Vols would not get caught flat-footed by South Carolina and expected an early lead, with the defense forcing turnovers and the offense building from there. Passons said Tennessee would make another statement and prove it belongs in the top 10.
Greer framed the biggest question as whether Tennessee can avoid a letdown after the Alabama game. In that view, the running game remains central, with Bishop once again the key piece and the offensive line needing to control the line of scrimmage to give MacIntyre chances downfield. Greer also stressed that Knowles’ defense must continue creating pressure, forcing turnovers and keeping explosive plays in check.
Elrod pointed to the numbers backing up Tennessee’s defensive edge. The Vols forced four takeaways against Alabama and came into the week leading the FBS with 30 sacks as a team. If that pressure shows up again against Sellers, and if Bishop gets the run game moving while the offense protects the football, Elrod believes Tennessee should have a strong shot to leave Columbia with a win.
Berry focused on the scheduling wrinkle, noting that South Carolina is coming off a bye while Tennessee is fresh off the upset of Alabama. Still, Berry landed on the same side as the others, trusting the defense and pointing to MacIntyre’s third start and the running game as reasons the Vols can grind out another road win, similar to the one at Arkansas, before heading into the bye.
The group’s final consensus was straightforward: South Carolina has the kind of defense and quarterback talent that can make this uncomfortable, but Tennessee’s run game, pressure front and improving quarterback play have enough momentum to keep the Vols rolling.
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Tennessee Just Lost Another Key Piece Up Front
Tennessees offensive line had been trending in the right direction before Donovan Haslam went down in the first half against South Carolina, giving the unit a little more stability after recent games with fewer sacks allowed. Haslam had settled in at right guard, and his presence helped the Volunteers keep building around an up-front group that had started to look more settled.
His upper-body injury forced another in-game shuffle, with Shamurad Umarov stepping in as Tennessee had to adjust on the fly. For a line that had finally found some traction, losing a key interior piece in the middle of a game is the kind of setback that can quickly change the feel of the entire offense. [Read more 🡒]
Tennessee Fans Will Not Like One Detail About This South Carolina Game
Tennessee heads into its trip to South Carolina with a little extra baggage from the recent history between these teams. The Volunteers have not forgotten the 2022 loss in Columbia, and the setup for this one already has a familiar edge to it, with kickoff set for 3:30 p.m. ET on ESPN and the matchup carrying more weight than a standard SEC date on the calendar.
The line has only added to the frustration for Tennessee fans, since South Carolina is favored by 2.5 points despite the Vols being ranked higher. There is also a layer of unease attached to the officiating after referee David Smith, a former Alabama quarterback, was on the crew for that 2022 game in Columbia, which makes this weekends meeting feel like more than just another road test. [Read more 🡒]
Mike Matthews Gave Tennessee The Jolt It Desperately Needed
A change of pace from the usual script gave Tennessee exactly the spark it needed in the first half against South Carolina. Mike Matthews, already an important part of the passing game as a junior wide receiver, took a Wildcat snap and turned it into a rushing touchdown, helping the Volunteers grab their first lead of the afternoon by halftime.
Matthews had already shown this season that he can finish drives as a receiver, with three touchdown catches to his name, but this one added a different layer to his value. For a Tennessee offense that needed a jolt, the play was a reminder that Matthews can impact the game in more than one way, and that kind of versatility can matter as the Vols try to steady themselves in a tight spot. [Read more 🡒]