Texas heads into Knoxville carrying the No. 1 ranking, but Saturday’s trip to Neyland Stadium has all the ingredients of a real stress test. The Longhorns are looking to answer questions after a flat Week 3 showing against UTSA, while Tennessee gets a chance to see how its own young quarterback handles the biggest stage yet.
Arch Manning’s first snap in Neyland will carry a little history with it - it will be the first time a Manning has played there since Peyton left the field in 1997 - but the spotlight will quickly shift to what happens between the lines. Texas’ defense has stayed sharp, and that side of the ball will be asked to deal with Josh Heupel’s offense in a loud road environment.
On the other sideline, Tennessee freshman quarterback Faizon Brandon is set for his first SEC start. Brandon has shown the kind of talent that made him a five-star prospect, but this is a different level of challenge altogether. He has been careful with the football so far, yet this game may require him to do more than he has been asked to do up to this point.
There’s also a major trench battle that could shape the afternoon. The interior of Tennessee’s offensive line is under the microscope after some communication issues, and that is not ideal against a Texas front that includes 375-pound Ian Geffrard in the middle and a hungry Rasheem Biles. Tennessee’s centers and guards will have to be much cleaner if the Vols want to keep things on schedule.
Texas receivers Cam Coleman and Ryan Wingo also add another layer to the matchup, especially against a Tennessee secondary that looks improved under first-year coordinator Jim Knowles. The Longhorns will try to put pressure on that revamped group while Tennessee hopes its defense can hold up against a balanced test.
The betting angle leans toward the points being hard to come by. Texas’ comeback win over Ohio State made the Longhorns look like a legitimate national title contender, but the line is still under a touchdown.
Tennessee’s opener against Georgia Tech ended early enough that there’s still some mystery around what this team really is. With Manning’s road numbers and a true freshman quarterback on the other side, the under looks like the cleaner play.
Pick: Under 55.5
Texas vs. Tennessee is set for Saturday, September 26 at 12 p.m.
ET from Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee. The game will air on ABC and stream live on Fubo.
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For Volunteers fans, Spurriers opinion adds another layer to a matchup that already carries plenty of intrigue. He has spent plenty of time on the other side of this rivalry landscape, winning often against Tennessee during his Florida years, and he also has a personal connection to the state. So when Spurrier talks up the Vols in a game like this, it is not just idle chatter - it is the kind of comment that gets attention well beyond Knoxville. [Read more 🡒]