vs. Virginia Tech, Sept. 10
Daniel: For a team that has turned some opposing quarterbacks into household names in recent years, facing JUCO star and physical freak Jerod Evans should make Tennessee fans nervous. The Hokies don’t have the overall firepower that UT does, but it’s tough to find an offense/defense coaching combination more impressive than Justin Fuente and Bud Foster. Those guys will get VT winning big again soon, in my opinion, but again, UT has too much depth and talent in this one. It’ll be a little bit sloppy with some mistakes on this huge stage, but Tennessee is mostly in control of this one and gets a fairly comfortable W.
Pick: 34-20 Tennessee
Nathanael: Virginia Tech’s quarterback Jerod Evans scares me. The Vols have bad luck with putting quarterbacks on the map, and this is just the stage for Evans to shine. He was highly-touted as a JUCO quarterback, and Justin Fuente knows how to run an offense. That being said, I don’t think the Hokies have the type of skill position players a team like Oklahoma did last year. And Tennessee’s offense should be able to keep up and out pace Tech should the game turn into a shootout. But I don’t think it will turn into that.
Pick: 38-21 Tennessee
Stephen: New Hokie Head Coach Justin Fuente should have Virginia Tech competing for ACC titles within the next few years. They brought back future Hall-of-Fame defensive coordinator Bud Foster, and their new starting quarterback was the number one JUCO quarterback in the country last season. I expect big things from Fuente and the Hokies in years to come. But like most rebuilding programs, they have to rebuild first. And Tennessee’s talent outmatches Virginia Tech’s at just about every area on the field.
Pick: 38-17 Tennessee
