Prediction Panel: Tennessee vs. No. 20 LSU

Nathanael’s Pick

LSU’s offense isn’t exactly the most dynamic offense around. But their biggest strength matches up with Tennessee’s biggest weakness. The Tigers have a strong ground game, and the Vols haven’t been able to stop SEC teams from running the ball all season.

The Tigers aren’t just a one-headed attack on the ground either. Derrius Guice leads the team and has nearly 1,000 rushing, but Darrel Williams has over 600 yards himself as well, and Russell Gage is a big play threat on the ground and in the air.

The Vols should be able to contain LSU’s passing attack, but LSU also shouldn’t have to pass it a lot in order to move the ball effectively in this one. LSU’s defense isn’t the most suffocating defense the Vols have faced this season, but they do get after the quarterback. They have the second-most sacks in the SEC, and Tennessee is giving up the most sacks in the conference behind a patchwork offensive line.

Those two reasons alone are enough for me to pick LSU. Yes, the Vols could be very energized after the firing of Butch Jones and with Brady Hoke at the helm as interim. But the match-ups in this game don’t favor the Vols at all, and it would take a lot more than a few trick plays and renewed energy for Tennessee to pull off this upset.

Pick: LSU 28-13

MVP: Darrel Williams, RB

Derrius Guice gets all the attention in LSU’s backfield, but Darrell Williams is no slouch either. He’s second on the team in rushing yards and second on the team in both receptions and receiving yards. I foresee him having a field day against Tennessee’s defense, and he could end up with more overall yardage than Guice.

Will’s Pick

LSU has the kind of offense that Tennessee can’t stop. Derrius Guice is a match-up nightmare for the injury-plagued Volunteers defense.

That’s not good news. I think that he’ll have at least 150 yards in this game. Personally, I don’t think the Tigers have to throw the ball more than ten times to win this game. And they probably won’t.

It’s hard to predict how the Vols’ offense will look. We don’t know how healthy they are because Brady Hoke hasn’t tipped his hand all week.

If Jarrett Guarantano starts, the Vols can maybe hang around for a quarter or two. But I don’t think the defense will have enough energy to keep pace.

Pick: LSU 38-20

MVP: Derrius Guice, RB
The bruising running back is one of the best in the country. And Tennessee’s rushing defense is one of the worst in the country.

That’s not a great formula. He’ll run wild and probably sit most of the fourth quarter when the game is out of reach

Ben’s Pick

Following the firing of Butch Jones last Sunday, the negative cloud hanging above Tennessee football has gone away. As a result, the Vols will be playing with a newfound energy on Saturday night. Unfortunately, that won’t be enough to upset No. 20 LSU.

The Tigers are starting to hit their stride while the Vols are trying to pick up the pieces from all of the players they’ve lost to injury. Tennessee’s rush defense ranks dead last in the SEC having allowed 256.9 rushing yards per game. LSU running back Derrius Guice is finally starting to hit his stride after an ankle injury has bogged him down most of the season. Despite dealing with an ankle injury this season, Guice has rushed for 929 yards and nine touchdowns on the year.

Guice should have a big game against the Vols as Tennessee just doesn’t have the guys to slow him down.

Pick: LSU 24-10

MVP: Arden Key, LB

Key is licking his chops as he prepares to go up against a Tennessee offensive line that could only have five scholarship offensive lineman available. Like Guice, Key has had a disappointing season to this point due to a nagging injury. But Key is healthy, and he’ll have a field day against the Vols offensive line on Saturday night.