The Rocky Top Insider team makes their picks for No. 18 Tennessee’s matchup with the Kentucky Wildcats this Saturday. Managing editor Ben McKee, as well as RTI contributor Blake Von Hagen and guest picker Rob Harvey of the Citizen Tribune share their picks.
Ben’s Pick
Kentucky is going to try to do to Tennessee what Georgia did to the Vols last Saturday. The Wildcats are going to try to run the football down Tennessee’s throat and have their defense make life really hard on the UT offensive line. The Vols are more equipped to handle Kentucky, however.
The Wildcats are no pushover along the defensive front, but the Vols o-line is the more talented unit which should lead to Jarrett Guarantano having time to get rid of the football. It’ll also open up holes for Eric Gray and Ty Chandler to take advantage of. If the offense has success on Saturday, it’ll be because the offensive line did their job.
While it’s important that the offensive line has a good game and that Guarantano doesn’t turn the football over, Tennessee will handle business as long as the defense limits Kentucky in the running game. UK is very good at rushing the football and will be a tall task for the Tennessee defense, but the Vols are up for the test.
Pick: Tennessee, 27-17
MVP: Tennessee LB Henry To’o To’o
To’o To’o had one of his best career games against Georgia last weekend and I think you’ll see him follow it up with another great game against the Cats. His ability to read the play, react and go make a play was on full display against the Bulldogs. We’ll see that again on Saturday as he leads the charge for a strong Tennessee defensive performance.
Blake’s Pick
Tennessee matches up much better this week than it did last week. Kentucky’s rushing attack might give the Vols’ defensive front some issues, but Tennessee will be able to stack the box and slow it down enough to keep the Wildcats off the board for the most part. While Georgia was able to dominate the line of scrimmage, Tennessee’s offensive line is going to look much more similar to what it appeared to be in the first two games of the season.
The history is well-documented—the Vols have dominated this series. They have covered the spread in 11 of the last 13 head-to-head meetings and should be in position to do so again on Saturday afternoon. Ty Chandler and Eric Gray will do damage throughout the game and Kentucky’s defense is going to have to stack the box. Jarrett Guarantano is more capable of taking advantage of a stacked box than Terry Wilson Jr. is.
Pick: Tennessee, 27-10
MVP: Tennessee QB Jarrett Guarantano
This should be a nice bounce back spot for a quarterback that continues to receive way too much criticism. The offensive line is going to play better on Saturday and Guarantano will take advantage of time in the pocket.
Rob’s Pick
Pick: Tennessee, 24-10
MVP: Tennessee LB Henry To’o To’o
Coming off his career high in tackles last week of 11, Henry T has been a force to start the season, specifically stopping the run. I see him having yet another strong showing against a Kentucky offense that has run the ball over 50 more times than they have thrown it. To’o To’o leads the team in tackles with 23.
