In what would be a fantastic basketball matchup this season, the Vols’ and Boilermakers’ football teams will meet in Nashville Thursday for the annual Music City Bowl.
Both schools are ranked highly in the Associated Press basketball rankings, but they also had good seasons on the gridiron. Though Tennessee football fans are desperate for a return to halcyon days of the program when the Vols were a national title contender and there was a Manning wearing orange, they’ll have to settle for lesser bowl games for now.
Still, the Music City Bowl offers a fascinating matchup between SEC and Big 10 teams. Injuries and opt-outs have altered the betting odds, but this game remains an interesting option for sports bettors this bowl season.
Also Read: BetMGM Tennessee promo offer for new users
Music City Bowl Betting Odds
| SPORTSBOOK | POINT SPREAD | MONEYLINE | TOTAL |
|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings | Tennessee -5.5 (-110) Purdue +5.5 (-110) | Tennessee -210 Purdue +175 | Over 63.5 (-120) Under 63.5 (+100) |
| BetMGM | Tennessee -5.5 (-110) Purdue +5.5 (-110) | Tennessee -200 Purdue +165 | Over 63.5 (-110) Under 63.5 (-110) |
| Caesars | Tennessee -5.5 (-110) Purdue +5.5 (-110) | Tennessee -200 Purdue +170 | Over 63.5 (-115) Under 63.5 (-105) |
| FanDuel | Tennessee -5.5 (-106) Purdue +5.5 (-114) | Tennessee -204 Purdue +164 | Over 64.5 (-110) Under 64.5 (-110) |
Also Read: 5 Tips when betting on the Tennessee Vols
Music City Bowl Analysis
Originally, the Boilermakers were listed as 2- to 2.5-point favorites in this game, but when it was announced that both their star linebacker and best receiver would not play, the odds flipped to make the Vols favorites by as many as 6 points in some sportsbooks.
WR David Bell and DE George Karlaftis are preparing for June’s NFL Draft. The loss of those two players will obviously hamper Purdue, but have the oddsmakers overreacted? How much will the absence of Karlaftis as a pass rusher help the Vols passing attack? Will Purdue’s fifth-year senior quarterback Aidan O’Connell still have weapons at his disposal?
On the Orange side, the Volunteers might be underrated. Four of their five losses have come against highly-ranked teams, and the other was at the hands of Pitt — a bowl team that had a very fine season. The Vols may seem like SEC leftovers, but they still pack a lot of flavor.
Tennessee has the ninth-ranked offense in the country, and it’s well-balanced. The Vols averaged more than 200 yards in the air and on the ground. QB Hendon Hooker, who transferred to Knoxville from Virginia Tech, tossed 26 TDs and was picked off three times. I expect him to be a challenge for the Purdue defense, which has allowed 38.8 points per game in its last six outings.
Wideouts Cedric Tillman and Velus Jones Jr., both of whom could be catching balls in the NFL someday soon, will be at the other end of Hooker’s spirals in the TransPerfect Music City Bowl. As long as the Tennessee O-line can stave off the Boilermakers’ pass rush, Hooker will put up big numbers in Nashville.
Music City Bowl Betting Pick
Be sure to keep an eye on this. Purdue is 20-8 against the spread in their last 28 games as an underdog, but the Vols are only favored because the Boilermakers are without two of their best players — one on each side of the ball.
The Vols played tough competition in the SEC, and while they limped to a 7-5 record, they possessed a dynamic offense. I think the Boilermakers will be flat without the heart of their team and lose this game. But it will be close, and likely go well over the total of 64.5 set by Fanduel.
