For the first time looking at bowl projections this season, we have a unanimous pick from the selected networks and organizations that we look at weekly.
The projections have naturally straightened out over the last few weeks as the season winds down. With one game left on the regular season schedule, and Tennessee having a very winnable game against Vanderbilt coming up this weekend, the projections have pretty much all fallen in line.
In the six projections that are being looked at today, all have the same bowl destination with one of two opponents. Each expert has Tennessee heading to Jacksonville, Florida, for the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl. Tennessee most recently played in the Gator Bowl to close out the 2019 season on January 2, 2020, in Jacksonville. Tennessee defeated Indiana by a score of 23-22 as the Vols racked up 14 points in the 4th quarter to complete the comeback victory.
Each expert has Tennessee projected against either North Carolina or NC State.
Here’s a look at how Tennessee stacks up against both teams in two broad categories:
Total Offense (Yards)
- North Carolina: 3rd in FBS, 514.9 YPG
- Tennessee: 27th in FBS, 438.8 YPG
- NC State: 101st in FBS, 332.0 YPG
Total Defense (Yards Allowed)
- NC State: 22nd in FBS, 318.0 YPG
- Tennessee: 44th in FBS, 352.5 YPG
- North Carolina: 90th in FBS, 396.5 YPG
More from RTI: Tennessee Starting Offensive Lineman Out For Remainder Of Season
It’s a little bit of a pick-your-battle situation here. When comparing these two opponents, you either take the high-powered Tar Heels offense with a much more susceptible defense or you take NC State with a struggling offense but a Top 25-ranked defense. Tennessee sits in the middle of both North Carolina teams in both categories.
247 Sports’ Brad Crawford reports that a Gator Bowl representative was in Knoxville this past weekend for the Vols’ game against Georgia.
Here’s a look at the Week 13 bowl projections from experts around the country:
Action Network – Brett McMurphy
- Bowl: TaxSlayer Gator Bowl
- Opponent: North Carolina (8-3, 4-3 ACC)
- Location: EverBank Stadium – Jacksonville, Florida
- Date/Time: Friday, Dec. 29 at 12:00 p.m. ET
USA Today – Erick Smith
- Bowl: TaxSlayer Gator Bowl
- Opponent: North Carolina State (8-3, 5-2 ACC)
- Location: EverBank Stadium – Jacksonville, Florida
- Date/Time: Friday, Dec. 29 at 12:00 p.m. ET
ESPN – Kyle Bonagura
- Bowl: TaxSlayer Gator Bowl
- Opponent: North Carolina State (8-3, 5-2 ACC)
- Location: EverBank Stadium – Jacksonville, Florida
- Date/Time: Friday, Dec. 29 at 12:00 p.m. ET
ESPN – Mark Schlabach
- Bowl: TaxSlayer Gator Bowl
- Opponent: North Carolina (8-3, 4-3 ACC)
- Location: EverBank Stadium – Jacksonville, Florida
- Date/Time: Friday, Dec. 29 at 12:00 p.m. ET
247 Sports – Brad Crawford
- Bowl: TaxSlayer Gator Bowl
- Opponent: North Carolina (8-3, 4-3 ACC)
- Location: EverBank Stadium – Jacksonville, Florida
- Date/Time: Friday, Dec. 29 at 12:00 p.m. ET
CBS Sports – Jerry Palm
- Bowl: TaxSlayer Gator Bowl
- Opponent: North Carolina (8-3, 4-3 ACC)
- Location: EverBank Stadium – Jacksonville, Florida
- Date/Time: Friday, Dec. 29 at 12:00 p.m. ET
Note: CBS Sports has the Gator Bowl being played at 2:00 p.m. ET while all other publications list the time at 12:00 p.m. ET.
