Tennessee vs. Virginia: Key matchups and analysis
The Vols are less than 24 hours away from taking the field in Nashville against the Virginia Cavaliers. Emotions will be high for the Cavaliers as this will be the first time they take the field since last year’s tragedy that saw 3 UVA football players killed in a shooting. A moment of silence will take place before kickoff. Virginia will have to focus on the moment at hand however to have a chance at beating the Vols.
Key Matchup #1 – Vols OL vs. Cavs DL
Virginia’s defense was the better side of the football for their team last season, and the defensive line was a big reason for their success. While Virginia will most likely be without their best edge rusher in Chico Bennett, they still have capable players up front to put pressure on Joe Milton. The big question is whether Tennessee’s offensive line, which will most likely be without Cade Mays at center, can stick to their assignments and keep Milton upright to uncork the ball downfield. A steady performance from the Vols offensive line most likely means 200-250 yards on the ground as well. Simply put, if the Vols put it together in the trenches on offense without their best lineman the scoreboard will light up all game long.
Key Matchup #2 – Vols Secondary vs. Virginia Receivers
It is no secret that the Vols have struggled in the secondary under Josh Heupel. Virginia has no household names at wide receiver, but the Vols tend to give up banner days to relatively unknown pass-catchers. The coaching staff made an effort in the offseason to shore up the secondary by bringing in several highly rated recruits who could make an impact in the future. If Tennessee’s veteran-laden secondary fails to buck the trend of giving up big plays in the passing game Saturday, the youth movement could start sooner than expected. The only way for Virginia to keep up with the high-octane offense of the Vols is to have success through the air, and the Vols better be prepared to shut it down if they want to have a comfortable victory.
Prediction
Virginia is not being given much of a chance in this game, and it is not hard to see why. The Cavaliers had several contributors from last year’s team enter the transfer portal. A team with a 3-7 record having their roster picked over by other schools is not a recipe for future success. I expect the Vols to show some muscle on the defensive front as the Cavaliers’ offensive line is downright putrid, ranking 120th in sacks allowed and 101st in rushing offense last year. Another area the Vols should dominate is in the passing game as Virginia lost both their starting corners from a year ago. Two new faces on the outside competing against the most dangerous scheme in the country, Good luck. The Vols should be able to impose their will on the Cavaliers early in this one. At the end of the day, it is SEC-level talent vs. bottom-tier ACC talent. The Vols roll early in this one building a big enough lead to earn some mop-up duty for the freshman newcomers and cover the 28-point spread.
Score: Tennessee - 52
Virginia - 10