TENNESSEE @ OHIO STATE (OSU -7, 46)
CFB ODDS, CFB PREDICTIONS, CFB PREVIEWS
VOLUNTEERS @ BUCKEYES 12/21/24
As Ohio State, the No. 8 seed, prepares to welcome Tennessee, the No. 9 seed, to Columbus for a premier College Football Playoff inaugural round bout tonight, they are still grappling with their unexpected 13-10 defeat by arch-rival Michigan on November 30th.
Both teams, boasting 10-2 records, will compete for the golden opportunity to face top-seeded Oregon, undefeated in 13 games, on New Year's Day at the celebrated Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. Ohio State's Coach Ryan Day, offensive coordinator Chip Kelly, and several team members were inundated with inquiries at Monday's media session, particularly concerning how a team favored by 21 points ended up falling shockingly short.
The Buckeyes, however, face a formidable opponent in the Volunteers, who pose similar defensive threats to the weakened Ohio State offensive line that managed a mere 77 yards on an average of 3.0 yards per carry against the strong Michigan defense.
Tennessee is eighth nationally, allowing only 99.6 rushing yards per game. The Vols rank fourth in total defense (278.3 yards per game) and they are tied for fourth in scoring defense, allowing just 13.9 points per game. James Pearce Jr., a defensive end for Tennessee and a projected first-round pick for the NFL 2025 Draft, stands at the helm of their defense with an impressive 11 tackles for losses and 7.5 sacks.
Kelly knows it will be difficult against Tennessee, but he is ready to go. With the daunting task of running against the Volunteers, it's imperative the ball finds its way into the hands of Ohio State's stellar receivers, namely Jeremiah Smith (57 catches, 934 yards, 16.4 yards per catch, 10 touchdowns), Emeka Egbuka (60, 743, 12.4, 9), and Carnell Tate (41, 583, 14.2, 4). Smith was named Big Ten Freshman of the Year and Receiver of the Year.
The weather should have an impact on the game tonight. Temperatures are expected to be in the teens and winds will be blowing at around 10 mph. Tennessee is 6-1 SU over its last seven games. Ohio State is 5-1 SU over its last six. The Buckeyes have won 13 of their last 14 home games, but they are just 2-8 SU in their last 10 games against an SEC opponent.
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TENNESSEE TEAM TOTAL UNDER 19.5
Vols head coach Josh Heupel has a high-powered offense. That offense was dismantled by Kirby Smart and Georgia. Tennessee scored just 17 points in a 31-17 loss to the Bulldogs. In their loss to Arkansas, the Vols scored just 14 points. Oklahoma, another good defensive team, held the Vols to 25 in a 25-15 Tennessee win. In the four games Heupel has coached against Georgia, Tennessee has scored an average of 14.2 points per game. That’s because Georgia has a defensive line that can stop the run and put pressure on the quarterback. Ohio State is No. 1 in the nation in scoring defense holding teams to just 10.9 points per game. The Buckeyes gave up 17 or fewer points in all but one game (Oregon) and the Vols aren’t Oregon.