The CheckerBoard

I am going to have to give 2 seperate predictions here. There is just to much and to many uncertainties to classify just one prediction.

1. Vols - 41 MSU - 27. We know MSU can move the ball and score points but coming off a bye week, UT's defense fixes a few things. Not enough to hold them to less than 21 pts but it is enough to win and win in convincing fashion. The offensive line for UT showed up against UGA and is continuing to run the ball well. We know UT can pass.

2. MSU - 42 UT - 31. If Tennessee doesnt fix things on defense then MSU will win a shoot out. Turnovers hurt us in the second half with the cowbells going crazy. They pull away in the 4th.

That is how I see things. People can say MSU is unproven but they are undefeated. And we are playing them at MSU. Going to be a tough game for the Vols for sure.

Statistically UT and MSU are very similar, except that UT has played a much harder schedule.

- I think it's interesting that MSU's secondary are the ones getting the "ballhawk" label, when they have 9 INTs. UT has 9 INTs and has played against at least two, maybe three future NFL QBs.

- After going up against UF's and UGA's defensive lines and line backers full of NFL talent, UT averages only 2.4 rushing yards per game less than MSU.

- For all the credit MSU's offense is getting for being the best it has been in years, the 3 FBS teams it has faced rank 77, 71, and 72 it total defense. UT has faced 4 FBS teams that rank 60, 12, 109, and 53 and averages 100 yards per game more than MSU.

- For all the credit MSU's defense is getting, the 3 FBS teams it has faced rank 115, 19, and 106. The 19th ranked team (Troy) put up 572 yards of offense on them. UT has faced 4 FBS teams that rank 46, 89, 30, and 24. UT gives up 100 yards per game more, but a lot of that can be attributed to the schedule.

I don't think this game will be easy because the Bulldogs will by hyped and the stadium will be rocking, but I don't see any way we lose this game unless we play like we did in the 4th Q against Florida or the 1st quarter against UGA for an extended period of time. Those teams were too good to overcome those mistakes, but MSU is not nearly as good as either. They are good, but UT is definitely better and is more battle-tested.

I'm calling UT 34 MSU 17. Neal runs for 110 and 2 TDs, Bray throws for 280 and 2 TDs, AJ runs one in at the goal line, and..... we miss an extra point.

There is at least one part of your prediction I agree with!!!!!!

I think Drizzle is right on about a bomb to Hunter or CP. Hunter has had the drops ad CP dropped that big one against UGA, I think they come out focused against the most hyped secondary in the country and put on a show. This is an NFL draft game, and I expect a lot from those 2. Plus Neal with a weeks rest should come back even stronger.

38-21 Vols

I think UT wins this one 34-21. It would be a good win, but I don't think is an upset. MSU has played Brownie Troop 219, Little Sisters of the Poor, Hair Club for Men, South Hampton Institute of Technology (acronym) and a surprisingly bad Auburn team.

So, Drizzle, I promise I am not asking this with anything other than honest curiosity (and you aren't the only one who has made this comment) but are you saying that you think MSU's D is better than UGA? I guess I am struggling with understanding how MSU will be that much better in stopping our run-game than UGA. But I am no expert. I will say that one of the things that encouraged me the most in the UGA game was seeing how many different people were involved in moving the football, and all the different ways we got them the ball. Maybe my glasses are just too orange, but I just think we seem to be progressing more and more in getting more people involved with the offense that I think our O will be harder and harder to defend. Again, my glasses are really orange-tinted. I am concerned about the D though, so it will be interesting to see what progress was made in the bye-week. But I want to say UT-45, MSU-31.

Mississippi State is undefeated, ranked in the top 20 and playing at home. Those are three pretty good reasons the Bulldogs are 3-point favorites in this game.

Nice assessment drizzy. +1 GO VOLS!

With our D allowing so many big plays it's kind of hard to pick UT, but I've watched state play two games this year and have felt that they're overrated on D. They play smart ball though so I know there won't be a blowout. I think Bray and company are too much for the dawgs O to match and that we win a high scoring game 38-31.