In one of our College Football predictions for Saturday, the Virginia Cavaliers are poised to clash with the Tennessee Volunteers at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee.
This marks the inaugural game for both squads in the year 2023. Virginia enters the contest on the heels of a challenging prior season. Their previous year was marred by adversity, leading to the cancellation of their final two games in November.
The Cavaliers concluded the season with a 3-7 record, out of which they managed a 1-6 record within conference play. Notably, their sole conference victory occurred against Georgia Tech.
Here is our Virginia vs Tennessee betting analysis.
Virginia Cavaliers vs. Tennessee Volunteers Information
Before we give our Virginia Tennessee picks, here is some information on the game.
Virginia Cavaliers vs Tennessee Volunteers
Location of the game: Nissan Stadium; Nashville, TN
Date & Time: Saturday, September 2nd. 12:00 pm ET
How to watch: ABC
Recent Scores
These two teams last played on January 1, 1991. The Tennessee Volunteers won that game 23-22 over the Virginia Cavaliers.
Virginia Cavaliers vs. Tennessee Volunteers Betting Analysis
The details for the Virginia vs Tennessee betting analysis with the College football odds.
- Moneyline: Tennessee Volunteers -5000, Virginia Cavaliers +1800
- Spread: Tennessee Volunteers -28, Virginia Cavaliers +28
- Total: 56.5
Virginia Cavaliers vs Tennessee Volunteers Betting Preview
Virginia Cavaliers Preview
The upcoming 2023 season appears poised to be a period of growth and learning for the Cavaliers. The fans and followers in Charlottesville shouldn’t necessarily anticipate a display of elite-level football from the team this time. The Virginia squad is set to introduce a group of five fresh talents to their offensive lineup. Among these newcomers is Tony Muskett, who will assume the critical starting quarterback role.
Muskett steps into this position following the departure of Brennan Armstrong. Who left the program after an impressive season where he threw for over 2,220 yards.
Virginia’s Dynamic Rushing Duo
Notably, Armstrong also held the distinction of being the team’s leading rusher. For the ongoing season, the Cavaliers are pinning their hopes on Kobe Pace to spearhead the rushing efforts. He will receive support from Perris Jones, who garnered 81 carries in the previous season, making them the primary tandem to drive the rushing attack.
Identifying a significant challenge from the prior year, the 2022 team struggled to keep opponents from sustaining drives and to convert those crucial attempts into touchdowns. The Cavaliers encountered difficulty in both preventing extended plays by their opponents and efficiently finishing their own offensive possessions.
As evident from last year’s statistics, the team managed to average only 16.7 points per game. This deficiency in both defensive stops and red zone efficiency proved to be a central issue for the Cavaliers during that period.
Tennessee Volunteers Preview
Anticipation is running high among the Knoxville fanbase as they eagerly await the commencement of the Tennessee Volunteers’ football season. The Volunteers set the tone for the year ahead with an impressive 31-14 victory over Clemson in their bowl game, igniting the excitement for the start of the 2023 season.
Reflecting on the previous year, the team’s two losses were a result of road encounters, one against Georgia and a particularly challenging blowout defeat at the hands of South Carolina just prior to Thanksgiving.
Highlighting their prowess, the Volunteers secured the distinction of being the highest-scoring team across the entire College Football landscape in the preceding season. Their offensive prowess was undeniable, averaging an impressive 46.1 points per game.
Tennessee’s Offensive Symphony
The team exhibited remarkable balance, passing for an average of 326 yards and rushing for nearly 200 yards per game. On the defensive front, the Volunteers conceded an average of 23.5 points per game to their opponents.
On the offensive roster, the return of wide receiver Bru McCoy is a significant boost, given his impressive performance of hauling in 52 receptions for 667 yards in the previous season.
However, the team will feel the absence of Jalin Hyatt, the top receiver who stood out with a team-leading 15 touchdowns.
Stepping into the role of starting quarterback is Joe Milton, taking over from Hendon Hooker, who concluded his college career. Milton’s previous season saw him contribute ten touchdowns from 82 passing attempts.
Additionally, the offensive backfield welcomes back Jabari Small, who notched an impressive 734 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns during the last season.
Virginia Cavaliers vs Tennessee Volunteers Betting Prediction
The key questions emerge: How will Virginia manage to tally points on the scoreboard? Additionally, can the Cavaliers effectively curtail the momentum of the formidable Volunteers?
It’s conceivable that the outcome of this game will become evident by halftime, as the disparity in performance could be significant.
Projections suggest that Tennessee Volunteers score early and often and are likely to maintain a relentless offensive rhythm, with the potential to secure two touchdowns in each quarter.
- The final score prediction paints a picture of a dominant performance, with the Tennessee Volunteers prevailing over the Virginia Cavaliers by a score of 52-17.
As for our Virginia vs Tennessee betting analysis, the wager favored is in support of the Tennessee Volunteers at -28.5 over the Virginia Cavaliers on the upcoming Saturday. We look forward to this game and all the College Football scores!
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