Gameday picture · Week 4 · SEC
TEX at VOLS
No. 1 Sat, Sep 26, 12:00 PM · ABC · Neyland Stadium
Five days out. Market: Texas −5.5, total 55.5. Implied 25–31; desk projection 25–31. Win% ~38. Sat Sep 26, 12:00 p.m. ET ABC at Neyland. College GameDay from Ayres Hall. Checker Neyland colors swapped. Soft slate is the honest worry; the building is why the number is not 10. Sell the panic if Manning scripts a 14–0 start; buy the two-deep if Bishop is on schedule before Texas finds explosives.
Spread
VOLS +5.5
Market desk line
Total
55.5
Win
38%
Texas
31
desk projection
Volunteers
25
Market implied 25–31 · TEX −200 / TENN +164
Kick weather
76°F
Noon, Checker Neyland · lo 58°F
15% precip
Window
ABC
Sat Sep 26, 12:00 p.m. ET, ABC. SEC opener. College GameDay from Ayres Hall.
Brandon vs Manning at Checker Neyland
Unit matchups
Quarterback
VOLS 7 · 8 TEX
True freshman vs Arch Manning. Tools even; the résumé is not.
Running backs
VOLS 8 · 7 TEX
Bishop / Morris 299 yds/g. If the front is light, the identity lives.
Receivers
VOLS 7 · 8 TEX
Matthews / Staley are the SEC pair. Texas' back end is the gap.
Front seven
VOLS 6 · 8 TEX
Knowles' first SEC Saturday against a top-ranked offensive line.
Secondary
VOLS 6 · 8 TEX
Manning just rallied from 23–3 vs Ohio State. Explosives are the tell.
Special teams
VOLS 7 · 7 TEX
Ranvier is live from 50. Noon kicks hide nothing.
Players to watch
- TEX
Arch Manning QB
552-6-0 through three. Manning's résumé is the gap.
- VOLS
Faizon Brandon QB
552-6-0 through three. Manning's résumé is the gap.
- VOLS
DeSean Bishop RB
286 rush, 4 TD. Identity vs a ranked front.
- VOLS
Mike Matthews WR
The missed shot vs Kennesaw is the so-what.
- VOLS
David Sanders Jr. OL
Perry's 92.6 has to travel. The pocket has to live.
- VOLS
Jordan Norman EDGE
Knowles' first SEC snap. Get Manning off schedule.
Key injuries
- out
Ethan Davis TE · VOLS
Season-ending knee. Brame / Thomas / Wolf the room.
Opponent injury report not cited yet.
What the tape says
- Don't trail 14–0. Brandon's first three drives vs Manning's first three.
- Bishop on first down. Stay in 2nd-and-4.
- Perry at right tackle. If the pocket dies, +5.5 is not enough.
- Checker Neyland and GameDay are the extra player. Use them.
History
- Texas leads the series 2–1, including the 1969 Cotton Bowl 36–13.
- Neyland sold out 30 straight. GameDay's 13th trip to Knoxville.
- Vols 3–0, 0–0 SEC, AP No. 14. Texas 3–0, No. 1. Both SEC openers.
Roster advantage · vs Texas
TEX holds the two-deep
Starter-vs-starter grades for Steve Sarkisian's Texas (No. 1). Tap a card for stats and reasoning.
Net grade
-9
1 VOLS · 1 even · 6 TEX