Opening Line: Tennessee -10.5
Over/Under: 52

Time: September 10, 2016, 08:00
Place: Bristol Motor Speedway

Virginia Tech Hokies (1-0) vs. Tennessee Volunteers (1-0)

Tennessee is a ranked team that has high expectations this season, but they were less than impressive in their season opener. They were at home and after being down by 10 points at halftime to Appalachian State the Volunteers came back and ended up winning 20-13 in overtime.

Frank Beamer is gone after 29 years on the sidelines for Virginia Tech and they are a different squad under new head coach Justin Fuente, as they look to become more offensive minded. They have not ranked in the top 90 in the nation in yards per play in the last four seasons. Fuente is coming from Memphis where he ran a more up tempo-offense and the Tech offense will be tested in this game facing a Tennessee team that only gave up 13 points in their season opener.

Virginia Tech easily won their season opener beating Liberty 36-31, but they failed to cover as a big 31.5-point favorite.

Tennessee is the 10.5-point favorite in this game, but they only scored 13 points in regulation in their season opener and failed to cover as a 21.5-point favorite.

These two non-conference teams last met in the 2009 season at Virginia Tech where the Hokies crushed the Volunteers winning 37-14.

Even though this game is being held at a neutral site it is at Bristol Motor Speedway in Bristol, Tennessee, so the Volunteers should have a home field advantage.

This season Tennessee is 0-1 ATS with an O/U record of 0-1 and Virginia Tech is 0-1 ATS with an O/U record of 0-1.

Last season Virginia Tech lost all three of their games facing a ranked team.

Tennessee was not in tune on offense in the Appalachian State game with two turnovers and only converting seven of their 19 3rd downs. QB Joshua Dobbs was only 16/29 for 192 yards in the game with one TD and one INT. RB Jalen Hurd did rush for 110 yards, but only averaged 3.9 yards per carry. Hurd will be facing a Tech defense that only gave up 90 rushing yards last week, but it was Liberty. His play will be key in this game, as if he can run the ball the Volunteers will be in good shape.

The Hokies ranked up the yards facing a far inferior Liberty team with 252 passing yards and 206 rushing yards. QB Jerod Evans had a solid passing day and was also the team’s leading rusher. He is the key guy for the offense and he had two fumbles in the Liberty game and overall the Hokies had four fumbles. They have to hold onto the ball in this game facing a Tennessee defense that has playmakers up front.

Betting Trends

• Virginia Tech is 7-17-2 ATS in their last 26 non-conference games, 1-4 ATS in their last 5 vs. SEC, and they have an Under record of 5-1 in their last 6 games.
• Tennessee is 4-0 ATS vs. a team with a winning record, 7-3 ATS in their last 10 games following a ATS loss, and they have an Over record of 4-1 in their last 5 vs. a team with a winning record.

Virginia Tech Hokies at Tennessee Volunteers Free Prediction

This should have the feel of a home game for the Vols and even though Tennessee didn’t look like much last week, they should improve here. We’ll lay the points and look for a big win over VTech on Saturday.

Take the Tennessee Volunteers -10.5