Tennessee football is back! With two days till kickoff in Knoxville, Rocky Top is buzzing with anticipation. After Josh Heupel’s 7-6 finish in 2021, hopes are high as Tennessee embarks on the second season of the Heupel era. On Thursday, the Tennessee Vols will host the Ball State Cardinals in Neyland Stadium. The Tennessee-Ball State game will be aired on the SEC Network at 7:00 PM.
Tennessee-Ball State: What to Expect
Right now Tennesee is the five touchdown favorite to win this game. That’s a lot of points, but the Vols have arguably one of the fastest offenses in the country. The Vols offense proved they can keep the team in pretty much any game last year, even with struggles on defense and in the secondary. Heupel’s tempo and Tennessee’s offense alone could put it on the Cardinals, especially with the Vols’ returning starters on the field.
And, while Ball State’s defense didn’t finish far behind Tennessee’s last year, their offense lacks experience. The Cardinals will score but the Vols will throttle them all the same. Expect an end result reminiscent of Tennessee’s 2021 season opener against Bowling Green.
Taking a Gamble
Per FanDuel Sportsbook, Tennessee is heavily favored to win this game. With Hendon Hooker starting at QB this year for the Vols and so many new players on the field for the Cardinals, Tennessee is the safe bet. Plus, this matchup is in Neyland Stadium; an atmosphere like Vol Nation could rattle any team but especially a young, visiting one like the Cardinals.
FanDuel is projecting Tennessee to win at -35.5. The over/under is set at 68.5. The moneyline is -10000. Oddsmakers are confident in the Vols on Thursday and for good reason. The Cardinals will score some points, but the Vols will notch a fairly easy win.
The spread is a huge amount of points but I think the Vols will cover it. At least I hope so, since I’ll be placing a wager on this one! For a post-game recap (and an update on my gambling luck) be sure to check out The University of Tennessee on Gridiron Heroics on Friday!
