“Geaux”

Campus Clash

(8) Tennessee Volunteers at (25) LSU Tigers

Tennessee: I was impressed with what I saw from them the last time I watched them play. They showed they were too much for the Florida Gators and won a rivalry game at home. It was also my first time sitting down and watching Quarterback Hendon Hooker play. My biggest takeaway in watching him play is how effective he is both as a runner and a passer. He reminds me so much of Randall Cunningham. I seriously thought I was watching Randall’s clone every time I watched him throw the ball or run it. What impressed me is how well he takes care of the football. Hendon has yet to throw an interception this season. As I said when I previewed their last game against the Gators, this Vols team is an offense that wants to push the football up the field in an aggressive manner. They spread their weapons all over and then attack. Also, they display a balanced attack. As strong as they are in the passing game, they are just as strong running the ball. In that Florida game, I noticed how difficult of a time they had getting to Anthony Richardson. I’m not sure if it was a lack of push off the snap of the ball or what. On Saturday morning, they’ll make a trip to Baton Rouge to face Brian Kelly’s Tigers.

LSU: They’ve regrouped nicely since that opening season loss to the Florida State Seminoles. They’ve been on a roll and won their last 4 games, including a victory over Auburn in the annual “Tiger Bowl”. Saturday was a game they had to grind out and they did so by taking advantage of 4 Auburn turnovers. What made it more impressive was the fact they were down 17-0 at one point. I knew Brian Kelly would be under a microscope more coming to Baton Rouge than he ever was at Notre Dame believe it or not. I say that because now, he’s coaching in the all mighty SEC. A conference with Georgia and Alabama who have been so dominant in recent memory. Just remember back in 2019, this LSU program was on top of the world with Ed Orgeron, Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase and Justin Jefferson. The program is different now, but allow Brian to get recruits in and things will change. What’s carried this Tigers team this year has been their defense. Through 5 games, they’ve allowed 293 yards per game which ranks 3rd in the SEC. The offense hasn’t been a slouch either. They’ve shown flashes of scoring and they average close to 35 points per contest. Now entering the bulk of conference play, they return home on Saturday to welcome Josh Heupel and the Tennessee Volunteers to town.

Tennessee X-Factor: Kamal Hadden– He’s been a key contributor to this Vols defense. Kamal is 1 of the team leaders in tackles on the season with 19. He’s a Cornerback with great range and length. Sometimes, I consider him a hybrid between a Cornerback and a Safety because he plays with the mentality of a Safety. Kamal is excellent when it comes to stopping the run. He’s one of those defensive backs you can put in the box and send on a corner blitz.

LSU X-Factor: Jayden Daniels– He left the game against Auburn with a knee injury. As he gets set to approach this game, how healthy is Jayden? Looking at his game, Jayden loves to run the football. That’s his mindset first. However, if you can dare him to throw the ball, he’ll gladly accept that challenge with open arms. As a passer, Jayden is very accurate with getting the ball to his receiver and throwing the ball in stride.

Final Thoughts: There’s nothing like a good, old fashioned SEC showdown. I enjoyed what I saw from the Vols in that game against the Florida Gators a few weeks back in week 4. Look for them to come into this game and attack LSU early. Start fast and take the crowd out of the game. Both Quarterbacks are similar in style of play. Both Hooker and Daniels each like to extend plays with their feet and move the pocket. Whichever defense can contain the opposing Quarterback will be the team that will come out on top. I also expect the Vols to slow the game down and run the football as LSU can struggle to stop the run. Both offenses can each score. This game could either be a defensive struggle or a shootout. Either way, we should be in for a good game.

Prediction: Tennessee 35, LSU 31

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