(Photo: Clutchpoints)
Saturday Spotlight
(6) Tennessee Volunteers at (15) Oklahoma Sooners
Tennessee: On Monday Evening Quarterback and the other shows I contribute for, I’ve said the two best teams I’ve seen so far have been the Texas Longhorns and Georgia Bulldogs. I haven’t figured out who I could put after those two. Yes, Alabama has looked good, but we will see who they are when conference play begins. Then, there’s been the Ohio State Buckeyes, but they’ve had scrimmages up to this point in the season. Many may not say this, but I will. What I’ve seen from the group in Knoxville could be the third-best team in the country. They’ve come out of the gates firing on all cylinders. A 66-point victory against Chattanooga in week one, they dominated the North Carolina State Wolf Pack in week two, and last weekend, they pitched a shutout against Kent State. Each of their first four games has been won by 40 or more points. I had the chance to preview their second game of the year against NC State and I was excited for it because it was my first time seeing Nico Iamaleava play and so many people have raved about this young Quarterback. Nico has the electric arm to push the ball up and down the field, then he can also move and extend the plays with his legs. For as good as this Tennessee Volunteers team is on the offensive side, they’ve been just as consistent on the defensive side of the ball. This is a team to watch out for as the season progresses. Tonight, they will face Brent Venables’ Sooners team in Norman.
Oklahoma: I’m still trying to get a feel for who they are. First, I’m still not used to labeling them as an SEC team and I say that because I’ve been so used to them being in the Big 12 for many years. They were a successful team under Bob Stoops and even won a National Championship under the Hall of Famer. He announced his retirement and turned things over to Lincoln Riley who had a nice run with the program. Two back-to-back Heisman winners (Baker Mayfield and Kyler Murray) and a few appearances in the playoffs, three to be exact. But they could never get over the hump. Lincoln then takes the job with the USC Trojans and the Sooners turned to Brent Venables, yes, Dabo Swinney’s former Defensive Coordinator at Clemson. I was so excited for him because I felt he deserved a head coaching job for years and I always felt he was one of the best defensive-minded guys in the country. Under Lincoln, the Oklahoma Sooners struggled significantly on the defensive side of the ball, and with Brent on the sidelines, hopefully, they could get some consistency on that side of the ball. Yes, they’re 3-0, but it’s not an impressive record. They escaped with a four-point victory over the Houston Cougars and beat Tulane by 15 points, but both games were tight in the fourth. A team that has excelled on offense hasn’t done that much this year. In all honesty, they have struggled to move the chains which is something I’m not accustomed to seeing. As a group, Oklahoma is ranked 108th in total offense. On defense, they are much more impressive and have been one of the better units in the game. Tonight, they welcome the Vols to town.
Tennessee X-Factor: Omari Thomas– On an elite defense, every guy does their part and Omari certainly does his. He is the key to their success on the interior of the defensive line. In watching him, I see the mentality of an Offensive Lineman when he plays. Omari is very scrappy and plays with a mean streak when he’s on the field. He’s square and low which means he wins many of his battles. Omari can also generate a pass rush from the inside which you’re seeing more of. James Pearce Jr will receive the bulk of the attention which makes the rush up the middle even more important.
Oklahoma X-Factor: Mason Thomas– I think you all can say it by now. You better have game if you have two first names! It’s only right! Danny Stutsman is the heart and soul of this Sooners defense, but Mason is the workhorse. Mason is such a difference-maker on that Oklahoma defensive front and if there’s one thing Brent will do, he will find a quality Defensive End. Look what he had at Clemson! He applies constant pressure and has recorded three sacks on the year. His presence will be needed even more than ever for a showdown of this magnitude tonight.
Final Thoughts: It’s the SEC opener in Norman for the Oklahoma Sooners! In this game, we have a battle of strength facing strength. The Tennessee offense can catch lightning in a bottle at any given moment and they do it with balance. It’s not just Nico taking the game over with his arm. Dylan Sampson is also a key piece of the puzzle. Oklahoma on the other hand has done it with a consistent defensive approach only allowing 11 points per game. For the Sooners tonight, Jackson Arnold must be on his a-game. He can’t turn the ball over on this defense because they will make you pay. The Sooners must also do what they can to create shots down the field. I expect Oklahoma to come out fired up. That crowd will be amped up and it’s a primetime game. That momentum will last for about a half, then Tennessee will come in and pull away. They are just the better team, especially on the offensive side. I don’t think the Sooners have enough to keep up with this offensive attack. I like the Vols to keep on rolling with a victory tonight.
Prediction: Tennessee 40, Oklahoma 21
