SEC football games against Big Ten teams are rare. Tennessee games against Ohio State are even rarer.
The Vols haven’t played Ohio State but once. They were underdogs then, too.
UT upset the Buckeyes 20-14 in the Citrus Bowl to finish the 1995 season 11-1 and third in the AP Top 25 poll.
The Vols also have played only one game against Michigan, another Big Ten heavyweight. They beat the Wolverines 45-17 in the Citrus Bowl to cap an 11-2 season that left them with a No. 5 national ranking.
The stakes will be much higher Saturday in a first-round College Football Playoff game.
Ohio State is favored for a reason. It’s probably a more complete team and will be playing on its home field in Columbus. The Buckeyes also have fared better against higher-ranked teams.
They have beaten two playoff teams, Indiana and Penn State, and lost a road game to No. 1 Oregon by one point. Tennessee’s biggest win came against Alabama, but it faltered in the second half of a 31-17 loss to No. 2 Georgia.
UT’s defensive front versus Ohio State’s offensive line might be its only advantageous matchup. But the pressure will be on the Buckeyes, who haven’t won a national championship since 2014 despite all the NFL stars who have worn their uniform.
The pressure is exacerbated by the Buckeyes’ last game, a loss to 19.5-point underdog Michigan in Columbus. And the pressure will mount if they get off to a slow start.
Tennessee 20, Ohio State 17: Michigan showed how to beat the Buckeyes. It ran the ball effectively, stopped Ohio State’s running game and pressured quarterback Will Howard into turnovers.
If the Vols can do what they do best – run the ball and control the line of scrimmage with their defensive front – they can pull off an upset.
Indiana 27, Notre Dame 24: A stout defense had much to do with the Irish making the playoffs. But did you know the Hoosiers rank second only to Ohio State in total defense?
The Hoosiers also have a more versatile offense. And Southern California proved even in a 49-35 defeat that Notre Dame’s defense might not be as good as its regular-season stats. The Trojans totaled 552 yards against it.
Texas 37, Clemson 24: When the Longhorns are rolling, they look like the best team in the country. But there was no rolling in their two losses to Georgia, which beat them in the SEC championship game with a backup quarterback.
A Texas-sized question: How long will it take coach Steve Sarkisian to replace Quinn Ewers with Arch Manning if the offense doesn’t click quickly?
The longer he waits, the greater the chance for a Clemson upset.
Penn State 41, SMU 31: This could be the most entertaining game of the first round.
The Nittany Lions often have come up short in their biggest games because their offense struggled. However, it didn’t struggle in a 45-37 loss to Oregon.
And it shouldn’t hit any speed bumps against SMU.
ADAMS:Tennessee football has a three-letter advantage vs Ohio State. Can you spell S-E-C
Florida 34, Tulane 21: The Gators didn’t make the playoffs. But they at least will get to play on the first playoff weekend.
They also will strengthen their schedule – for whatever that’s worth – by playing in the Gasparilla Bowl. Tulane will be Florida’s eighth opponent with eight or more wins.
Record: 101-29 (.774), 66-48 (.586) against the spread.
John Adams is a senior columnist. He may be reached at 865-342-6284 or john.adams@knoxnews.com. Follow him at: twitter.com/johnadamskns.
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