Virginia Cavaliers vs. Tennessee Volunteers Game Analysis & Picks (09/02/2023)

Virginia Cavaliers vs. Tennessee Volunteers Game Analysis & Picks (09-02-2023)

Last season, the Tennessee Volunteers football team finally returned to relevance. To show, the Volunteers finished the season at 11-2, with losses to the National Champion Georgia Bulldogs and the South Carolina Gamecocks. Further, It was Tennessee’s first double-digit win season since 2007. And it was their first 11-win Betting on College Football season since 2001. Now, fans on Rocky Top want and expect more. Tennessee fans dream of the Vols achieving a berth in the College Football Playoff. But gamblers are worried about the potential gravity of a step back in 2023.

Virginia Cavaliers vs. Tennessee Volunteers Betting Information

Date and Time:Saturday, September 2, 2023, Noon ET
Location:Nissan Stadium, Nashville, TN
TV Coverage:Check Listings
Odds at SBG Sportsbook
TeamSpreadTotalML
Virginia+28 -11057½ -110+2000
Tennessee-28 -11057½ -110-6500
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Virginia at Tennessee SBG Odds Overview

Of course, Tennessee is an easy online wagering sell to gamblers. Virginia is an ACC bottom feeder. At the same time, the Vols are reestablished as an SEC power.

Virginia Cavaliers Team Overview

Virginia Cavaliers head coach Tony Elliott enters the 2023 campaign looking to jumpstart an offense that averaged only 17 points a game. Also, UVA failed to score more than 30 points against an FBS opponent last season.

The quarterback battle between Jay Woolfolk and Monmouth transfer Tony Muskett has continued into the fall. However, that’s not the only question mark on offense. Elliott has to reload up front for the second year of his regime and replenish the receiving corps. The defense quietly held opponents to 24 points a game last year. Correlate that should be the strength of this team with six returning starters.

Last year, Virginia went 3-7 and 1-6 in the ACC. Sadly, the team had more than football to worry about. To illuminate, tragedy struck in November when former walk-on Christopher Jones opened fire on a charter bus that many held the team. In turn, the shooting took the lives of wide receiver Lavel Davis Jr., Devin Chandler, and linebacker D’Sean Perry. The horrific killings caused Virginia to cancel the season’s final two games as the grieving process began. Now comes the challenge of moving on and rebuilding. It won’t be easy.

Tennessee Volunteers Team Overview

After posting double-digit wins for the first time since 2007, the next step for Tennessee is to close the gap to Georgia in the SEC East. That won’t be easy this fall, with quarterback Hendon Hooker and receivers Jalin Hyatt and Cedric Tillman topping the list of key departures. Head coach Josh Heupel’s squad still has a good foundation in place, and the team’s high-powered offense should be in good hands with either Joe Milton or Nico Iamaleava at the controls. Bru McCoy and Squirrel White should help to fill the void left behind by Hyatt and Tillman.

Improving the defense was a priority after this unit gave up 29.1 points a game in ’21, and coordinator Tim Banks has this unit going in the right direction after they held teams to 22.8 a contest last fall. However, similar to the offense, the defense has a few key personnel losses to overcome that will test the ability to take another step forward.

Virginia at Tennessee SBG Free Picks

On this occasion, Virginia is outclassed by an SEC power. Tennessee is an expensive but more understandable Betting on College Football pick.

Virginia at Tennessee SBG Best Bet: Tennessee Volunteers.