Greg McElroy picks Oklahoma to upset Tennessee

Greg McElroy is rolling with the Sooners. The ESPN analyst broke down Saturday’s Oklahoma at Tennessee matchup on the latest episode of his Always College Football show, and he made it clear he sees the potential for a fantastic showdown.

“I think this game has got a chance to become a track meet,” McElroy stated. “I’m thinking it’s going to be a high-scoring affair, and I’m going to take Oklahoma. I think they have fewer holes than Tennessee right now, and the injuries in Tennessee’s back end defensively really concern me.

“So even if the Oklahoma passing game has regressed, I think this could be the get-right recipe. As long as their offensive line can hold up, and John Mateer can hit some big plays downfield.”

It’s a fascinating matchup between two 6-2 teams trending in opposite directions at the moment. Oklahoma’s playoff hopes took a serious hit last week when the Sooners fell at home to Ole Miss, a frustrating loss that exposed some of their offensive inconsistencies.

Tennessee, meanwhile, went on the road and took care of business against Kentucky. Joey Aguilar passed for almost 400 yards in that game, and he’s looking to have a repeat performance back at home against the Sooners.

Additionally, Saturday’s meeting adds another chapter to what’s becoming a compelling new SEC rivalry. Tennessee won last year’s matchup in Norman, marking the first time the two programs met as conference foes.

Now, the Volunteers will try to make it two straight, this time in Knoxville. Meanwhile, Oklahoma is looking to flip the script and reassert itself in the conference race.

McElroy’s pick shows where he believes the game could be decided. Oklahoma’s offense versus Tennessee’s defensive stars, and how well Mateer can bounce back after a disappointing stretch. Perhaps he could rediscover his early-season rhythm through the air.

Both teams have plenty on the line as well, as a win for Tennessee would keep it in striking distance in the SEC, and potentially put them back squarely in the playoff conversation. For Oklahoma, it’s a must-win moment to stay among the league’s upper tier and regain confidence before November’s stretch run.

All told, McElroy’s convinced the Sooners will end the showdown on top, as he sees Oklahoma rebounding in a shootout. We’ll see if his prediction rings true on Saturday. This one will kick off at 7:30 p.m. ET on ABC, live from Neyland Stadium.