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College GameDay podcast reveals picks for Oklahoma at Tennessee

IMG_0985by: Griffin McVeigh9 hours agogriffin_mcveigh
Josh Heupel, Tennessee Football | Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images
(Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images) Sep 21, 2024; Norman, Oklahoma, USA; Tennessee Volunteers head coach Josh Heupel (left) shakes hands with Oklahoma Sooners head coach Brent Venables (right) after the game at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images

A little more will be on the line than a normal win/loss on Saturday in Knoxville. We might have an elimination game coming between the Tennessee Volunteers and Oklahoma Sooners. Of course, this is in the sense of the College Football Playoff, as both teams currently have two losses, likely fighting for at-large spots. Predictions for the matchup continue flooding in, including from the ESPN College GameDay Podcast.

Pete Thamel was first up, deciding to go with Tennessee. He spoke about the injury factor potentially still looming around Oklahoma quarterback John Mateer. And at the end of the day, he gives the slight edge to Josh Heupel‘s bunch.

“I like the Vols in this game,” Thamel said. “I’m a little worried about the Sooners if you look at the way the rest of their schedule unfolds. John Mateer’s hand is still improving. It will be interesting to see if he’s still wearing that thumb splint. It’s just been a bit of a struggle for him and it’s hard to run a guy with some abandon if your hand is going to be exposed there. It will be interesting to see, at this juncture, how much they can let him rip. So, I think this is a low-scoring game. These are two good defenses and I think Tennessee figures out a way to win at home.”

Next up was Rece Davis, saying a key might be Oklahoma’s ability to create turnovers. Not something they have done much of this season, Tennessee’s Joey Aguilar does have six on the season. His key to OU pulling off the road win is forcing mistakes.

With that being said, Davis is also picking Tennessee to win. Explosive plays will be the difference in his mind, both sides favoring the Vols.

“I think Tennessee wins the game at home,” Davis said. “They’ll make more big plays than Oklahoma. Both in terms of creating negative plays for the Sooners with sacks and tackles for loss. And explosive plays on offense. I think the explosive plays will go in Tennessee’s favor and that will be the difference in the game. Oklahoma’s got a great defense too — it will have to carry them.”

Kickoff from Neyland Stadium is scheduled for around 7:30 p.m. ET. Everyone on Rocky Top will be excited and then some for this one, needing a win to stay alive in the College Football Playoff race.