Tennessee Volunteers vs Kent State Golden Flashes Picks and Predictions September 14th 2024

Kick-off for this week’s three non-conference matchup between the Kent State Golden Flashes and Tennessee Volunteers is set for 7:45 ET at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville. SECN will be handling the broadcast as Tennessee looks to improve to 3-0 on the season. The over/under line is currently at 62.5 points, and Kent State is the -200 money line favorite. Tennessee is favored by -49 points in what is expected to be a lopsided game.

Kent State vs. Tennessee Key Information

• Teams: Golden Flashes at Volunteers
• Where: Neyland Stadium Knoxville
• Date: Saturday, September 14th
• Betting Odds TENN -200 | KENTST -200 O/U 62.5

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The Golden Flashes Can Win If…

Kent State is looking to bounce back after falling to 0-2 for the season. In their most recent game, the Golden Flashes faced St. Francis (PA) and were unable to come out on top, losing 23-17. This game was a non-conference matchup, and no betting lines were available.

After falling behind 10-0 in the first quarter, Kent State fought back to make it 20-14 by halftime. The Golden Flashes added a field goal in the third quarter but were unable to score in the fourth, resulting in the 23-17 loss.

Kent State’s offense, led by quarterback Devin Kargman, put up 280 yards in their 23-17 loss, with 202 of those yards coming through the air. Kargman completed 22 of 38 passes for 193 yards, with one touchdown and one interception, earning a passer rating of 69.3. His top target, Luke Floriea, caught six passes for 92 yards.

The Golden Flashes converted 16 first downs but struggled to establish a run game, finishing with just 78 yards on 26 carries. Ky Thomas led the team in rushing with 39 yards on 11 attempts.

Kent State’s defense will be looking to tighten up after giving up 402 total yards in their most recent game. The majority of these yards came on the ground, as they allowed 207 rushing yards on 47 attempts. In the passing game, the Golden Flashes gave up 195 yards and one touchdown on just 11 completions.

• Over their last three regular season games, the Kent State Golden Flashes have gone 0-3 straight up. This includes going 1-2 vs. the spread along with an over-under mark of 2-1.
• Through their last ten regular season contests, Kent State has a record of 0-10. In these contests, the team went just 1-8-1 against the spread, while going 6-4 on the over-under.

The Volunteers Can Win If…

Tennessee is now 2-0 after a dominant 51-10 road win over NC State. The Vols, favored by -8.5, not only won but also covered the spread, and the game’s 61 combined points surpassed the over/under line of 59.5 points.

Tennessee took control early, leading 7-0 after the first quarter and extending their lead to 20-3 by halftime. After NC State closed the gap to 20-10 in the third quarter, the Vols responded with 31 unanswered points to close out the game.

In their 51-10 win over NC State, Tennessee’s offense put up 460 yards, with 249 yards coming on the ground. The Vols picked up 22 first downs and scored three rushing touchdowns, while their passing game added 211 yards and two touchdowns.

Quarterback Nico Iamaleava completed 69.6% of his passes for 211 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions, finishing with a passer rating of 91.03. On the ground, Dylan Sampson led the way with 132 yards and two rushing touchdowns, averaging 6.6 yards per carry. Squirrel White was the top receiver, with two catches for 67 yards.

Tennessee’s defense was dominant in their most recent game, holding NC State to just 10 points and 143 total yards. The Volunteers’ secondary was particularly effective, allowing only 104 passing yards on 15 completions and intercepting one pass. On the ground, Tennessee gave up just 39 yards on 28 carries.

• Spanning across their last three games, Tennessee have gone 3-0. In these games, they have a 2-1 record vs the spread and an over-under mark of 2-1.
• The Tennessee Volunteers have gone 9-1 over their last ten regular season games. This includes going 7-3 vs. the spread along with an over-under mark of 5-5.

The Lean

Our projections have Tennessee winning this matchup by a score of 55-2, which is in line with the current -49 point spread in their favor. We would recommend taking Tennessee to cover the spread as heavy home favorites.

For the over/under, with the line set at 62.5 points, our model suggests taking the under, as the combined total points is estimated at 57.

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No. 7 Tennessee on Guard as Kent State Visits Knoxville

No. 7 Tennessee (2-0) has started its season on a tear, averaging an impressive 60 points per game while allowing just 6.5. With their offense firing on all cylinders, the Volunteers look to continue their dominant form as they host winless Kent State (0-2) on Saturday. Coming off a shocking loss to FCS Saint Francis (Pa.), the Golden Flashes face a steep uphill battle in Knoxville.

Tennessee’s Hot Start

Explosive Offense and Stout Defense

Tennessee opened the season with a 69-3 blowout win over Chattanooga and followed that up by dismantling then-No. 24 North Carolina State, 51-10, in Charlotte, N.C. The Volunteers have been dominant on both sides of the ball, averaging 589 yards per game while holding opponents to a mere 185 yards and a 4-for-26 success rate on third-down conversions.

Head coach Josh Heupel, despite his team’s overwhelming start, is focused on ensuring they don’t overlook Kent State after the Golden Flashes’ surprising loss to Saint Francis (Pa.).

“You can go back and look at the scores from across America each week and there are examples of teams that didn’t prepare,” Heupel said. “This is our next opportunity—we’ve got to be ready to take advantage of it.”

Kent State’s Struggles and Response

A Tough Start to the Season

Kent State has had a rough start to its 2023 campaign. After a 55-24 loss to Pitt in their opener, the Golden Flashes suffered a stunning 23-17 defeat at home to FCS opponent Saint Francis, marking the Red Flash’s first-ever win over an FBS program.

Golden Flashes head coach Kenni Burns remains optimistic despite the early setbacks, seeing the challenges as a learning opportunity: “I still believe in our football team,” Burns said. “I think this is a great moment for these guys to learn how to handle adversity and respond.”

Burns knows his team will need to be much sharper to compete with a Tennessee team that has shown few weaknesses so far.

Key Players and Matchups

Tennessee’s Offensive Firepower

Redshirt freshman quarterback Nico Iamaleava has been efficient, completing 74.5 percent of his passes and throwing five touchdowns over the first two games. However, he did throw two interceptions against NC State, but head coach Heupel praised his resilience in bouncing back:

“We don’t want to turn the ball over, but I think one thing we learned is how he’s going to respond to adversity. He came back and played like it was the first play again.”

Dylan Sampson, Tennessee’s standout running back, has been electric, averaging 8.0 yards per carry. Sampson has already amassed 256 rushing yards and five touchdowns, making him a critical part of Tennessee’s offensive success.

Kent State’s Offensive Woes

On the other side, Kent State’s run game has struggled mightily, averaging just 1.7 yards per carry and 54.5 rushing yards per game. Their leading rusher, Ky Thomas, has totaled only 79 yards this season, with one 32-yard run making up nearly half of that total.

Burns emphasized the need to improve the running game if the Golden Flashes want to remain competitive: “We gotta run the ball better up front and with our running backs… I don’t want to be a team that throws it 50 times a game. To me, that’s not championship football.”

Devin Kargman, Kent State’s quarterback, has thrown for 374 yards, three touchdowns, and two interceptions while averaging 33 pass attempts per game. He’ll need to be at his best to keep the offense moving against Tennessee’s formidable defense.

On defense, Kameron Olds has been a standout for the Golden Flashes, recording a team-high three sacks through two games. His ability to pressure Tennessee’s Iamaleava could be one of the few bright spots for Kent State.

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What to Expect

Tennessee’s Formula for Success

Tennessee will aim to maintain their explosive offensive and defensive dominance against a struggling Kent State team that has yet to find its rhythm. The Volunteers’ defense will look to pressure Kargman and contain Kent State’s meager rushing attack, while the offense, led by Iamaleava and Sampson, should continue to pile up points.

Kent State’s Uphill Battle

Kent State faces a significant challenge in Knoxville. Improving the run game and finding ways to sustain drives will be critical if they hope to avoid another lopsided loss. The Golden Flashes will need to play a near-perfect game to compete with Tennessee’s overwhelming talent.

First Meeting Between the Programs

This will be the first-ever meeting between Tennessee and Kent State, and all signs point to a tough day for the Golden Flashes, as they face a Volunteer team eager to continue its early-season dominance.