Ohio State Buckeyes vs Tennessee Volunteers Picks and Predictions December 21st 2024

Ohio State Buckeyes vs Tennessee Volunteers December 21st 2024

ABC will be handling the broadcast as the Ohio State Buckeyes and Tennessee Volunteers face off in a college football playoff first-round game. Kick-off is set for 8:00 ET from Ohio Stadium in Columbus on Saturday, December 21st. The over/under line is currently 47 points, and the Buckeyes are -7.5 point favorites at home. Both teams come into this game with a 10-2 record for the season.

Tennessee vs. Ohio State Key Information

Tennessee heads into their Week 1 game against Ohio State with a 10-2 record. They are undefeated at home (5-0) but have gone 3-2 on the road. The Volunteers have been favored in eight of their 12 games, posting a 7-1 record as the favorite.

Their ATS record stands at 6-4, with a +23.3 average scoring margin. Tennessee is 5-3 against the spread as the favorite and has gone 3-2 ATS both at home and on the road.

This season, Tennessee’s over/under record is 6-4. They’ve averaged 51.2 points per game, while their average over/under line has been 54.8 points. This week’s line is set at 47 points.

Heading into week 1, Tennessee’s offense is ranked 29th in our power rankings, but they are 8th in scoring, averaging 37.2 points per game. Their run game is their strength, ranking 5th in rushing attempts and 8th in rushing yards, with 234.9 yards per game.

Dylan Sampson leads the rushing attack with 1,485 yards and 22 touchdowns, averaging 5 yards per carry. Quarterback Nico Iamaleava has thrown for 2,512 yards and 19 touchdowns, with five interceptions, and holds a passer rating of 105.

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Tennessee’s defense has been a strong point this season, ranking 4th nationally by allowing just 13.9 points per game. They’ve also held opponents to 106 rushing yards per game, which ranks 16th, and 178.7 passing yards per game, placing them 26th. Quarterbacks have managed a passer rating of only 69 against Tennessee, the 12th-lowest in the country, completing 56.3% of their throws.

In their recent game against Vanderbilt, Tennessee’s defense allowed 23 points but gave up just 213 total yards. Vanderbilt rushed 30 times for 109 yards and threw for 104 yards on 8 completions, while Tennessee’s defense also recorded an interception.

Ohio State enters their Week 1 game against Tennessee with a 10-2 record. They’ve been strong at home, going 7-1, and are 3-1 on the road. The Buckeyes have been favored in all 12 games this season.

Ohio State’s ATS record is 6-6, with a +24.6 average scoring margin. They are 4-4 against the spread at home and 2-2 on the road.

The over/under line for this week is 47 points. Ohio State’s games have averaged 46.4 points, while their average over/under line has been 50.3 points, with a -3.9 margin against the line.

Ohio State’s offense ranks 15th in points per game, scoring 35.5 per contest, but they are 5th in our offensive power rankings heading into week 11. Will Howard has thrown for 2,860 yards and has a passer rating of 118. He has completed 72.3% of his passes, leading Ohio State to the 3rd best completion percentage in the nation. Overall, they are 6th in passer rating.

Howard has thrown 27 touchdowns and 8 interceptions this season. Quinshon Judkins leads the rushing attack with 805 yards and 8 touchdowns, averaging 5 yards per carry. Ohio State is 61st in rushing yards per game. Jeremiah Smith has 934 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns on 57 catches.

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Ohio State’s defense has been a standout unit this season, ranking first in the nation by allowing just 10.9 points per game. They’ve also held opponents to 144.2 passing yards per game, the fifth-lowest in the country, and 101.3 rushing yards per game, ranking 13th.

In their recent game against Michigan, Ohio State’s defense gave up only 13 points. They allowed 235 total yards, including 173 rushing yards on 41 attempts, while holding Michigan’s passing game to just 62 yards and forcing two interceptions.

Tennessee is the +7.5 point favorite heading into their week one matchup against Ohio State. We like the Volunteers to not only win straight-up but also to cover the spread as the road underdog. Our predicted final score is 26-20 in favor of Tennessee.

With the over/under line set at 47 points, we recommend taking the under, as our projections have the combined score at 46 points.

No. 8 Ohio State Aims to Take Out Frustrations on No. 9 Tennessee

Ohio State’s College Football Playoff journey begins at home against Tennessee on Saturday night, but the Buckeyes first need to put their devastating 13-10 loss to Michigan behind them. The matchup between No. 8 Ohio State and No. 9 Tennessee, both 10-2, promises to be a hard-fought battle with a Rose Bowl berth on the line. The winner will face top-seeded Oregon on New Year’s Day in Pasadena, California.

Moving Past Michigan

Ohio State coach Ryan Day, offensive coordinator Chip Kelly, and the players faced repeated questions about how they faltered as 21-point favorites against Michigan.

“It was terrible for all of us, a terrible loss,” said quarterback Will Howard. “But man, we can’t let (the Wolverines) beat us twice. We can’t. We can still go out here and win a national championship and right the wrongs that happened in that game.”

The Buckeyes know they must regroup quickly to avoid another disappointment.

Tennessee’s Defensive Challenge

Ohio State’s offensive struggles against Michigan’s stout defense could foreshadow trouble against a similarly dominant Tennessee unit. The Volunteers allow just 99.6 rushing yards per game, ranking eighth nationally. They’re also fourth in total defense (278.3 yards per game) and tied for fourth in scoring defense (13.9 points per game).

“The line of scrimmage is going to be important in this one,” Tennessee coach Josh Heupel said. “Defensively, you’ve got to control the line of scrimmage. You want to get people in predictable third downs and then be able to rush the passer and get off the field.”

Defensive end James Pearce Jr., a projected first-round NFL pick, anchors Tennessee’s defense with 11 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks this season.

Ohio State’s Offensive Weapons

The Buckeyes will rely heavily on their dynamic receiving corps to counter Tennessee’s defense. Jeremiah Smith, who earned Big Ten Freshman of the Year and Receiver of the Year honors, leads the group with 934 yards and 10 touchdowns. Emeka Egbuka and Carnell Tate round out a trio of playmakers capable of turning the tide.

“We’re playing a really formidable defensive group,” Kelly said. “They’ve got good players at all three levels. Our players are excited about that challenge.”

Keys to the Game

Tennessee’s ability to stifle explosive plays will be crucial.
“We can’t give up a bunch of big, explosive plays where they create momentum,” Heupel said. “We’ve got to play disciplined, match people out, and win the one-on-one situations.”

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For Ohio State, the focus will be on improving offensive line play and ensuring Howard has time to connect with his receivers.

Weather Won’t Deter Tennessee

Saturday night’s forecast calls for a frigid 28 degrees at kickoff in Columbus. While the conditions might favor the Buckeyes, Heupel brushed off concerns about the cold.
“Yeah, it’s a June day in South Dakota,” Heupel joked. “At the end of the day, you get between the white lines, weather doesn’t matter.”

With playoff stakes high and both teams eager to prove themselves, this clash promises to be an electric showdown in the opening round of the College Football Playoff.