Tennessee attempts to pick up its second win in as many weeks when UTEP comes to Knoxville on Saturday riding a 14-game losing streak. Here are the RTT staff predictions.
Conner Knapp: Tennessee 45, UTEP 10
(Season: 1-1)
This should be another easy win and a tune-up for Tennessee before Florida comes to town. UTEP is really bad — probably not much better than ETSU, in all honesty — and the Vols should have no problem handling the Miners.
Terry Lambert: Tennessee 48, UTEP 6
(Season: 2-0)
UTEP is bad. Like, lost 14 in a row bad. Tennessee will roll for the second week in a row without much drama. The offensive line does have to get off to a better start this time around, however. It’s going to be bad news if that happens next weekend.
Evan Winter: Tennessee 49, UTEP 7
(Season: 1-1)
Another easy victory for the Vols, but they have to get off to a better start offensively this time around. If the offensive line continues to struggle then this week will be a major indicator as to how this season is going to go once SEC play begins.
Noah Taylor: Tennessee 53, UTEP 13
(Season: 2-0)
UTEP may be the worst FBS team Tennessee will play this season. The Miners are 0-2 after dropping their opener to FCS Northern Arizona, 30-10 and then again getting routed last week at the hands of UNLV, 52-24.
The Vols should cruise to 2-1 before opening the SEC slate with the always-important Florida game in Neyland next Saturday.
Austin Burlage: Tennessee 38, UTEP 6
(Season: 2-0)
The Vols handled ETSU last week, and look to do the same this week to a struggling UTEP team. I don’t think Tennessee will get as much help scoring this week from the defense and special teams as they did last week against an FCS opponent. Still a blow-out, and Tennessee wins comfortably. But Tennessee still has some concerns along the offensive and defensive lines that I don’t think will be resolved by Saturday afternoon. This one might be really close to that 31-point line Tennessee was favored by earlier this week (you know, if you’re into that sort of thing).