Tennessee Volunteers College Football Betting
After going 11-2 in 2022, it was acknowledged that the Tennessee Volunteers would take a step back in 2023. Head coach Josh Heupel had to replace key players from last year’s breakout season led by QB Hendon Hooker. This year, QB Joe Milton proved to be an adequate replacement but nowhere near the same level. Missouri and Georgia outclassed Tennessee before a season-ending win over Vanderbilt. Now comes a matchup against the Iowa Hawkeyes in the Citrus Bowl.
College Football Betting Lines
Iowa Hawkeyes +8.5
Tennessee Volunteers -8.5
Total: 36.5
Money Line: Iowa +256, Tennessee -315
Tennessee Volunteers Weekly Matchup
On Monday, January 1, 2024, the Iowa Hawkeyes of the Big Ten will face the Tennessee Volunteers of the SEC in the Citrus Bowl in Orlando, FL Kickoff time is 1 p.m. ET, with television coverage on ESPN.
Last game, the Iowa Hawkeyes lost 26-0 against the Michigan Wolverines as 21.5-point dogs. The game went under the total of 35.5. Iowa has a record of 10-3 straight up, 6-6-1 against the spread, and 2-11 over/under the total. Iowa ranks 133rd for total offense, 130th for passing, 109th for rushing and 130th for scoring. Defensively, they rank 5th overall, 9th against the pass, 13th against the rush, and 4th for points allowed. Also, Iowa ranks 118th for fewest turnovers lost and 73rd for takeaways.
Tennessee Volunteers Weekly Recap
Last game, the Tennessee Volunteers won 48-24 against the Vanderbilt Commodores as 27-point home favorites. The game went over the total of 56.5. Tennessee has a record of 8-4 straight up, 6-6 against the spread, and 6-5 over/under the total.
Tennessee ranks 19th for total offense, 48th for passing, 13th for rushing and 42nd for scoring. Defensively, they rank 41st overall, 80th against the pass, 24th against the rush, and 40th for points allowed. Also, Tennessee ranks 86th for fewest turnovers lost and 73rd for takeaways.
Quarterback Joe Milton III threw for 383 yards and accounted for six touchdowns as the Tennessee Volunteers scored a win over Vanderbilt in their annual rivalry game in Knoxville, Tenn.
The Volunteers never trailed and held a 617-306 edge in total offense. Vanderbilt ended the season on a 10-game losing streak.
On the Volunteers' first possession of the second half, Milton hit Ramel Keyton for a 46-yard touchdown, Keyton's second of the day.
Milton accounted for his sixth score on a 2-yard rush with 13 seconds left in the third quarter.
The Volunteers knocked Vanderbilt starting quarterback AJ Swann out late in the third quarter. Vanderbilt then went to Ken Seals, who, in the fourth quarter, added a 1-yard scoring run and a 5-yard scoring strike to Quincy Skinner.
Tennessee took a 31-10 halftime lead and held a 347-189 edge in total yards, with Milton accounting for 252 passing yards, three passing touchdowns, and a rushing score.
2023 Tennessee Volunteers Football Schedule
DATE |
OPPONENT |
SCORE |
RECORD |
Sep 2 |
vs. Virginia |
W 49-13 |
1-0 |
Sep 9 |
vs. Austin Peay |
W 30-13 |
2-0 |
Sep 16 |
at Florida |
L 16-29 |
2-1 |
Sep 23 |
vs. UTSA |
W 45-14 |
3-1 |
Sep 30 |
vs. South Carolina |
W 41-20 |
4-1 |
Oct 14 |
vs. Texas A&M |
W 20-13 |
5-1 |
Oct 21 |
at Alabama |
L 20-34 |
5-2 |
Oct 28 |
at Kentucky |
W 33-27 |
6-2 |
Nov 4 |
vs. UConn |
W 59-3 |
7-2 |
Nov 11 |
at Missouri |
L 7-36 |
7-3 |
Nov 18 |
vs. Georgia |
L 10-38 |
7-4 |
Nov 25 |
vs. Vanderbilt |
W 48-24 |
8-4 |
The Tennessee Volunteers have a glorious history but a more checkered period of tumult over the past 15 years.
Tennessee has a total of six claimed national championships and eight unclaimed nattys. The last national title for the Vols was in 1998, their first since 1967. Additionally, Tennessee has 16 conference championships in its history.
Tennessee has not had a double-digit win season since 2007, their only one since 2004. The Volunteers have not finished in the national rankings in 2015 and 2016, their only two campaigns since 2007. Tennessee has not ended up in the final national top ten since 2001.
The Tennessee descent began when they won the 1998 national championship. Then-head coach Phillip Fulmer got too comfortable, and recruiting slipped badly. Fulmer was forced into retirement after the 2008 season, and the program has floundered ever since.
Lane Kiffin, Butch Jones, Jeremy Pruitt, and Josh Heupel followed Fulmer with limited success. Jones seemed on the cusp with 9-4 seasons in 2015 and 2016 but could not maintain momentum.
Tennessee has relied too much on its past for its future. Recruiting and the SEC have changed dramatically since Fulmer was at the peak of his power.
Ironically enough, Tennessee has grown rapidly in population over the past two decades, with far more football talent available. But that has not translated into recruiting success for the Volunteers.
Tennessee has had plenty of great players in its storied past. Namely, Doug Atkins, Peyton Manning, Reggie White, Eric Berry, and Johnny Majors are among the Big Orange greats.
2023 College Football Schedule
Log into BookMaker Sportsbook and get the best NCAA Football Betting Odds, NCAA Football Betting Articles and information about this and all other sports betting events!