Recruiting Forum Football Talk V

[KeyVol14]

Possibly.people like that somehow stumble across info we don’t have the luxury of getting…or they’re just assuming we don’t have the horses to keep up with Alabama.

I wonder if recent history is persuading it as well.

 

[BigSteve09]

NFL draft buzz: Prospects to watch, predictions for Saturday's games

We head into Week 7 of the 2022 college football season with several excellent games on deck and many top 2023 NFL draft prospects in play. Be sure to check out Alabama-Tennessee, but there are also four other matchups between ranked teams.

Ahead of the loaded schedule, NFL draft analysts Todd McShay, Jordan Reid and Matt Miller pick prospects to watch this weekend, along with the one thing they each are keeping an eye on. They also look ahead to April's draft with a quick peek at what the Seattle Seahawks might do with their first-round picks. Then Steve Muench points to a small-school prospect who could get more draft attention with a big performance.

Our experts wrap it all up by making predictions for Week 7 and emptying their notebooks with everything they saw and heard this week.

Reid: Hendon Hooker, QB, Tennessee (vs. Alabama). Two top-10 teams, two excellent quarterbacks. Hooker is the hottest player in the country right now, regardless of position, and arguably atop the Heisman race. The senior signal-caller has unlocked the next stage of his development, shattering expectations and rising all the way to QB5 in my draft rankings. In two SEC games this year, Hooker threw for 588 yards, four touchdowns (plus one rushing) and zero interceptions while completing 70.5% of his passes. But the Volunteers haven't beaten the Crimson Tide since 2006. Can the 6-foot-4 passer navigate the Crimson Tide defense and pull Tennessee to victory?

Reid: I'll be watching the Alabama secondary. Tennessee is averaging 340.4 passing yards per game, but the Crimson Tide secondary has allowed only 166.3 per outing. Safeties Jordan Battle and DeMarcco Hellams have been awesome, but the biggest star of the secondary right now is Brian Branch, who is playing the STAR safety spot. Branch has steadily climbed into the top 50, and scouts have noted his instincts and versatility. This unit will be key against Hooker and the Vols.

McShay: Jordan touched on this, but yeah, the Tennessee passing game against Alabama is the focus this weekend. I've been really impressed by Hooker this season, and I got the chance to watch him live against LSU last weekend. What sticks out is his poise no matter how muddied the pocket gets, his toughness and his deep-ball accuracy. He also does such a good job of keeping a solid base and marrying his feet to his eyes, which allows him to pull the trigger quickly and accurately when a receiver flashes open. So how will he hold up versus a stout Alabama defense, led by an elite edge-rushing tandem of Will Anderson Jr. (the No. 1 prospect in the class) and sophomore Dallas Turner?

But also keep an eye on Tennessee's fast-rising receiver prospects, Cedric Tillman and Bru McCoy. Tillman is expected to return from injury after sitting out the past two games. He's a big target who excels tracking the deep ball and winning contested catches. I've moved him up to 21st overall on my board, and I talked to two scouts last week who also have first-round grades on him. McCoy, meanwhile, is averaging 17.5 yards per catch. He's not a burner, but he has a big 6-foot-3, 220-pound frame and reliable hands, and he generates a lot of yards after the catch with his excellent contact balance. He has worked his way into the midround conversation.

 

[PYSCHO]

If they are putting this kind of information out there, it's because the books want/need Bama money.

"Fade the public"
"Bryce Young is going to play for Bama, better get on the right side"

exactly right

 

[Vols2DaWall]

So the sharps actually like Tennessee in this game? Not like it actually matters

Sharps like Bama. Large wagers on Bama force the line upwards towards the bets

 

[CABVOL]

Anyone else having to log back in every time you open VN?
@Freak

 

[Freak]

Anyone else having to log back in every time you open VN?
@Freak

No issues for me.

 

[Weezer]

Guys it’s a sign… my daughter was just born this morning!!! She came quickly because she also hates those bammer gumps!

Excited to watch our first game together on day 2 of her precious life on earth

After we win tomorrow, I caution you not to get so excited you make Hooker part of her name. This is NOT a good idea.

 

[jcknight1]

I’m stocked up on bourbon and cigars. Buck Fama, Vols by Fiddy!

 

[jordan4vols]

Sharps like Bama. Large wagers on Bama force the line upwards towards the bets

Not according to the article just posted. The two professional bets were on Tennessee.

 

[CABVOL]

No issues for me.

Ok. Thank you.

 

[Enki_Amenra]

That’s not what the numbers said that was posted in my post. It said 79% of the bets we’re on Tennessee but 91% of the money is.

Tennessee is getting more action, but less $. Alabama is getting less, but more $.

 

[VolNash17]

Line doesn’t matter, Bama was favored by 20 points last week and they were favored by 20 or more against texas as well… Vols just gotta go play their game and play freely

 

[pierce60]

I’d give the person who runs the in-stadium entertainment a shiny quarter if they played Dixieland Delight with Tennessee up 20 with about two minutes to go in the 4th tomorrow. Just as a reminder it’s a song about Tennessee .

 

[RiseToTheTop]

Line doesn’t matter, Bama was favored by 20 points last week and they were favored by 20 or more against texas as well… Vols just gotta go play their game and play freely

Bingo

There’s a heavy Bama tax in the betting world.

 

[Enki_Amenra]

This feels like a title game week.

 

[volinbama256]

Big Paul Finebaum just said he is rooting for the Vols this weekend

NOW you know things are changing in Knoxville... never thought I'd see the day... good LAWD

 

[Devo182]

I disagree. If we are actually talking about the playoff, winning this game tomorrow opens up an extra route. Sure, any SEC team that wins all of its games will get in. But if we win tomorrow and then lose to (only) UGA, we are very likely in without having to play Bama a second time.
If we lose, we’ll have to beat UGA and Bama.

100%.

The decision tree (if there was a choice) says you win tmrw and lose to UGA.

The other route is much tougher.

 

[UT4LIFE86]

Looking on Ticketmaster , it says verified resale tickets ?? Them should b legit right ???? Plan on going to game but don’t have a ticket

 

[KG1821]

NOW you know things are changing in Knoxville... never thought I'd see the day... good LAWD

Plowman made him say it - it was great haha

 

[MemphisVol3]

NOW you know things are changing in Knoxville... never thought I'd see the day... good LAWD

A shifting of the tide, pun intended.

 

[UTSuave’]

going on reputation and last 15 yrs. If everybody won at gambling do you not think everyone would do it. Alot are just like the mattress guy in Houston bet who you think or want. Not always the best way. Like being a fan also sways alot of money.

I mean losses do happen but the gain is much more…I’m not saying it’s easy but if you’re right 60% to 65% of the time on average..losing isn’t so bad..that’s average for a consistent sharp winnings

 

[Jimmy Football]

100%.

The decision tree (if there was a choice) says you win tmrw and lose to UGA.

The other route is much tougher.

True.

But I think I speak for a lot of people that my enthusiasm for the season can only be increased tomorrow. If we lose, we still have all of our preseason goals in play.

And if we win…

 

[Devo182]

NOW you know things are changing in Knoxville... never thought I'd see the day... good LAWD

The man is literally a Tennesseean, UT Grad, former writer of The Beacon. Lol.

He burned Roman Harper earlier for the times he lost to UT.

He just calls it like it is and we've been god awful since he's made a name for himself.

Shocking. It's almost like the media talks up good teams and trashes bad teams...

 

[Devo182]

True.

But I think I speak for a lot of people that my enthusiasm for the season can only be increased tomorrow. If we lose, we still have all of our preseason goals in play.

And if we win…

For sure. I'll be highly enjoying this season regardless of tomorrow. It's just a huge cherry on top, but we're still quite an underdog and not expected to win. Great season regardless.

Just enjoying the ride.

 

[VolGee4]

The man is literally a Tennesseean, UT Grad, former writer of The Beacon. Lol.

He burned Roman Harper earlier for the times he lost to UT.

He just calls it like it is and we've been god awful since he's made a name for himself.

Shocking. It's almost like the media talks up good teams and trashes bad teams...

Really, he made his money in Birmingham, so that was his audience.