Tennessee will attempt to end a four-game losing streak at Arkansas when the Vols visit Fayetteville on October 10. The last time Tennessee won there was in 2001, and since then, the Razorbacks have consistently held the upper hand on their home turf.
The Vols enter the game with a 4-1 record, including 1-1 in SEC play. While their quarterback situation remains unclear, Tennessee showed resilience last week against Auburn, with DeSean Bishop scoring three touchdowns in the second half to secure the win. Arkansas, on the other hand, is struggling at 2-3 overall and winless in conference play after losing all three of their games against power conference opponents by an average margin of 29 points.
Knox News’ Tennessee beat reporters largely expect the Vols to snap their Fayetteville skid. Adam Sparks predicts a 28-17 Tennessee victory, noting Arkansas’s tendency to sell out against the run. Sparks expects Tennessee’s quarterback George MacIntyre to exploit Arkansas’s struggles to stop the pass, creating third-and-long situations that Tennessee’s defense can capitalize on. The Vols have held SEC opponents to 20 points or fewer in their two conference games so far, and Sparks believes they will continue that trend.
Emmett Siegel projects a 31-14 Tennessee win, pointing out that the Vols have been unable to win at Arkansas since 2001, including an upset loss earlier this year when the No. 4 Vols fell to the unranked Razorbacks. Siegel sees the streak breaking this time around.
Cora Hall expects a closer game, with Tennessee eking out a 20-13 victory. She anticipates the Vols’ defense will remain the steady force in the game, keeping Tennessee in control even if the offense continues to find its footing. Stephen Thompson predicts a 25-6 win, emphasizing that the SEC atmosphere in Fayetteville won’t unnerve MacIntyre, who will make his first career start. Thompson expects a balanced effort with the defense and running game standing out.
John Adams recalls Tennessee’s history of strong rushing performances against Arkansas, mentioning Chuck Webb’s school record 294 yards against Ole Miss in 1989 and his 250-yard game against Arkansas in the 1990 Cotton Bowl. Adams forecasts a 27-10 win for Tennessee.
Gentry Estes sees the game as a timely opportunity for Tennessee to sort out its offensive issues before facing Alabama and predicts a 31-13 win. Meanwhile, Wynton Jackson anticipates a gritty, if unpolished, 20-9 victory, with MacIntyre not being asked to do too much but potentially opening up conversations about the quarterback position heading into the Alabama game.
Arkansas’s defense will focus heavily on stopping the run, a strategy that Tennessee’s coaching staff is prepared to counter with play action and passing over the top. The Razorbacks’ inability to run the ball effectively has been a consistent problem, and Tennessee aims to exploit that weakness.
Tennessee’s defense has shown resilience, holding opponents to low scoring in SEC play, while the offense is still adjusting, especially with MacIntyre’s first start looming. The game on October 10 will test whether Tennessee can overcome its recent history in Fayetteville and gain momentum as it moves deeper into the SEC schedule.
According to Yahoo Sports.
