3 things are in Tennessee Vols' favor against the LSU Tigers
The Tennessee Vols get a chance to get healthy after their win against the Florida Gators with an off Saturday this week. Tennessee will return to action on October 8 when they travel to Baton Rouge to take on the LSU Tigers. If the Vols beat LSU, they'll be 5-0 for the first time since […]
The Tennessee Vols get a chance to get healthy after their win against the Florida Gators with an off Saturday this week.
Tennessee will return to action on October 8 when they travel to Baton Rouge to take on the LSU Tigers.
If the Vols beat LSU, they'll be 5-0 for the first time since 2016. They could also be knocking on the door of their first top five ranking since 2005 when they were ranked No. 5 entering their early season showdown with the Florida Gators.
Of course, winning in Death Valley is no easy task. The Vols haven't won a game at Tiger Stadium since 2005 when Rick Clausen helped bring the team back from a 21-0 halftime deficit. Tennessee won that matchup 30-27 in overtime.
Fortunately for the Vols, there are three things working in Tennessee's favor for this game.
1. It's an 11 AM CT/12 PM ET kickoff
It was announced on Monday that this game will kick off at 11 AM local time. That's a massive advantage for the Vols. Playing at night in Death Valley is never fun.
Tiger Stadium is a great venue regardless of the game time, but the place isn't nearly as electric at 11 AM as it is at night. This absolutely works in the Vols' favor. They'll head to Baton Rouge and get right to business on Saturday morning when they wake up.
2. Josh Heupel is really good off a bye week
Tennessee's bye week might seem a bit early this season, but it's coming at a perfect time. The Vols are dealing with numerous injuries to key players. The hope is that the bye week will allow Tennessee to get star wide receiver Cedric Tillman back. It should also allow speedy freshman running back Dylan Sampson an adequate amount of time to get healthy (he missed the Florida game due to injury).
Additionally, quarterback Hendon Hooker got banged up during the Florida game, so this will give him time to get healthy.
Heupel is 6-1 coming off a bye as a head coach, including last year's win against Kentucky. His lone loss was a 50-49 shootout loss to Memphis in 2020. UCF missed a 40-yard field goal that would've won the game.
3. LSU plays a tough conference road game before facing the Vols
LSU will travel to Auburn this weekend in a game that should be intense as both coaches badly need a win.
The Tigers — the ones from LSU — are already dealing with some injuries this season. Former five-star defensive tackle Maason Smith is out for the season. And wide receiver Kayshon Boutte, who missed LSU's most recent game after the birth of his child, has battled injuries since arriving on campus.
Tennessee should be the healthier team on October 8. While we can't predict what may or may not happen during LSU's game against Auburn, there's no doubt that the Vols will be the fresher team.
Everything seems to be trending in the Vols' favor. That obviously doesn't guarantee a win, but I think Tennessee fans should feel good about their chances in Baton Rouge in a couple of weeks.
Featured image via Caitie McMekin/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK
