Why Peyton Manning has a very personal bet on Tennessee Vols' first game of the 2023 season
The Tennessee Vols are set to open the 2023 season against the Virginia Cavaliers in Nashville on September. Tennessee is currently around a 28 point favorite against Virginia. In other words, it's not at the top of the list of the Vols' most exciting games in 2023. But it might be the game that Tennessee […]
The Tennessee Vols are set to open the 2023 season against the Virginia Cavaliers in Nashville on September.
Tennessee is currently around a 28 point favorite against Virginia.
In other words, it's not at the top of the list of the Vols' most exciting games in 2023.
But it might be the game that Tennessee legend Peyton Manning is most interested in watching this season.
That's because Peyton's wife, Ashley, went to college at Virginia (Manning would famously drive from Knoxville to Charlottesville to visit his future wife during his time at UT).
And because Peyton is extremely competitive, the two have a friendly wager on the Vols/Cavaliers showdown.
Manning discussed Tennessee's matchup with his wife's alma mater during a recent appearance on The Nation.
"We'll try to keep it friendly," said Manning. "I was hoping to be able to go. That 11 o'clock central time kick off is hard to make from Colorado with youth sports going on on a Saturday morning. But Ashley and I would get a friendly little wager on that. Hopefully the Vols can get it started off right. It should be a fun kind of rocking weekend there in Nashville for sure with those two schools."
Peyton might have to sleep on the couch (or in one of his 50 guest bedrooms that I assume he has at his home in Colorado) if he "wins" this bet.
Tennessee and Virginia haven't played since the 1991 Sugar Bowl (1990 season) which the Vols won 23-22 in New Orleans. UT is 3-1 all-time against the Cavaliers.
Peyton Manning shares how he feels about Tennessee’s offense under Josh Heupel
Vols legend Peyton Manning shared how he feels about Tennessee’s offense under Josh Heupel
Featured image via Joshua L. Jones / USA TODAY NETWORK
