National college football analyst predicts that Tennessee Vols will lose by 14 points to Ohio State

The Tennessee Vols are set to head to Columbus this weekend for a first-round College Football Playoff showdown with the Ohio State Buckeyes.  The winner of matchup between Tennessee and Ohio State will head out west to face the Oregon Ducks in the Rose Bowl while the loser will see their 2024 season come to […]

Zach Ragan — Tennessee Volunteers News Writer
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The Tennessee Vols are set to head to Columbus this weekend for a first-round College Football Playoff showdown with the Ohio State Buckeyes. 

The winner of matchup between Tennessee and Ohio State will head out west to face the Oregon Ducks in the Rose Bowl while the loser will see their 2024 season come to an end. 

On Thursday, CBS Sports' Dennis Dodd made his prediction for the game and he thinks Tennessee's season will end on Saturday night in Horseshoe. 

Dodd has the Vols losing 27-13 to the Buckeyes. 

From CBS Sports: What's the over/under on boos reigning down from Ohio State in the second series? That is, if the Buckeyes continue to bog down offensively. Let's not forget, that's the way things ended against Michigan. So this isn't just a playoff games, it's a referendum on the entire program. That's why Ohio State can't win by enough … if you know what I mean. Try to be held to that standard where it's not just enough to triumph, you must dominate the competition. 

Fortunately for the Buckeyes, this looks like the result. Tennessee will lean on its defense and SEC leading rusher Dylan Sampson. Any combination of occurrences that puts the game on Nico Iamaleava's arm is a good thing for Ohio State. For at least one game post-Michigan, the Buckeyes will come out fully loaded, motivated and coached. Pick: Ohio State 27, Tennessee 13

This is truly a tough game to predict. Based on what we've seen from both teams this season — elite defenses with inconsistent offenses at times — I would expect this game to be decided by 7 or fewer points. 

Dodd, however, clearly this the Buckeyes will run away with this one. 

Not many folks seem to be picking the Vols in this matchup. Dodd mentions that Ohio State should be motivated, but the same will undoubtedly be true for Tennessee. 

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