ODDS, POINT SPREAD, BETTING LINES Line: Tennessee -3 Tennessee ATS: 3-1 LSU ATS: 3-2 O/U: 63.5 Moneyline: UT -161 LSU +125 FPI pick: LSU 58.3%
NEED TO KNOW LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels Find more sports news, plus coverage from Sports Illustrated. READ MORE College Football HQ turns to the team experts in the SI Fannation network to provide in-depth coverage of Saturday’s game Zack Nagy of LSU Country joins us to provide the most important keys to the matchup from Death Valley LSU needs to get aggressive. Jayden Daniels continues to be conservative with the football. Completing a career-best 67.9% of his throws for 915 yards and six touchdowns on the year, it doesn’t tell the full story. Reluctant to throw the ball deep or take “risks” has plagued this offense. Look for Daniels to trust his arm more Saturday night and take a few shots with the ball rather than the quick reads he’s used through the Tigers’ first five games. — Zack Nagy of LSU Country Getting Kayshon Boutte involved. The gifted wide receiver has been virtually nonexistent through the Tigers’ first few games. Reeling in 11 receptions for 97 yards and zero touchdowns, it hasn’t quite been the junior season many were expecting from Boutte. Look for LSU and Jayden Daniels to get the ball early to their dynamic receiver, whether on quick, short routes or lining him up in different spots on the field. — Nagy LSU can test the Vols’ back seven. For all the attention Tennessee rightly gets for its offensive efficiency, fielding the No. 1 attack in college football in tandem with a top 5 scoring unit, watch how Daniels works the Big Orange secondary early in the game. Tennessee comes in at 128th nationally against the pass and is one of just four teams to allow more than 300 passing yards per game. — College Football HQ Can LSU contain Hendon Hooker? With dynamic playmakers and a signal-caller who knows how to put his guys in position to be successful, this LSU defensive line must get to Hooker to throw the Vols off their game. Hooker is yet to throw an interception this season, with his decision-making being one of his best qualities, but the Tigers’ defense gives him a challenge he hasn’t faced yet, given their depth and talent up front. — Nagy
LSU VS. TENNESSEE: FAST FACTS + Vols are 22-6 when scoring 20-plus points and 0-2 when scoring fewer than 20 under Josh Heupel + LSU has won 13 of last 14 home games against SEC East teams + Tennessee has forced 8 turnovers, 4th most in the SEC + LSU has allowed 3 second half points to SEC opposition this season + Hendon Hooker has a TD in 16 straight games + LSU leads the SEC with a plus-5 turnover margin and turnovers (12) + Vols are tops in FBS with 559.3 yards per game and No. 1 in passing offense + LSU hasn’t allowed points on 14 straight second half possessions + Vols have scored 30 points in 7 straight games, most in SEC + LSU has won 9 straight games when scoring 30 points + UT has scored at least 1 TD in the first qtr in 16 of 17 games under Heupel + LSU has allowed 7 scores on 11 red zone drives, 6th nationally + Vols have scored 13.59 first quarter points the last 2 years, 1st in FBS + LSU Is 14th nationally allowing 14.8 points per game + Tennessee is 11-1 when leading after 3 quarters under Heupel and 0-5 when trailing + LSU is 11-3 in games starting before noon local time + Vols are 11-0 when leading at halftime under Heupel, and 0-6 when not
