The Fearless Prediction is on quite a run, losing only once in 8 tries this season, and looks to keep the good times going this week as Tennessee plays UConn on Homecoming Weekend in Knoxville.

On paper this doesn’t look like much of a battle. The folks in the big shiny buildings in the Nevada desert consider Tennessee to be a massive favorite. But these games aren’t played on paper. They are played in cathedrals like Neyland Stadium. Fans making the trip from the Northeast (and yes, some fans are coming from Storrs) will get a bucket list experience that the UMass rivalry game simply doesn’t provide.

The Huskies might be 1-7, but 6 of their 8 games have been decided by 10 points or less. They lost to South Florida by only a FG, and to NC State by 10 points. They have shown the ability to play opponents close. Whether they can do that this weekend remains to be seen.

UConn is led by QB Ta’Quan Roberson, who is throwing for 182 yards per game, with 8 TD passes and 3 INTs. Cameron Ross and Brett Buckman are his top 2 options in the passing attack, with nearly identical stats. Ross has 31 catches for 338 yards and a score, while Buckman has 31 catches for 335 yards and a TD. Victor Rosa and Cam Edwards split the carries, with each averaging just over 5 yards per attempt. Rosa did miss last week’s loss to Boston College with an ankle injury.

But this is not an offense that will strike fear into its opponents. UConn is currently ranked 114th national in total offense with 315.9 yards per game and 115th in scoring at 19.8 points per contest.

Defensively, senior LB Jackson Mitchell has a team high 81 tackles, while defensive lineman Pryce Yates is tops on the team with 3.5 sacks. But it’s a group allowing 29.25 points per game, putting them in a tie for 95th nationally with Purdue.

Jim Mora’s Huskies were a surprising 6-7 with a bowl game appearance a year ago, but now in his second season at UConn, they’ve came back to reality.

As for Tennessee, the Vols are coming off a 33-27 win over Kentucky, their 36th victory in the past 39 meetings. UT has also won 19 of its last 21 games in Lexington. There are few certainties in life, but UT finding ways to beat UK in football is close to a sure thing.

The much-maligned passing game took a step forward as Joe Milton completed 18 of 21 passes for 221 yards and a TD. But the running game remains where this Tennessee team thrives. Jaylen Wright got the Vols off to a great start against Kentucky with a 52-yard rushing TD on their 1st possession, on his way to a 120-yard night. Dylan Sampson took control of the game in the 4th quarter with 90 all-purpose yards in that frame, plus a 12-yard TD run. The Vols lead the SEC in rushing at 221.8 yards per game.

On defense the Vols couldn’t get much of a pass rush going against Kentucky, but they are still one of the best teams in the country in sacks, ranked 6th nationally with 3.62 per game. The secondary is a concern. They allowed 372 yards through the air to UK’s Devin Leary, who was averaging only 197 per game up until facing the Vols.

After this game, Tennessee has 2 huge matchups — at Missouri on Nov. 11 and home to top ranked Georgia on Nov. 18. The Vols would love to get their starters out of the game as soon as possible. That was supposed to be the plan against Austin Peay, but the Governors were much tougher than expected, pushing that game into the 4th quarter.

History won’t repeat itself.

Fearless Prediction time …

Tennessee 45, UConn 6