Tennessee vs. Ball State: Prediction and preview

Tennessee football opens its 2022 season under the lights at Neyland Stadium Thursday against Ball State at 7 pm EST on SEC Network.

Tennessee vs. Ball State Preview

The Vols released their depth chart for Week 1 on Monday, one that is almost entirely made up of veteran players. Tennessee fans will see the debut of Bru McCoy, who was recently declared eligible for the 2022 season after transferring from USC in the offseason.

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Tennessee fans will also be able to see how Hendon Hooker has developed his game since lighting the SEC on fire in 2021. Ball State comes in as the projected bottom squad in the MAC West and would have their hands full against a team with an offense far worse than Tennessee’s. The Cardinals will look to find six new starters on a defense that allowed just north of 415 yards per game in the MAC last season.

Speaking of defense, all eyes will be on the Vols’ unit Thursday evening. The Vols had a decent defense last season, one that will shut down Ball State no problem but has a big question mark next to it when SEC play is mentioned. The Vols will only be able to gather so much from the Cardinals Thursday night, but it will prove a great trial run before travelling to Acrisure Stadium (formerly Heinz Field) to battle Pitt in Week 2.

The one variable that could be potentially dangerous for Tennessee is Cardinals sophomore running back Carson Steele. The 6-foot-1, 215-pound back rushed for 891 yards and 6 touchdowns last season behind an offensive line returning its entire starting lineup from last season. With experience has to come improvement, and the Cardinals’ O-line was its best asset in 2021.

That’ll be a nice test for Tennessee’s defensive line, made up of Byron Young, Tyler Baron, Kurott Garland and Omari Thomas. It’ll also give the shaky secondary an ease into things against Kedon Slovis and the Panthers in Week 2.

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I’ll let Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel fill in the rest.

“It’s game week. Let’s go play ball.”

Tennessee vs. Ball State Prediction

Tennessee should run up and down the field with the Cardinals.

Not just beat, even as the Vols did in the season opener last year against Bowling Green, 38-6. Tennessee fans should be worried if this is not a 40-50 point clobbering.

For what it’s worth, my prediction is a 40-point clobbering.

Prediction: Tennessee 52, Ball State 10