Trent Reinsmith
- What: Tennessee Volunteers (No. 8) vs. LSU Tigers (No. 25)
- Date: Saturday, October 8, 2022
- Location: Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, Louisiana
- Time: 12 p.m. ET
- How to Watch: ESPN
An SEC showdown takes place during Week 6 of the 2022 NCAA Football season when the Tennessee Volunteers travel to Baton Rouge to take on the LSU Tigers. Both teams are ranked inside the AP Top 25.
The Volunteers, who went 4-4 in the Southeastern Conference during the 2021 NCAAF season and 7-6 overall, are the No. 8 ranked team in the current AP Top 25 poll. Tennessee is 4-0 on the 2022 NCAA Football season and 1-0 in the SEC.
LSU finished the 2021 NCAAF campaign with a 3-5 SEC record and a 6-7 number overall. The Tigers are 4-1 overall in 2022 and have a 2-0 record in the SEC heading into their matchup against the Vols. LSU is the No. 25 team in the most recent AP poll.
Before we look at the Week 6 NCAAF matchup between the Tennessee Volunteers and the LSU Tigers, check out the current NCAAF betting opportunities and our guide to betting on the 2022 NCAAF National Championship.
Tennessee Volunteers (No. 8) vs. LSU Tigers (No. 25) picks
| Teams |  |  |  |  |  |
| Tennessee Volunteers (No. 8) | -149 | -145 | -150 | -145 | -151 |
| LSU Tigers (No. 25) | +129 | +125 | +130 | +125 | +124 |
Tennessee breakdown
Senior quarterback Hendon Hooker might not be the most active passer in the SEC, but he has been effective for the Tennessee Volunteers. Hooker has attempted the eighth most passes in the SEC. Despite that low number (113), he has the fifth most passing yards in the conference (1,193) and the second highest completion percentage at 71.68. Hooker is the only player in the SEC with a yards-per-pass average over 10 (10.56).
Tennessee is the sixth-best offense in the SEC in yards on the season with 2,237. The only team in the conference to play four and not five games, the Volunteers are first in yards per game at 559.3. The team leads the SEC in passing yards per game at 365.8. Meanwhile, the club is sixth in rushing yards with 193.5 per game. No offense in the SEC has a higher points per game average than Tennessee’s 48.5.
The Tennessee defense is not as strong as the offense. Tennessee ranks 11th in yards allowed per game at 407. The Volunteers have the worst passing defense in the SEC, allowing 309.3 yards per game. However, the club’s rushing defense is sound, ranking third in the conference and allowing 97.8 yards per game.
LSU breakdown
It’s not an understatement to say that junior quarterback Jayden Daniels has carried the LSU Tigers offense this year. Daniels has 915 passing yards on the year. He also leads the team in rushing yards on the season with 321. Daniels has a 67.9 percent passing completion rate on the season. He has thrown for six touchdowns and has not been intercepted on the year.
The Tigers have one of the better defenses in the SEC in 2022. The team allows the third fewest yards on average per game at 293.8. LSU ranks fifth in pass defense, allowing 184.6 yards per game and fourth in rushing defense with 109.2 yards allowed in each outing.
Our pick
With two of the top four SEC defenses facing off in this game, don’t expect a high-scoring affair. Tennessee allows 19 points per game and LSU gives up 14.8.
The worry for Tennessee in this game is the dual threat of Jayden Daniels, the Volunteers’ defense is going to need to find a way to stop him in the air while also keeping him in check on the ground.
I think Tennessee’s bye week will be a big benefit for them heading into this game. That week off allowed the team to rest as well as focus on preparation for LSU.
Pick: Tennessee Volunteers to defeat LSU Tigers.
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