Football Betting: Tennessee vs Mississippi

Saturday, November 14 - 1 PM ET

BetUS NCAA Football Betting Odds: OLE MISS -4.5, Total 47

The idea that Tennessee isn't a strong team is a fallacy, when you come to think of it. Sure, they lost that home games to UCLA in the season's second week, but they were tough as nails, though challenged offensively, against Florida, hung tough with Auburn before losing by four points, lost a heart-breaker to Alabama, and scored victories over Georgia and South Carolina. Last week they had a relatively easy time with Memphis, a geographic rival that has given the Vols problems at times through the years in the football odds.

Here are some of the NCAA college trends as they relate to this matchup:

• TENN has covered four of its last five games
• TENN has won four of its last six games SU
• TENN has played four of its last six games OVER the total
• TENN has played 14 of its last 20 games UNDER the total
• TENN is 4-1-1 ATS in its last six road games
• TENN has lost seven of its last eight road games SU
• MISS has won 12 of its last 15 games SU
• MISS has won seven of its last eight home games SU
  

Tennessee gets bowl-eligible if they win either this game, or either of the final two against Vanderbilt or Kentucky, and I don't think this is a bad start for Lane Kiffin, and the father-and-son combo with his father Monte. The senior Kiffin has drilled this defensive unit very well, and the Volunteers are one of only 18 teams in the country who are allowing less than 300 yards a game.

If you want to talk about progress, how about Jonathan Crompton? The senior quarterback, who absolutely did not earn Kiffin's trust in the early going, and threw five interceptions in the games against UCLA and Florida, has thrown only three pickoffs since, with 16 TD passes. he went off for 331 yards against Memphis.

Ole Miss got a lot of hype at the beginning of the season, as the team that could possibly challenge Florida for supremacy in the SEC. Well, not only has that not happened, the Rebels have lost three conference games. Jevan Snead has been a disappointment. The former Texas Longhorn backup (departing rather than sit behind Colt McCoy) has been just 52% accurate, with 13 interceptions, and he has not been a difference-maker in big games. On draft day, HE will be the one disappointed.

I fully expect Monte Kiffin to have a few twists that will throw him off. I like the direction Tennessee is going in, and I am looking for a straight-up victory. Take the points with the Vols, getting 4.5 points in the BetUS NCAA college football betting odds.

JAY'S PLAY: TENNESSEE +4.5 ****
(Graded on a scale of 1-4 stars)