Tennessee at West Virginia College Football Picks and Predictions 9/1/2018
Saturday, September 1, 2018
Bank of America Stadium
Get todays College Football Odds & Lines on this game
The Tennessee Volunteers travel to Bank of America Stadium to take on the West Virginia Mountaineers on Saturday, September 1, 2018. The opening line for this game has West Virginia as 7 point favorites. The Volunteers had an ATS record of 3-9-0 last season while their over/under record was 5-7-0. The Mountaineers had an over/under record of 7-5-1 and they were 6-7-0 against the spread.
Valuable Tennessee Volunteers Betting Trends
The Tennessee Volunteers were 5-7-0 against the over/under last season
The Tennessee Volunteers were 3-9-0 against the spread last year
Important West Virginia Mountaineers Betting Trends
The West Virginia Mountaineers were 7-5-1 against the over/under last season
The West Virginia Mountaineers were 6-7-0 against the spread last year
Key Tennessee Volunteers Injuries
No key injuries to report
Key West Virginia Mountaineers Injuries
No key injuries to report
Useful Offensive Statistics
The Tennessee Volunteers were 119th in Division 1 in points scored with 238 last year. They ran 731 plays last season for 3,499 yards, which ranked them 111th in the nation in total offense. The Volunteers averaged 4.8 yards per play, which was 121st in college football. As a team they accumulated a total of 197 1st downs last year, placing them 123rd overall as an offensive unit. On the ground Tennessee ran for 1,415 yards as a team, which ranked 117th in the country. They ran 412 times, averaging 3.4 yards per carry as a rushing unit. The Volunteers were penalized on offense 67 times for 497 yards last season, which had them 94th in the nation in penalties. Keller Chryst threw for 962 yards last season. He completed 78 passes on 144 attempts for a completion percentage of 54.2%. His quarterback rating last year was 123.1. He averaged 6.7 yards per pass attempt and 6.5 adjusted yards per throw.
Defensive Statistics
Tennessee was 70th in the nation in points allowed on defense with 349 last season. They surrendered a total of 4,955 yards on D, which was 68th in Division 1. The Volunteers were ranked 86th in yards per play allowed with 5.9. Opposing offenses completed 154 passes on 280 attempts against the Tennessee Volunteers defense last season, placing them 4th and 4th in the country. The Tennessee pass defense also gave up a total of 1,940 yards through the air, which was 2nd overall in total pass defense. Their rushing defense allowed 556 attempts for 3,016 yards last year, putting them in 126th place in D-1 against the run. The Volunteers committed 79 penalties for 636 yards on the defensive side of the ball last season. That ranked them 55th in the nation.
Special Teams Stats
Tennessee was ranked 91st in the nation in punt returns with 14 last year. They accumulated 112 punt return yards and averaged 8 yards per return, which was 56th in college football. They returned 32 kicks for 680 yards on special teams, ranking 83rd in kick return yardage. The Volunteers averaged 21 yards per kick return and they were 127th in the country in all-purpose yards with 4,291. The Tennessee Volunteers attempted 22 field goals last season and made 14, which was 66th in D-1. Their kickers had a field goal percentage of 67%. Tennessee Volunteers kickers made 100% of their extra points, going 28 for 28 last year. Their punters totaled 3,323 yards on 71 punts, averaging 47 yards per punt. That placed them 4th in Division 1 in punting average.
Useful Offensive Statistics
The Mountaineers ran for 1,953 yards as a team last year, which ranked 76th in the nation. They ran 462 times, averaging 4.2 yards per rush as a unit. The West Virginia Mountaineers were penalized on offense 79 times for 776 yards last year, which had them 55th in the country in penalties. They were 29th in Division 1 in points scored with 449. They ran 943 plays last year for 5,974 yards, which ranked them 13th in the nation in total offense. The Mountaineers averaged 6.3 yards per play, which was 30th in college football. As a team they accumulated a total of 302 1st downs last season, ranking them 25th overall as an offensive unit. Will Grier completed 250 throws while attempting 388 passes for a completion percentage of 64.4% last year. He passed for 3,490 yards. He averaged 9.4 adjusted yards per throw and 9 yards per pass attempt. His quarterback rating last season was 162.7.
Defensive Statistics
The West Virginia Mountaineers rush defense gave up 540 attempts for 2,655 yards last season, putting them in 113th place in the country against the run. They had 94 penalties for 852 yards on defense last year. That placed them 116th in Division 1. West Virginia was 104th in college football in points surrendered on defense with 410. They gave up a total of 5,792 yards on D, which was 115th in the nation. The Mountaineers were 97th in yards per play allowed with 6.1. Opponent offenses completed 234 throws on 406 attempts against the West Virginia defense last season, ranking them 71st and 74th in the country. The West Virginia Mountaineers pass defense also surrendered a total of 3,138 yards in the air, which was 94th overall in total pass defense.
Special Teams Stats
The West Virginia Mountaineers tried 16 field goals last year and made 10, which was 102nd in college football. Their kickers had a field goal percentage of 73%. Mountaineers kickers made 100% of their extra points, going 56 for 56 last season. Their punters accumulated 2,958 yards on 73 punts, averaging 41 yards per punt. That ranked them 93rd in the NCAA in punting average. West Virginia was 31st in the country in punt returns with 23 last season. They totaled 107 punt return yards and averaged 4.6 yards per return, which was 111th in D-1. They returned 40 kicks for 972 yards on special teams, which put them 18th in kick return yardage. The West Virginia Mountaineers averaged 24 yards per kick return and they were 18th in the nation in all-purpose yards with 7,053.
Who will win tonight's Volunteers/Mountaineers college football game against the spread?
Guy's Pick: Take the Mountaineers -7
Get $60 worth of FREE premium member picks. No Obligation. No Salesman. No Credit Card. Fast Sign up with Instant Access Click Here
Read more articles by Guy Bruhn
Get all of this Weeks Free College Football Picks
Get all of this Weeks Expert College Football Picks