'I think Tennessee makes a statement': National picks for Tennessee-Oklahoma

A look at the national picks for Saturday night’s game between No. 6 Tennessee (3-0) and No. 15 Oklahoma (3-0) at Memorial Stadium in Norman, scheduled for a 7:30 p.m. Eastern Time start on ABC:

On3’s JD Pickell

The Pick: Tennessee -7

JD Pickell: “The thing I can’t get out of my mind is I’ve seen Oklahoma give up pressure with four guy. Just different stunts giving that offensive line issues. Say what you want about them being dinged up and this and that, but that was my concern heading into the season for Oklahoma. We had Oklahoma as 6-6 in our preseason takes. My mentions are still blowing up. And I’m sure if Oklahoma wins this game, afterward the mentions will be blowing up again. 

“But I’m telling y’all this, man. I think Josh Heupel is too dialed in. I think Nico Iamaleava is too talented. This game, at the end of the day, it’s about matchups. And the matchups that Tennessee has on the defensive and offensive line, what they have on the perimeter, and their quarterback, I believe eventually getting his footing in this raucous environment, I think Tennessee is going to be able to eventually pull away in this one … I think Tennessee makes a statement in Josh Heupel’s return to Norman. I think Tennessee plays passionate, emotional football for their head coach. I think Tennessee’s stakes their claim and plants their flag as a team that is going to be very much so in the College Football Playoff race.”

On3’s Jesse Simonton 

The Pick: Under 57

Jesse Simonton: “While I really like the Vols this season, laying more than a touchdown on the road at night in Norman seems like a dangerous deal for a redshirt freshman quarterback making his first career start. Both offenses want to play with tempo, but there could be a lot of punts early on in this game.” 

ESPN

The Pick: Football Power Index: Vols by 8 | ESPN SP+: Vols by 7

Bill Connelly: “Both teams are 3-0, but (Josh) Heupel’s Vols have been far more impressive. They walloped Chattanooga, NC State and Kent State by a combined 191-13, and while they’ve faced only the No. 102 schedule so far, per SP+, OU’s schedule is 107th and the Sooners won their past two games by just 19 points. Lots of good teams have yet to face a major challenge, and only one — Tennessee — ranks first in points scored and allowed per drive.”

ESPN College GameDay Podcast

The Picks: Pete Thamel: Tennessee -6.5 | Stanford Steve: Oklahoma +6.5 | Rece Davis: Tennessee -6.5

Stanford Steve: “I think Tennessee pulls it out, but a touchdown is too much. This is the first time Oklahoma has been a touchdown underdog since I was a sophomore in college – 1998. So I think it’s a close game,” Steve said.

Pete Thamel: “I’m not saying Tennessee’s going to win 51-7. But I think they’re going to go and I think they’re going to win and I think they’re going to win authoritatively. So I like them and the cover.”

Bruce Feldman, The Athletic

The Pick: Tennessee 35, Oklahoma 20

Bruce Feldman: “Josh Heupel was once forced out of his alma mater as the Sooners OC. Expect him to get some payback against OU in his return.”

Greg McElroy 

The Pick: Tennessee -7

Greg McElroy: “I am taking Tennessee in the game, but I would be surprised if Oklahoma doesn’t make this thing really, really competitive. I would take the points. I think it’s gonna be super competitive, I think Oklahoma’s gonna play with their hair on fire, and I anticipate the healthiest version of them. But I don’t trust their offensive line at this point and at this point I don’t trust Jackson Arnold as much as I trust Nico Iamaleava.”

Joel Klatt, Fox Sports 

The Pick: Tennessee 21, Oklahoma 20

Joel Klatt: “I think that the Oklahoma defense has been great, but they’ve been very opportunistic. They’re going to get a pick early. I just feel that, again the environment, young quarterback, first road start, but that’s not going to be enough to sustain. I think it’s a really close game. 

“I cannot in good conscience say that (Nico Iamaleava) in his first road start is going to go cover. … I’m going to say Tennessee wins this one by one. Tennessee wins, 21-20, but Oklahoma covers the points. Look for a turnover or two from Nico, and then they overcome it, because Oklahoma can’t capitalize, because that offense is just not what we thought it could possibly be.”