ESPN’s Paul Finebaum recently weighed in on Saturday’s highly anticipated clash between the Tennessee Volunteers and the Oklahoma Sooners, offering a perspective that has shifted since the Vols’ dominant 51-10 win over NC State in Charlotte. Initially, Finebaum wasn’t very optimistic about Tennessee’s chances in their SEC opener in Norman, Oklahoma. However, after seeing the Vols dismantle NC State, the veteran analyst’s outlook has changed.
“I have to give the edge to Tennessee here,” Finebaum remarked during an appearance on SoonerScoop.com. “A couple of weeks ago, I might have thought differently, but based on what I’ve seen, Oklahoma hasn’t shown enough to convince me they can do much more than slow down Tennessee’s momentum. It’s not like they’ve been playing cupcakes, but I just don’t see them having the offensive firepower to keep pace.”
Finebaum acknowledged that for Oklahoma to have a shot at upsetting the Vols, a combination of freak plays, turnovers, and early disruption to Tennessee’s rhythm would need to occur. “OU’s best hope is to shake Tennessee’s confidence early with noise, turnovers, and the intimidation factor. But if that doesn’t happen—and I don’t think it will—I expect Oklahoma to lose this one.”
Still, Finebaum did give credit to Oklahoma head coach Brent Venables, noting that he could make things difficult for Tennessee’s young quarterback, Nico Iamaleava. “Venables is a defensive mastermind. He’s faced plenty of quarterbacks like Nico before, and with Nico’s inexperience, OU could have a shot. Nico looked great against NC State, but that was a good team, not a great one. He made some mistakes, and that’s what Venables will target. That inexperience is where Oklahoma can find hope.”
Despite giving the advantage to Tennessee, Finebaum isn’t predicting a blowout, cautioning that it won’t be easy for the Vols to steamroll the Sooners. “I’m not saying Tennessee will run up the score. Oklahoma’s defense will have to be brilliant and disruptive. Experts always say it, and it’s true—they’ve got to create chaos. On the flip side, Jackson Arnold is going to have to put up points because you’re not going to beat Tennessee 13-12. That just won’t cut it.”
Finebaum’s assessment highlights the complexity of the matchup. While Nico Iamaleava is a young quarterback, Tennessee’s coaching staff has been vocal about his maturity and preparation, which sets him apart from many other freshmen QBs. His teammates are confident that Nico can handle the pressure, even in an intense environment like Oklahoma’s Memorial Stadium.
The true test will come on Saturday night at 7:30 pm ET, when the Vols and Sooners kick off in Norman. Tennessee fans, no doubt, are hoping Finebaum’s prediction holds true, confident that their team will emerge victorious despite the challenges they may face.
