The Tennessee Volunteers aim to secure another win as they host the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Neyland Stadium this weekend. While this game may not be highly anticipated, the two teams share a rich history. Tennessee is a strong favorite and will play at home before heading to Athens to face the Georgia Bulldogs—a chance for the Volunteers to refine their game on both offense and defense.
Here are the final score predictions for the Tennessee vs Mississippi State matchup from the Volunteer Country SI staff:
Score Predictions:
– Jonathan Williams: Tennessee 38, Mississippi State 17
Tennessee’s offensive approach is straightforward: run the ball. Dylan Sampson has been a standout this season, establishing himself as one of the top running backs in the nation. Combined with Tennessee’s solid defense, this strategy poses a challenge for Mississippi State’s offense. Williams predicts Sampson will have another impressive performance, while Mississippi State will struggle to move the ball.
– Caleb Sisk: Tennessee 45, Mississippi State 10
Entering the game with a 7-1 record, Tennessee has excelled at home, securing key victories, including an overtime win against Florida and a first in two decades victory over Alabama. Tennessee’s offense peaked last week against Kentucky, and Sisk believes they will dominate an injury-ridden Mississippi State. A fast start will be crucial as Tennessee prepares for their big game against Georgia next week.
– Tanner Johnson: Tennessee 41, Mississippi State 17.
Johnson expects Tennessee’s offense to improve its first-half performance, using Mississippi State’s defense as an opportunity to build rhythm. Quarterback Nico Iamaleava showed potential last week, though dropped passes prevented an even better showing. Johnson anticipates that Sampson will add to his impressive touchdown count and that Tennessee’s defense will continue its streak of holding opponents under 20 points.
