KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee got touchdown passes from Harrison Bailey and J.T. Shrout in the first half, but the Vols were unable to keep pace in falling 34-13 to fifth-ranked Texas A&M on Saturday afternoon at Neyland Stadium.
Bailey, a true freshman, had a 33-yard touchdown pass on the game’s opening drive and finished the day 6-of-6 for 85 yards. Redshirt sophomore J.T. Shrout added a 46-yard strike with a sensational catch by redshirt sophomore wide receiver Cedric Tillman in the second quarter and ended the game 6-of-14 for 104 yards. Tillman led all UT receivers with 61 yards on two catches.
Defensively, three Vol sophomores racked up 10 or more tackles vs. the Aggies (8-1). Linebacker Henry To’o To’o accumulated a career-high 13 stops, including nine solos. It marked the second game in a row and third this season in which he recorded 10 or more tackles. Fellow linebacker Quavaris Crouch and safety Jaylen McCollough added 11 each for career highs. Junior cornerback Alontae Taylor thwarted a drive with his first pick of the season.
Tennessee (3-7) opened the game with a touchdown on its opening drive for just the second time this season, as Bailey engineered a five-play, 75-yard drive that took only 2:32 off the clock. Bailey was 3-of-3 passing for 64 yards on the march, with tight ends Princeton Fant and Jacob Warren accounting for 48 yards of it. Warren’s 33-yard scoring reception, the first TD of his career and longest reception, was the capper. Toby Wilson added the PAT to put UT on top, 7-0, with 12:28 to go in the opening stanza.
Texas A&M responded on its first possession of the game, also covering 75 yards, but in 10 plays, to get on the scoreboard with 6:32 remaining in the first quarter. Quarterback Kellen Mond, who was 4-for-4 passing on the series for 53 yards, put the Aggies on the board with his legs, scrambling in from five yards out. Seth Small added the extra point to knot the score at seven.
A&M moved in front with 13:17 to go in the second frame, as running back Isaiah Spiller rammed his way into the end zone from three yards out. Small booted the PAT to make it 14-7 Aggies after a 12-play, 69-yard drive that included Spiller accounting for 14 yards on five rushes and 28 yards via a pair of pass receptions.
Texas A&M started its next series at the UT 39, thanks to a strip sack of Bailey by defensive end DeMarvin Leal and a recovery by linebacker Andre White Jr. The Vol defense stiffened in the red zone, however, limiting the Aggies to a 23-yard Small field goal that extended the visitors’ lead to 17-7 with 5:52 remaining in the first half.
Shrout came on in place of Bailey for UT’s fourth series of the game. He made quick work of the A&M defense, putting the exclamation point on a four-play, 75-yard drive with a 46-yard deep ball that a fully-extended Tillman impressively snared while being interfered with in the checkerboard. It was Tillman’s first TD grab of the season and the second of his career. Wilson’s PAT was no good after hitting the right upright, making the score 17-13 Aggies with 4:08 to go in the half.
After an incomplete third-down pass, the Vols appeared to have forced a Texas A&M punt late in the second quarter, but an unnecessary roughness penalty on the play extended the drive. The Aggies took full advantage, tacking on another score. A 4-yard pass from Mond to running back Ainias Smith, followed by the PAT from Small, pushed the lead to 24-13 with 18 seconds left before intermission.
With A&M moving deep into Tennessee’s territory late in third quarter, Taylor picked off Mond in the end zone and returned the ball to the UT 45. That marked only the third interception of the season for the Aggie signal-caller and his team’s first turnover since Oct. 17 at Mississippi State. Taylor’s pick, his first this season and second of his career, helped the Big Orange defense hold the visitors scoreless in the third period.
Texas A&M tallied twice in the second half to close out the scoring for both teams. Smith’s one-yard plunge and Small’s PAT pushed the lead to 31-13 with 9:02 left in the fourth frame. Small tacked on a 21-yard field goal with 1:19 to go to make the final score 34-13 Aggies.
Vince Ferrara and Eric Cain recapped Texas A&M’s 34-13 win over Tennessee in Knoxville with a report from the field with perspective and analysis on what we saw and why.
Vince Ferrara and Eric Cain / Credit: 99.1 The Sports Animal
NASHVILLE, TN – DECEMBER 12, 2020 – Running back Eric Gray #3 of the Tennessee Volunteers during the game between the Vanderbilt Commodores and the Tennessee Volunteers at Vanderbilt Stadium in Nashville, TN. Photo By Andrew Ferguson/Tennessee Athletics
Each week, I share my predictions and info on SEC football games.
Below is broadcast info and analysis for Week 13 in the SEC, which is the final week of the regular season and, obviously, the SEC Championship Game in Atlanta.
These are straight-up winners only. The point spread is just as a barometer for how big of a favorite or underdog each team is.
I’m 8-1 in predicting the Vols this season. My one miss was the shocking Kentucky home blowout loss for UT.
2020 SEC Week 12 Game Prediction Record: 4-1 (80%)
2020 SEC Season Prediction Record: 55-10 (85%)
2019 SEC Game Prediction Record: 103-20 (84%)
SEC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME WEEKEND SATURDAY, December 19
#5 Texas A&M (7-1, 7-1 SEC) at Tennessee (3-6, 3-6 SEC)
Series: UT leads, 2-1
Noon ET • ESPN
Last: TAMU, 45-38 (2OT) (2016 in College Station)
Knoxville, Tenn. • Neyland Stadium (102,455)
Sirius: 136/134 • XM: 201/191
Point Spread: Texas A&M -14 Vince’s View: This is the first game in Knoxville for Texas A&M in school history. Aggies TE Jalen Wydermyer (40 rec 431 yds 6 TDs) is the 2nd best TE in the league. I think he’ll be a real problem for UT’s defense. Texas A&M averages rushed for about 200 yds per game while only allowing about 100 yds rushing per game. A&M has averages more than 7.0 yards per play on offense four times this season. On the flip side, UT has averaged 7.0 yards per play four times in the last 24 games. UT’s two new QBs have as many TD passes the last two gams and the old QB had in the first 7 games. UT’s redzone trips are way down as well. UT was 8-for-9 with 7 TDs in the first two games. The last 7 games, UT is only 9-for-14 with 8 TDs. That’s 4.5 trips into the redzone to now just 2 per game. Kellen Mond has had a great statistical year, overall, but he’s still been inconsistent. His offensive line (only 4 sacks allowed all season) is one of the best in the SEC and the country. RB Isaiah Spiller is also one of the league’s best. During A&M’s 6-game winning streak, Spiller is averaging 22 carries and 126 yards. The Aggies have too many ways to win and obviously have a chance to get in the college football playoff.
Score Prediction: Texas AM 42 Tennessee 21
Ole Miss (4-4, 4-4 SEC) at LSU (4-5, 4-5 SEC)
Series: UM leads, 63-40-4
3:30 p.m. ET • SEC Network
Last: LSU 58-37 (2019 in Oxford)
Baton Rouge, La. • Tiger Stadium (102,321)
Sirius: 134 • XM: 380/191
Point Spread: Ole Miss -1 Vince’s View: The Rebels having Elijah Moore and Kenny Yeboah opt-out this week is devastating. They are the two leading receivers for Ole Miss. LSU showed life last week with new starting QB Max Johnson, Tigers avoid the losing season and go out with some respect…on the field at least.
Score Prediction: LSU 35 Ole Miss 34
Missouri (5-4, 5-4 SEC) at Mississippi State (2-7, 2-7 SEC)
Series: MIZ leads, 2-1
3:30 p.m. ET • SEC Network Alternate Channel
Last: MSU, 31-13 (2019 in Columbia)
Starkville, Miss. • Davis Wade Stadium at Scott Field (61,337)
Sirius: 136/135 • XM: 201/192
Point Spread: Missouri -1 ½ Vince’s View: Missouri was pushed around bad in the second half vs. Georgia last week. That won’t be the case this week against an undermanned MSU team. The Tigers can really score. Meanwhile, the Bulldogs haven’t scored more than 24 points in a game since…week one at LSU. Yikes.
Score Prediction: Missouri 38 Mississippi St. 17
2020 SEC Championship Game #1 Alabama (V) vs. #7 Florida (H)
Saturday, Dec. 19, 2020
8 p.m. ET • CBS Sports
Atlanta, Ga. • Mercedes-Benz Stadium (16,500)
THE TEAMS: Alabama (10-0, 10-0 SEC) is the Western Division Champion and the visiting team. Florida (8-2, 8-2 SEC) is the Eastern Division Champion and the home team.
NATIONAL RANKINGS: Alabama comes into the game as the No. 1-ranked team in the nation in the Associated Press, USA Today polls and College Football Playoff polls. Florida is the No. 8-ranked team in the nation by the CFP, while ranked 11th in AP and Coaches. This is the fourth consecutive season the SEC Championship Game has featured a Top-10 matchup.
SEC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME: Only once since 2006 (2014) has the winner of the SEC Championship Game failed to advance to the national championship game. The game, which started in 1992, is in its 29th year. It was a result of conference expansion, which saw Arkansas and South Carolina become the first members added in SEC history. Over 1.8 million fans have witnessed the pageantry of the game first-hand, with 26 sellouts in its history, including the last 25 consecutive contests. (Only 1993 and 1995 were not). The first two games were played at Legion Field in Birmingham and the game was played at the Georgia Dome from 1994-2016. This will mark the fourth SEC Championship Game played at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
SEC CHAMPIONS: Alabama will be vying for its 28th SEC Championship and second in the last three seasons. Florida is aiming for its ninth SEC Championship and first since 2008.
TELEVISION: CBS Sports will televise the game nationally for the 19th straight year (BRAD NESSLER, Play-by-Play; GARY DANIELSON, Analyst; JAMIE ERDAHL, Sidelines; CRAIG SILVER, Producer). CBS has aired the game nationally since 2001. ABC Sports televised the game from 1992-2000.
TV RATINGS: Last season’s SEC Championship Game between LSU and Georgia averaged a 7.9 rating and 13.70 million viewers on CBS — trailing only the No. 1 LSU vs. No. 1 Alabama earlier in the season (9.7, 16.64M) as the highest rated and most-watched game of the college football season. The 2018 SEC Championship Game between Georgia and Alabama was the most-watched and highest-rated regular-season college football game on any network in seven years with a 10.1/23 rating/share and 17.5 million viewers. It also marked the second most-watched SEC Championship ever in 26 years since the game debuted in 1992. The 2009 SEC Championship Game earned an 11.8 rating and a 24 share, marking the highest-rated SEC Championship Game in history. The game matched the No. 1 Florida Gators (12-0) vs. the No. 2 Alabama Crimson Tide (12-0).
RADIO: Managed by Learfield IMG College, the SEC Radio Network will broadcast the game to the 11-state SEC region and around the nation on SiriusXM. (SEC Radio Network: DAVE NEAL, Play-by-Play; DAVE ARCHER, Analyst; STEPHEN HARTZELL, Sidelines). The broadcast can be heard on Sirius 134, XM 191. The Alabama Radio Network is on Sirius 137, XM 190 and the Florida Radio Network is on Sirius 84, XM 84.
SERIES: Alabama and Florida will meet for the 10th time in the SEC Championship Game and the 42nd time overall when the two teams square off on Saturday. The Crimson Tide holds a 27-14 (26-14 NCAA) advantage in the series, including a 5-4 mark in the SEC title game. UA is currently riding a six-game winning streak overall with three straight victories over the Gators in the SEC Championship. Alabama head coach Nick Saban is 8-4 in his career against UF, including a 6-1 record at UA and a 3-1 mark in Atlanta. Florida head coach Dan Mullen is 0-9 against UA with all nine losses coming during his time at Mississippi State.
IN THE SEC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME: Alabama and Florida are meeting in the SEC championship game for the tenth time, the most frequent matchup in SEC Championship Game history, with Alabama holding a 5-4 lead. For Alabama, it will be their 13th overall appearance, tied with Florida for most in SEC history. The Tide are a SEC-best 8-4 in those games, with their last loss coming in 2008 versus Florida. The Gators are 7-5 in their previous SEC Championship appearances, with their last SEC title coming in 2008. This will be UF’s first appearance since 2016. Alabama currently has a three-game winning streak in the SEC Championship Game versus Florida.
POINT SPREAD: Alabama -17
VINCE’S VIEW: Florida’s mess of a loss at home to LSU last week took the air of this game balloon now that no-one gives the Gators a chance. UF has a chance, just not much of one. The Gators have a puncher’s chance because of two elite players, some other team speed and talent and a great head coach that rubs opponents the wrong way. The biggest issue for Florida is that Alabama seems to get better and more dominant every week. Florida better play as a front runner with the lead if it wants to have a prayer.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Six double-figure scorers and a lights-out shooting night led the 10th-ranked Tennessee basketball team to a resounding, 103-49 victory over Tennessee Tech Friday at Thompson-Boling Arena.
The 54-point win was Tennessee’s (4-0) eighth-largest margin of victory in program history. Friday’s result over the Golden Eagles (0-8) also marked the most points the Vols have scored since dropping 106 on Arkansas on Jan. 15, 2019.
The Volunteers finished the night shooting .583 from the field (42-72), along with a highly efficient .474 (9-19) mark from 3-point range. Tennessee also tallied a 4.0 assist/turnover ratio on the night (28 assists, seven turnovers).
Freshman Jaden Springer was UT’s leading scorer, dropping a season-high 21 points on 8-of-10 shooting from the field while pulling in six rebounds and dishing off a season-high six assists. Springer did all of this in just 22 minutes of action, logging nearly one point per minute.
Sophomore Josiah-Jordan James and senior John Fulkerson also enjoyed impactful outings, with James tallying 15 points and six rebounds and Fulkerson totaling 13 points and six boards.
Victor Bailey Jr. was the third Vol to pour in at least 15 points, scoring his 15 on 5-of-8 shooting and draining both of his attempts from beyond the 3-point arc.
Freshman Keon Johnson and senior Yves Pons were the fifth and sixth Vols to reach double-digit points, scoring 13 and 10, respectively.
Pons–the reigning SEC Defensive Player of the Year–also recorded two thunderous blocks in the first half to bring his season total to five.
After a fairly even start in the game’s opening minutes, the Orange & White busted things open with a 15-3 run spanning a stretch of four minutes to take a 23-9 lead at the under-12 media timeout, with Springer scoring 11 during the run.
As the half wore on, the Vols continued to assert themselves on the offensive end, finishing the half with a .583 shooting percentage (21-36) and taking a 49-22 advantage into the break.
Out of the locker room, UT continued to flex its muscle, extending its lead to as many as 58 in the second half to close out the 54-point triumph.
Defense Continues to Dominate: Through four games, the Vols have yet to allow an opponent to reach 60 points. Friday, the Vols held Tennessee Tech to 49 , while forcing 15 turnovers, nabbing eight steals and blocking eight shots.
Up Next: The Vols continue their busy stretch of games with a Monday night clash against Saint Joseph’s. Tipoff from Thompson-Boling Arena is set for 6 p.m. ET on SEC Network.
Tennessee football continues to prepare for the final game of the regular season this Saturday at home vs. Texas A&M. Here are some photos, courtesy of UT Athletics, from Vols practice. You can select any photo and scroll through all the images easily. Be sure to go to the Vols tab here on the website for all our UT sports photo galleries.
Tennessee Practice - Texas A&M Week
KNOXVILLE, TN - DECEMBER 15, 2020 - Quarterback J.T. Shrout #12 of the Tennessee Volunteers during practice on Haslam Field in Knoxville, TN. Photo By Kate Luffman/Tennessee Athletics
KNOXVILLE, TN - DECEMBER 15, 2020 - The Tennessee Volunteers during practice on Haslam Field in Knoxville, TN. Photo By Kate Luffman/Tennessee Athletics
KNOXVILLE, TN - DECEMBER 15, 2020 - Offensive lineman Jahmir Johnson #58 of the Tennessee Volunteers during practice on Haslam Field in Knoxville, TN. Photo By Kate Luffman/Tennessee Athletics
KNOXVILLE, TN - DECEMBER 15, 2020 - Linebacker Aaron Beasley #24 of the Tennessee Volunteers during practice on Haslam Field in Knoxville, TN. Photo By Kate Luffman/Tennessee Athletics
KNOXVILLE, TN - DECEMBER 15, 2020 - Linebacker Henry To'o To'o #11 of the Tennessee Volunteers during practice on Haslam Field in Knoxville, TN. Photo By Kate Luffman/Tennessee Athletics
KNOXVILLE, TN - DECEMBER 15, 2020 - Offensive lineman Cooper Mays #63 of the Tennessee Volunteers during practice on Haslam Field in Knoxville, TN. Photo By Kate Luffman/Tennessee Athletics
KNOXVILLE, TN - DECEMBER 15, 2020 - Linebacker Solon Page III #38 of the Tennessee Volunteers during practice on Haslam Field in Knoxville, TN. Photo By Kate Luffman/Tennessee Athletics
KNOXVILLE, TN - DECEMBER 15, 2020 - Wide receiver Malachi Wideman #13 of the Tennessee Volunteers during practice on Haslam Field in Knoxville, TN. Photo By Kate Luffman/Tennessee Athletics
KNOXVILLE, TN - DECEMBER 15, 2020 - Defensive back Warren Burrell #4 of the Tennessee Volunteers during practice on Haslam Field in Knoxville, TN. Photo By Kate Luffman/Tennessee Athletics
KNOXVILLE, TN - DECEMBER 15, 2020 - Wide receiver Jalin Hyatt #11 of the Tennessee Volunteers during practice on Haslam Field in Knoxville, TN. Photo By Kate Luffman/Tennessee Athletics
KNOXVILLE, TN - DECEMBER 15, 2020 - Wide receiver Cedric Tillman #4 of the Tennessee Volunteers during practice on Haslam Field in Knoxville, TN. Photo By Kate Luffman/Tennessee Athletics
KNOXVILLE, TN - DECEMBER 15, 2020 - Wide receiver Malachi Wideman #13 of the Tennessee Volunteers during practice on Haslam Field in Knoxville, TN. Photo By Kate Luffman/Tennessee Athletics
KNOXVILLE, TN - DECEMBER 15, 2020 - Wide receiver Velus Jones Jr. #1 of the Tennessee Volunteers during practice on Haslam Field in Knoxville, TN. Photo By Kate Luffman/Tennessee Athletics
KNOXVILLE, TN - DECEMBER 15, 2020 - Tight end Jacob Warren #87 of the Tennessee Volunteers during practice on Haslam Field in Knoxville, TN. Photo By Kate Luffman/Tennessee Athletics
KNOXVILLE, TN - DECEMBER 15, 2020 - Wide receiver Jimmy Calloway #9 of the Tennessee Volunteers during practice on Haslam Field in Knoxville, TN. Photo By Kate Luffman/Tennessee Athletics
KNOXVILLE, TN - DECEMBER 15, 2020 - Quarterback Harrison Bailey #15 and Wide receiver Velus Jones Jr. #1 of the Tennessee Volunteers during practice on Haslam Field in Knoxville, TN. Photo By Kate Luffman/Tennessee Athletics
KNOXVILLE, TN - DECEMBER 15, 2020 - Linebacker Jeremy Banks #33 of the Tennessee Volunteers during practice on Haslam Field in Knoxville, TN. Photo By Kate Luffman/Tennessee Athletics
KNOXVILLE, TN - DECEMBER 15, 2020 - Linebacker Henry To'o To'o #11 of the Tennessee Volunteers during practice on Haslam Field in Knoxville, TN. Photo By Kate Luffman/Tennessee Athletics
KNOXVILLE, TN - DECEMBER 15, 2020 - Defensive lineman LaTrell Bumphus #88 of the Tennessee Volunteers during practice on Haslam Field in Knoxville, TN. Photo By Kate Luffman/Tennessee Athletics
KNOXVILLE, TN - DECEMBER 15, 2020 - Defensive lineman John Mincey #99 of the Tennessee Volunteers during practice on Haslam Field in Knoxville, TN. Photo By Kate Luffman/Tennessee Athletics
