Our Eric Cain and Vince Ferrara filed this video report shortly before Tennessee’s home opener vs. Missouri today.
WATCH: Missouri at Tennessee pregame report from Neyland Stadium
Week 2 SEC football score predictions, analysis; Vols make it 8 straight
By Vince Ferrara / @VinceSports
Each week, I’ll share my predictions and info on SEC football games.
Below is broadcast info and analysis for Week 2 in the SEC.
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.
2019 SEC Game Prediction Record: 103-20 (84%)
2020 SEC Week 1 Game Prediction Record: 6-1 (86%)
WEEK 2 IN THE SEC
SATURDAY, October 3
Missouri (0-1, 0-1 SEC) at #21 Tennessee (1-0, 1-0 SEC)
Noon ET • SEC Network
Knoxville, Tenn. • Neyland Stadium (102,455)
Series: MO leads, 5-3
Last: UT, 24-20 (2019 in Columbia)
Sirius: 105 • XM: 384/190
Point Spread: Tennessee -12 ½
Vince’s View: One of Jarrett Guarantano’s two best games came last season in CoMo against the Tigers. The other was at Auburn two seasons ago. With the start, Guarantano moves into 8th all-time in career starts at UT. Missouri is strong up the middle with athletic DTs, the SEC’s leading tackle last season in WLB Nick Bolton and safeties Joshuah Bledsoe and Tyree Gillespie. Mizzou runs a 4-2-5 defense based on the ability to run and swarm to the ball. Tennessee should try to establish the run game and control the line of scrimmage earlier in this game than the opener. Tennessee’s defense will need to clean-up assignment busts and hold the edge because Mizzou will run a lot of RPOs, misdirections, motions, option looks and more to try to fool the defense. UT’s OLBs/Des overall had good games against South Carolina, but they were caught crashing in several times last week. Mizzou will attack that. Three matchups to watch are Mizzou QB Shawn Robinson vs. Vols WLB Henry To’o To’o, Mizzou WR Damon Hazelton vs. Vols CB Bryce Thompson and Mizzou Slot WR Jalen Knox vs. Whoever plays Star (Slaughter/Jackson/Burrell/other with Shawn Shamburger likely out) for the Vols. Missouri doesn’t have the roster or winning mentality of UT. This is an example of why the schedule layout was a plus for Tennessee in 2020 with many opponents having tough games the week before playing the Vols. Mizzou has to bounce back from a tough game with Alabama. It will be 8 straight wins for Tennessee, mid-afternoon on Saturday in front of about 25,000 fans.
Score Prediction: Tennessee 34 Missouri 20
South Carolina (0-1, 0-1 SEC) at #3 Florida (1-0, 1-0 SEC)
Noon ET • ESPN
Gainesville, Fla. • Ben Hill Griffin Stadium at Steve Spurrier-Florida Field (88,548) Series: UF leads, 28-9-3
Last: UF, 38-27 (2019 in Columbia)
Sirius: 121 • XM: 383/81
Point Spread: Florida -16 ½
Vince’s View: The Kyle Show 2020 debuts in Gainesville. QB Kyle Trask and TE Kyle Pitts, probably the best in the country and a future first round pick, were unstoppable last week. SC should provide a little more resistance than Ole Miss, but it won’t matter in the end. Biggest question is will the Gators defense look improved.
Score Prediction: Florida 41 South Carolina 17
#13 Texas A&M (1-0, 1-0 SEC) at #2 Alabama (1-0, 1-0 SEC)
3:30 p.m. ET • CBS
Tuscaloosa, Ala. • Bryant-Denny Stadium (101,821)
Series: UA leads, 10-2
Last: UA, 47-28 (2019 in College Station)
Sirius: 133/105 • XM: 192/190
Point Spread: Alabama -18
Vince’s View: A&M was right up there with LSU and Georgia as the most disappointing teams in Week 1. Alabama throttled Mizzou until it lost some interest. Alabama was so good passing that it only ran for 111 yards last week. Bama is too good to do that again. Then again, I don’t see A&M slowing down the high-powered Crimson Tide offense. Smith and Waddle go off, again.
Score Prediction: Alabama 35 Texas A&M 14
Ole Miss (0-1, 0-1 SEC) at Kentucky (0-1, 0-1 SEC)
4 p.m. ET • SEC Network
Lexington, Ky. • Kroger Field (61,000)
Series: UM leads, 27-14-1
Last: UM, 37-34 (2017 in Lexington)
Sirius: 135 • XM: 390/191
Point Spread: Kentucky -7
Vince’s View: Kentucky needs to be better at the line of scrimmage if it hopes to be the surprise team of the East this season. We all saw the difficulties the Rebels had defensively last week. Can UK slow down Lane Kiffin’s dual QB offense? This is an upset alert for Kentucky. There will be at least one surprise in the league and this is the most likely one to happen.
Score Prediction: Ole Miss 35 Kentucky 34
Arkansas (0-1, 0-1 SEC) at #16 Mississippi State (1-0, 1-0 SEC)
7 p.m. ET • SEC Network Alternate Channel
Starkville, Miss. • Davis Wade Stadium at Scott Field (61,337)
Series: ARK leads, 16-13-1
Last: MSU, 54-24 (2019 in Fayetteville)
Sirius: 105 • XM: 383/190
Point Spread: Mississippi State -17
Vince’s View: If the Bulldogs went up and down the field on the defending champs, what could they possibly do to the Razorbacks on a 20-game SEC losing streak? A lot.
Score Prediction: Mississippi State 42 Arkansas 21
#7 Auburn (1-0, 1-0 SEC) at #4 Georgia (1-0, 1-0 SEC)
7:30 p.m. ET • ESPN
Athens, Ga. • Dooley Field at Sanford Stadium (92,746)
Series: UGA leads, 60-56-8
Last: UGA, 21-14 (2019 in Auburn)
Sirius: 133/84 • XM: 192/84
Point Spread: Georgia -7 ½
Vince’s View: Georgia pulled away from Arkansas last week, but I’m concerned about Georgia, especially offensively and at QB. JT Daniels has been cleared, but I’m skeptical that we’ll see him at the controls. Bennett settled things down for the Bulldogs, but I don’t think UGA can win longterm with him. This is a dangerous game for Georgia. If the Bulldogs and Volunteers take care of business this week, I think CBS will gladly turn in the Tennessee at Georgia Week 3 TV broadcast card.
Score Prediction: Georgia 20 Auburn 16
#20 LSU (0-1, 0-1 SEC) at Vanderbilt (0-1, 0-1 SEC)
7:30 p.m. ET • SEC Network
Nashville, Tenn. • Vanderbilt Stadium (40,350)
Series: LSU leads, 23-7-1
Last: LSU, 66-38 (2019 in Nashville)
Sirius: 81/135 • XM: 81/191
Point Spread: LSU -21
Vince’s View: Vanderbilt felt good in a loss last week. LSU did not. Myles Brennan and the lack of a run game was alarming for LSU, I will admit. However, I will default back to my preseason opinions on these two teams and stash away the Week 1 eye test for another week. Getting Stingley back will be a boost for the Tigers, who should be plenty motivated and sharper this week against an undermanned Vandy team that may be trotting our new new helmets that Derek Mason displayed on Twitter this week.
Score Prediction: LSU 31 Vanderbilt 13
Find more of my broadcasting work at VinceSports.net.
Listen to Dolly Parton & Michael Bublé Melt Hearts With New Song, “Cuddle Up, Cozy Down Christmas”
Dolly Parton released her new holiday album, A Holly Dolly Christmas, on Oct. 2.
The 12-song collection features several holiday standards, such as “Pretty Paper,” “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus,” “Holly Jolly Christmas” and more, as well as six original tunes that Dolly penned, including “Cuddle Up, Cozy Down Christmas,” which features Michael Bublé. The album also features duets with Billy Ray Cyrus, Miley Cyrus, Jimmy Fallon and Willie Nelson, plus a special song with her brother, Randy Parton.
“I’ve recorded five duets with five very special artists as you can see,” says Dolly. “I figured since everybody probably wouldn’t get to celebrate Christmas as usual this year, I wanted to be creative instead of sitting around at the house this summer. So I put on my mask, gloves and practiced social distancing, as well as all of the wonderful musicians and singers, and we proceeded to put together what I think is some of the best work that I’ve ever done.”
Listen to Dolly and Michael Bublé sing “Cuddle Up, Cozy Down Christmas” below.
A Holly Dolly Christmas
1. “Holly Jolly Christmas”
2. “Christmas Is” feat. Miley Cyrus
3. “Cuddle Up, Cozy Down Christmas” with Michael Bublé
4. “Christmas On The Square”
5. “Circle Of Love”
6. “All I Want For Christmas Is You” with Jimmy Fallon
7. “Comin’ Home For Christmas”
8. “Christmas Where We Are” feat. Billy Ray Cyrus
9. “Pretty Paper” with Willie Nelson
10. “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus”
11. “You Are My Christmas” feat. Randy Parton
12. “Mary, Did You Know?”
photos: Dolly Parton by Curtis Hilbun, AFF-USA.com; Michael Buble by E.M., AFF-USA.com
![Chris Janson Celebrates Working Hard & Playing Hard in New Video for “Waitin’ on 5” [Watch]](https://cdn.socast.io/6616/sites/602/2020/10/02115855/Chris-Janson-TA.jpg#aqua_resizer_image_not_local)
Chris Janson Celebrates Working Hard & Playing Hard in New Video for “Waitin’ on 5” [Watch]
Chris Janson dropped a hard-working video for his new single, “Waitin’ on 5.”
Penned by Chris, Craig Wiseman, Shy Carter and Tommy Cecil, “Waitin’ on 5” is featured on Chris’ 2019 album, Real Friends, which produced No. 1 hits “Good Vibes” and “Done.”
The new clip, which was directed by Sam Siske at Highland Rim Speedway in Greenbrier, Tenn., features a number of hard-working laborers, including Chris’ father in his real-life role as an auto body painter.
“I have so much respect for the hardworking men and women in this country,” says Chris. “I am proud to count members of my own family, like my dad and father-in-law, among them. This song and the video are my way of honoring what they and so many others do every day—and encouraging them to have a little fun when the job is done!”
Watch the video for “Waitin’ on 5” below.
photo by Tammie Arroyo, AFF-USA.com
![Eric Church Pursues Passion in New Song, “Hell of a View” [Listen]](https://cdn.socast.io/6616/sites/602/2020/10/02112115/Eric-Church-JS.jpg#aqua_resizer_image_not_local)
Eric Church Pursues Passion in New Song, “Hell of a View” [Listen]
Eric Church dropped a new song, “Hell of a View,” on Oct. 2.
Penned by Eric, Casey Beathard and Monty Criswell, “Hell of a View” follows the recent release of “Crazyland,” “Bad Mother Trucker” and current Top 25 single, “Stick That in Your Country Song.”
“Hell of a View” finds Eric crooning about chasing your dreams with the one you love: “This ain’t for everybody / Toes hanging off the ledge / Like we got nothin’ to lose / Ain’t always heaven, baby / This livin’ on the edge / You holdin’ me holdin’ you / It’s a hell of a view.”
Like many of Eric’s tunes, “Hell of a View” features superb backup vocals from his longtime collaborator, Joanna Cotten.
The new music follows Eric’s sixth studio album, Desperate Man, which dropped in 2018.
Listen to “Hell of a View” below.
photos by TCD
Funeral Arrangements Announced for Mac Davis
Singer/songwriter Mac Davis, who died on Sept. 29 at age 78 following complications from heart surgery, will be laid to rest on Oct. 5 during a private family ceremony in Lubbock, Texas.
The burial will be closed to the public, but fans and media are welcome to view the motorcade on Mac Davis Blvd. and as it enters the Lubbock City Cemetery. The burial is scheduled at 1 p.m. CT on Oct. 5. According to his family, as promised in his hit song “Texas In My Rear View Mirror,” Mac will be buried in “Lubbock, Texas, in my jeans.”
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be sent to MusiCares, which is the charitable arm of the Recording Academy that provides a safety net of critical assistance for music people in times of need, including financial, medical and personal emergencies.
During Mac’s five-decade career, his songs were recorded by Elvis Presley, Kenny Rogers, Dolly Parton, Bruno Mars, Glen Campbell, Tammy Wynette, Avicii, Andy Williams, Conway Twitty, Tom Jones, Johnny Cash, Bobby Blue Bland, Merle Haggard and O.C. Smith.
In addition to penning Elvis Presley’s “In the Ghetto,” “Don’t Cry Daddy,” “A Little Less Conversation” and more, Mac charted dozens of his own country tunes in the ’70s and ’80s, including the No. 1 pop hit, “Baby Don’t Get Hooked On Me.” With good looks and a charming manner, Mac was a natural for TV and landed his own variety show, The Mac Davis Show, which ran from 1974 to 1976. He also starred as an actor in a number of films and television shows, including North Dallas Forty and on Broadway’s The Will Rogers Follies.
In 1974, Mac earned the Academy of Country Music’s Entertainer of the Year award. Mac was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2000. In 2015, Broadcast Music Inc. honored Mac’s prolific songwriting career with the BMI Icon Award. Mac was also a member of the national Songwriters Hall of Fame, Texas Country Music Hall of Fame and the Georgia Music Hall of Fame. He was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1998.
Mac is survived by his loving wife of 38 years, Lise (pictured in main photo), sons Scott, Noah and Cody, daughters-in-law, Tammy, Amy and Cassia, granddaughter Lindsey, mother Edith, and sister Linda.
photo by Curtis Hilbun, AFF-USA.com
![Maren Morris Releases New Protest Song & Video, “Better Than We Found It” [Watch]](https://cdn.socast.io/6616/sites/602/2020/10/02102050/Maren-Morris-TCD.jpg#aqua_resizer_image_not_local)
Maren Morris Releases New Protest Song & Video, “Better Than We Found It” [Watch]
Maren Morris released a new protest song, “Better Than We Found It,” on Oct. 2, as well as an accompanying video.
Penned by Maren, Jessie Jo Dillon, Jimmy Robbins and Laura Veltz and produced by Greg Kurstin, “Better Than We Found It” finds Maren singing the chorus: “When time turns this moment to dust / I just hope that I’m proud of the woman I was / When lines of tomorrow are drawn / Can I live with the side I chose to be on / Will we sit on our hands doing nothing about it / Or will we leave this world / Better than we found it.”
“I wanted to write something to address exactly how I feel right now, and this came together pretty quickly,” says Maren. “It’s a protest song—it’s the most American thing to protest and protest songs have been so embedded in American culture: Bob Dylan, Nina Simone. I think the world right now is sort of in a perpetual mourning period and I wanted to have a song that had weight but also had hope. I still have hope for this country and for the future of it, and as a new mother I wanted to promise my son that I’m going to do everything in my power to leave this world better than the one I came into and the one I see right now.”
The video features members of Maren’s Nashville community, including: a young man impacted by the politicization of immigration; the family of Daniel Hambrick, who was killed by Nashville police in 2018; and young organizers of a protest supporting Black Lives Matter. The video ends with a letter Maren wrote to her infant son, Hayes.
A portion of the song’s proceeds will be donated to the Black Women’s Health Imperative, a nonprofit organization created by Black women to help protect and advance the health and wellness of Black women and girls.
Watch Maren’s new video below.
photo by TCD
Shania Twain Delivers Bountiful New Box Set, “The Woman in Me: Diamond Edition”
In celebration of the 25th anniversary of her 1995 album, The Woman in Me, Shania Twain released a new box set, The Woman in Me: Diamond Edition, on Oct. 2.
The album features a newly remastered version of The Woman in Me, previously unreleased tracks and live recordings. The album is available in two- or three-CD configurations, as well as vinyl.
The three-CD box set contains 16 previously unreleased tracks, including five live performances recorded in December 2019 during Shania’s residency at Zappos Theater at Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas, and an entire “Shania Vocal Mix” containing early takes of 11 songs from nearly a year before the album’s release.
The Woman in Me reached Diamond status for shipments of 10 million copies in 1997. It has sold an estimated 20 million copies worldwide.
The Woman in Me: Diamond Edition (3-CD Configuration)
The Woman in Me (Remastered Album)
1. Home Ain’t Where His Heart Is (Anymore)
2. Any Man Of Mine
3. Whose Bed Have Your Boots Been Under?
4. (If You’re Not In It For Love) I’m Outta Here!
5. The Woman In Me (Needs The Man In You)
6. Is There Life After Love?
7. If It Don’t Take Two
8. You Win My Love
9. Raining On Our Love
10. Leaving Is The Only Way Out
11. No One Needs To Know
12. God Bless The Child
Live & Remixed
1. You Win My Love [Live From Las Vegas]
2. No One Needs To Know [Live From Las Vegas]
3. Any Man of Mine [Live From Las Vegas]
4. Whose Bed Have Your Boots Been Under [Live From Las Vegas]
5. (If You’re Not In It For Love) I’m Outta Here! [Live From Las Vegas]
6. Whose Bed Have Your Boots Been Under [Dance Mix]
7. Any Man Of Mine [Alternate Mix – Without Steel Guitar]
8. The Woman In Me (Needs The Man In You) [International Acoustic Version – Without Steel Guitar]
9. (If You’re Not In It For Love) I’m Outta Here! [Dance Mix]
10. (If You’re Not In It For Love) I’m Outta Here! [Mutt Lange Mix]
11. You Win My Love [Mutt Lange Mix]
12. God Bless The Child [Single Mix – Country Version]
13. God Bless The Child [Single Mix – Without Banjo]
14. (If You’re Not In It For Love) I’m Outta Here! [Live/DirecTV Mix]
15. Home Ain’t Where His Heart Is/The Woman In Me/You’ve Got A Way [Medley – Live/DirecTVMix]
The Woman in Me (Shania Vocal Mix)
1. Home Ain’t Where His Heart Is (Anymore)
2. The Woman In Me (Needs The Man In You)
3. No One Needs To Know
4. Whose Bed Have Your Boots Been Under?
5. Is There Life After Love?
6. If It Don’t Take Two
7. You Win My Love
8. Any Man Of Mine
9. Raining On Our Love
10. (If You’re Not In It For Love) I’m Outta Here!
11. Leaving Is The Only Way Out
photo by O\’Connor/Arroyo, AFF-USA.com
![Cody Johnson & Reba McEntire Team Up for New Duet, “Dear Rodeo” [Listen]](https://cdn.socast.io/6616/sites/602/2020/10/02082457/Reba-Cody-Johnson.jpg#aqua_resizer_image_not_local)
Cody Johnson & Reba McEntire Team Up for New Duet, “Dear Rodeo” [Listen]
In rodeo parlance, Cody Johnson and Reba McEntire are team roping.
Cody and Reba have joined forces for a new duet, “Dear Rodeo.”
Penned by Cody and Dan Couch, the original version of “Dear Rodeo” is featured on Cody’s 2019 major-label debut album, Ain’t Nothing To It. The tune is a personal one for Cody, who spent many years riding rodeo bulls. The native of Sebastopol, Texas, gave up his quest to be a world champion, but he’s never gotten over his love of the sport.
The song struck a chord with Reba, who grew up on her family ranch in Oklahoma competing in barrel racing.
“It was a thrill to get to sing ‘Dear Rodeo’ with Cody because we’re both from the rodeo world,” says Reba. “I grew up in a rodeo family, I’m a third-generation rodeo brat. So the song means a lot to me because I did leave rodeo to be in the country music business. I sure miss it.”
“The story behind ‘Dear Rodeo’ is more a story about life and less about rodeo,” says Cody. “I feel like everybody has their own ‘Dear Rodeo’ story and when I found out that Reba was impacted by this song enough to want to do a duet, it was probably one of the coolest things I’ve ever done in my career. Reba adds a certain level of authenticity to this song that makes it so special. I love it when people sing songs about rodeo and cowboys, but there’s a little bit of a different feel when you know that somebody can walk the walk they’re talking. Neither one of us has a problem saying ‘Hey, this is where I come from, you can check the credentials, we’ve got the scars to prove it.’ I think that the honesty is really going to speak to people, and hopefully we can help people with this song.”
Listen Cody and Reba sing “Dear Rodeo” below.
photos: Cody Johnson by Tammie Arroyo, AFF-USA.com; Reba McEntire by Curtis Hilbun, AFF-USA.com
Kennedy Named a Campbell Trophy Semifinalist
IRVING, Texas – Tennessee redshirt senior center Brandon Kennedy was named as a semifinalist for the 2020 William V. Campbell Trophy, announced the National Football Foundation on Thursday.
The Campbell Trophy, presented by Mazda, recognizes an individual as the absolute best in the country for his combined academic success, football performance and exemplary leadership.
Each nominee must be a senior or graduate student in their final year of eligibility, have a GPA of at least 3.2 on a 4.0 scale, have outstanding football ability as a first team player or significant contributor and have demonstrated strong leadership and citizenship.
Kennedy, a veteran up front, was the Volunteers lone offensive lineman to start all 13 games in 2019 and started his 14th consecutive game at center in UT’s 2020 season-opening win at South Carolina on Sept. 26. In total, he has made 15 starts in his two seasons at UT.
A Wetumpka, Ala., native, Kennedy is on track to earn a master’s degree in agricultural leadership education and communications in December 2020, which will mark his third degree. After receiving his bachelor’s degree from Alabama in recreation and sport management in just three years, the 2020 Preseason All-SEC member, transferred to Tennessee and obtained his master’s degree in sports psychology and motor behavior in December of 2019.
Kennedy was named to CoSIDA’s 2019 All-District 3 First Team after recording a 3.84 GPA in his graduate studies and was also named to the Fall SEC Academic Honor Roll in 2018 and 2019.
After being sidelined due to a season-ending injury in 2018, Kennedy was granted an additional year of eligibility and maximized his time in the classroom, on the field and in the community. While consistently being one of the Vol’s highest-graded offensive linemen, he also volunteered at the Humane Society and the East Tennessee Children’s Hospital. He also participated in the Read Across America campaign and with Tennessee’s Special Olympics 2020 Winter Games.
The NFF will announce 12-14 finalists in November, and each of them will receive an $18,000 postgraduate scholarship as a member of the NFF National Scholar-Athlete Class Presented by Fidelity Investments. One of the finalists will be named the winner of the 31st Campbell Trophy® Presented by Mazda, and his postgraduate scholarship will be increased to $25,000.
VFLs Peyton Manning (1997) and Chris Munoz (2004) were previous winners of the Campbell Trophy.
See full list of Campbell Trophy semifinalists HERE.
-UT Athletics
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