Tag: Gator bowl

Gator Bowl: Tennessee Volunteers vs. Indiana Hoosiers odds, picks and best bets

Previewing Thursday’s Gator Bowl betting odds and lines between the Tennessee Volunteers and Indiana Hoosiers, with NCAA football betting odds, picks and best bets.

The Indiana Hoosiers (8-4) and Tennessee Volunteers (7-5) meet in Thursday’s Gator Bowl in Jacksonville, Fla., at TIAA Bank Field for a 7 p.m. ET kickoff (on ESPN). We analyze the Indiana-Tennessee odds and betting lines, while providing college football betting tips and advice on this matchup.

Indiana-Tennessee: Three things you need to know

  1. This tilt in Jacksonville features two evenly matched third-tier power-5 teams. Statistically, Indiana carries in the better offense (32.6 PPG, 6.1 YPP), and Tennessee brings the better defense (21.7 PPG, 5.0 YPP). The Hoosiers have become mostly relevant in the blue-chip Big Ten East, and the Volunteers are a former powerhouse with some upswing momentum.
  1. The Vols are getting credit for a win streak – Tennessee comes in having won five in a row – but the credit is perhaps too watered down. The string of foes (South Carolina, UAB, Kentucky, Missouri, Vanderbilt) doesn’t jump off the page, but in a couple of the games UT was statistically dominant without a scoreboard match. An offense that averages 5.8 YPP was over 7.0 in three of those wins. The 5.0-YPP Vols defense was better than that mark in all five wins.
  1. Various computer rankings tab Mississippi State and Kentucky as top-50 teams. Tennessee’s ability to not only hang tough with MSU and UK (as with Indiana hanging with Michigan State and Penn State) but defeat them is compelling when assembling some comps for the Vols and Hoosiers. Tennessee has the more talented roster, but it isn’t yet ready for power-5 primetime. However, they are perhaps a touchdown more ready than the Hoosiers.

Get some action on this game or others by placing a bet at BetMGM!

Indiana-Tennessee: Odds, betting lines and picks

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Tuesday at 7 p.m. ET.

Prediction

Tennessee 27, Indiana 24

Moneyline (ML)

PASS on Tennessee (-121) in favor of the multi-point win at a better price. Indiana is +100.

New to sports betting? A $10 wager on Tennessee returns a profit of $8.26.

Against the Spread (ATS)

This is an intriguing matchup and should be an entertaining watch. It sets up as a profitable one, too. Back TENNESSEE -1.5 (-110).

The Vols’ pass defense can contain the high-octane Hoosiers just enough. A bigger, more veteran and more talented Tennessee two-deep can provide enough game control and efficiency to prevail and take a six-game win streak into 2020 … and be overvalued in a half-dozen early games.

Over/Under (O/U)

The cross talents of each team make for a tough read on any sort of projectable game flow. A couple market and analytic signals point to an OVER 52.5, but that market may already be a bit overripe. Line-watch, and look for 50.5 as a trigger.

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Tennessee kicks off bowl practice in Jacksonville

2020 Gator Bowl.

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JACKSONVILLE — Tennessee took part in its first bowl practice in Jacksonville, Fla.

The Vols will play Indiana Jan. 2 at 7 p.m. ET in the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl.

“We had nine really good days before we came down, really before the Christmas break,” Jeremy Pruitt said. “We got a lot of work in, a lot of physical work in, so it was good for our guys.

“We kind of kept the practices short and had a lot of competition with the ones, twos, and threes. The guys responded the right way. We really spent the last two days working on Indiana. We’ve had good work there too.”

Pruitt also discussed the meaning of the contest against Indiana and the outcome of the matchup heading into the offseason.

“The last five games we have played really well,” the second-year UT head coach said. “Before that, we kind of started moving in the right direction. We want to finish. We are going to remember this game for a long time and we have some seniors on our team that have really worked hard to turn this program in the positive direction and we want to send these guys off the right way.”

Pruitt did mention that redshirt senior offensive lineman Brandon Kennedy is a game-time decision against the Hoosiers.

“He’s practiced a little bit the last couple of days,” Pruitt said of Kennedy. “We’ll see, it’ll really be a game-time decision.”

The Vols’ offensive line also saw Ryan Johnson and Marcus Tatum transfer this month as graduates.

“Those guys have done a good job for us – graduated and really good for our program,” Pruitt said. “It was an opportunity for them. They didn’t get to play as much as they wanted to play. They want to play.

“We had guys that had performed better this year, that gave us a better opportunity to have success and they understood that it’s part of football.”

Another element of Tennessee’s offensive line is junior Trey Smith and his future. Pruitt mentioned that the two have already discussed Smith’s future and will revisit it during the offseason.

“It’s something that we’ll sit down, when this game is over with and talk about again,” Pruitt concluded.

Gator Bowl Individual Records: Where Vols rank all-time

2020 Gator Bowl: Tennessee-Indiana

JACKSONVILLE — Tennessee will conclude the 2019 season with a TaxSlayer Gator Bowl matchup against Indiana.

The contest will be played Jan. 2 at 7 p.m. ET and will be televised by ESPN.

Tennessee has played in the Gator Bowl six other times and UT players rank high for the Bowl’s all-time individual records.

Gator Bowl Individual Records: Where Vols rank all-time*

Most touchdown runs — 3

Lee Suggs (Virginia Tech) vs. Clemson, Jan. 1, 2001
James Stewart (Tennessee) vs. Virginia Tech, Dec. 30, 1994
Mike Gaddis (Oklahoma) vs. Virginia, Dec. 29, 1991
Terry McMillian (Missouri) vs. Alabama, Dec. 28, 1968
Bobby Cavazos (Texas Tech) vs. Auburn, Jan. 1, 1954
Lu Gambino (Maryland) vs. Georgia, Jan. 1, 1948

PATs — 6

  1. John Becksvoort (Tennessee) vs. Virginia Tech, Dec. 30, 1994
  2. Scott Blanton (Oklahoma) vs. Virginia, Dec. 29, 1991, (6 att.)

Most points — 24

  1. James Stewart (Tennessee) vs. Virginia Tech, Dec. 30, 1994
  2. Fred Biletnikoff (Florida State) vs. Oklahoma, Jan. 2, 1965

Most touchdowns — 4

  1. James Stewart (Tennessee) vs. Virginia Tech, Dec. 30, 1994
  2. Fred Biletnikoff (Florida State) vs. Oklahoma, Jan. 2, 1965

Longest run

96 – Mikell Simpson (Virginia) vs. Texas Tech, Jan. 1, 2008
76 – Kendrick Jones (Tennessee) vs. Virginia Tech, Dec. 30, 1994

Records against Tennessee in the Gator Bowl

Most yards rushing

216 – Floyd Little (Syracuse) vs. Tennessee, Dec. 31, 1966, (29 att.)

*Per taxslayergatorbowl.com

Tennessee displays jersey color for Gator Bowl

2020 TaxSlayer Gator Bowl.

KNOXVILLE – Tennessee will play Indiana in the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl Jan. 2 in Jacksonville, Fla.

Kickoff is slated for 7 p.m. ET and the contest will be televised by ESPN.

Ahead of the game, the University of Tennessee’s football Twitter account displayed a photo of a jersey that the Vols will be wearing against the Hoosiers. Tennessee will be wearing orange jerseys with a TaxSlayer Gator Bowl patch above a NIKE logo on each players’ left chest.

2019 Tennessee football schedule

AUG. 31: vs. Georgia State (Knoxville) L, 38-30

SEPT. 7: vs. BYU (Knoxville) L, 29-26 (2OT)

SEPT. 14: vs. Chattanooga (Knoxville) W, 45-0

SEPT. 21: at Florida (Gainesville) L, 34-3

OCT. 5: vs. Georgia (Knoxville) L, 43-14

OCT. 12: vs. Mississippi State (Knoxville) W, 20-10

OCT. 19: at Alabama (Tuscaloosa) L, 35-13

OCT. 26: vs. South Carolina (Knoxville) W, 41-21

NOV. 2: vs. UAB (Knoxville) W, 30-7

NOV. 9: at Kentucky (Lexington) W, 17-13

NOV. 23: at Missouri (Columbia) W, 24-20

NOV. 30: vs. Vanderbilt (Knoxville) W, 28-10

Tennessee-Indiana: Gator Bowl television announcers

2020 Gator Bowl.

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KNOXVILLE — Tennessee will conclude the 2019 season with a contest against Indiana in the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl.

The game will take place Thursday, Jan. 2, 2020 in Jacksonville, Fla. Kickoff is slated for 7 p.m. ET.

ESPN will televise the matchup with a broadcasting crew of Dave O’Brien (play-by-play), Tim Hasselbeck (analyst) and Katie George (sideline).

The 2020 TaxSlayer Gator Bowl will be the second all-time meeting between Tennessee and Indiana. The Vols defeated the Hoosiers, 27-22, in the 1988 Peach Bowl for the only meeting between the two schools.

2019 Tennessee football schedule

AUG. 31: vs. Georgia State (Knoxville) L, 38-30

SEPT. 7: vs. BYU (Knoxville) L, 29-26 (2OT)

SEPT. 14: vs. Chattanooga (Knoxville) W, 45-0

SEPT. 21: at Florida (Gainesville) L, 34-3

OCT. 5: vs. Georgia (Knoxville) L, 43-14

OCT. 12: vs. Mississippi State (Knoxville) W, 20-10

OCT. 19: at Alabama (Tuscaloosa) L, 35-13

OCT. 26: vs. South Carolina (Knoxville) W, 41-21

NOV. 2: vs. UAB (Knoxville) W, 30-7

NOV. 9: at Kentucky (Lexington) W, 17-13

NOV. 23: at Missouri (Columbia) W, 24-20

NOV. 30: vs. Vanderbilt (Knoxville) W, 28-10

Former Indiana head coach Bill Lynch discusses coaching career

Tennessee will play Indiana in the Gator Bowl on Jan. 2.

KNOXVILLE — Tennessee will play Indiana in the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl on Jan. 2 in Jacksonville, Fla.

Kickoff is at 7 p.m. ET and the contest will be televised by ESPN.

Former Indiana head coach Bill Lynch retired from football last month. Lynch was DePauw’s head coach from 2013-19.

Lynch began his career in 1977 as quarterbacks coach at Butler. During his career he served as head coach for Butler, Ball State, Indiana and DePauw.

The now retired Lynch was Indiana’s head coach from 2007-10. He discussed his time with the Hoosiers, his coaching career and serving as Lee Corso’s offensive coordinator on the show ‘Tennessee Two-A-Days’.

The entire interview can be listened to here.

Indiana OC, Kalen DeBoer named head coach at Fresno State

Kalen DeBoer named head coach at Fresno State.

FRESNO — Indiana’s football team got a bit of a distraction Tuesday when Fresno State hired Kalen DeBoer as its next head coach.

DeBoer, the current Hoosiers’ offensive coordinator, was tapped by the Bulldogs to replace Jeff Tedford.

Tedford stepped down at Fresno State earlier this month due to health concerns caused by heart problems.

Tedford also served as head coach at California from 2002-12 and was in the same capacity of the Canadian Football League’s British Columbia Lions. Throughout his career, Tedford was an assistant coach at Fresno State, Oregon and Washington as well as with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

He was also an assistant in the CFL with the Calgary Stampeders.

Tedford had a hand in naming DeBoer as his successor. DeBoer was at Fresno State prior to going to Indiana.

Indiana will play Tennessee in the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl on Thursday, Jan. 2.

Jeremy Pruitt updates Brandon Kennedy’s status for Gator Bowl

2020 Gator Bowl: Tennessee-Indiana

KNOXVILLE — Tennessee has kicked off bowl practices in preparation for its Jan. 2 TaxSlayer Gator Bowl matchup against Indiana.

With post-season practices underway, second-year Tennessee head coach Jeremy Pruitt discussed redshirt senior offensive lineman Brandon Kennedy’s status for the contest.

“He had a little procedure done after the Vanderbilt game,” Pruitt said of Kennedy.

Pruitt said Kennedy did not take part in the Vols’ first bowl practice.

“He won’t practice for the next probably 10 days,” Pruitt said. “In 10 more days, we’ll look at him and see if doc thinks he’s ready to play or ready to practice, we’ll see where he’s at. If he’s not, he won’t play, so it’ll be a couple of weeks before we know anything.”

Kennedy started every game this season at center for the Vols.

Time change for Lady Vols’ SEC-opening game to avoid conflict with Gator Bowl

Time change for Lady Vols’ SEC-opening game to avoid conflict with Gator Bowl.

KNOXVILLE — The University of Tennessee announced that the Lady Vols’ SEC-opening basketball game vs. Missouri on Jan. 2 will now tip at 5 p.m. ET.

The change is to avoid conflict with Tennessee’s football game against Indiana in the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl.

UT press release:

The Lady Vols’ SEC-opening basketball game vs. Missouri in Thompson-Boling Arena on Jan. 2 will now tip at 5 p.m. ET, the UT Athletics Department announced on Friday.

The game was originally scheduled for 7 p.m. ET, but to avoid a head-to-head conflict with the Tennessee football team’s TaxSlayer Gator Bowl contest at that same time, UT administrators inquired about shifting the tip-off for the women’s basketball game two hours earlier. The coaching staff and administration at Mizzou were agreeable to that change, as were officials at the league office and SEC Network.

The UT-MU game can be seen live and in its entirety on SECN+ at 5 p.m. ET on Jan. 2. SECN+ games are online broadcasts and are available only on WatchESPN via computers, smartphones and tablets. All of the games included in the ESPN package (ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU) and the SEC Network will be available through WatchESPN, accessible online at WatchESPN.com, on smartphones and tablets via the WatchESPN app, and streamed on televisions through Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Chromecast, Roku, Xbox 360 or Xbox One to fans who receive their video subscription from an affiliated provider.

Tennessee’s history in the Gator Bowl

Tennessee’s history in the Gator Bowl.

KNOXVILLE — When the University of Tennessee football team plays in the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl on Thursday, Jan. 2, it will mark the seventh time that the Volunteers have ended their season in Jacksonville, Fla.

The Vols are 4-2 in the game, which has been dubbed both the Gator Bowl and TaxSlayer Bowl.

UT first played in the Northern Florida bowl game following the 1957 season. The Vols, who entered the game with a 7-3 record edged Texas A&M, 3-0, on Dec. 28, 1957.

The only scoring in the contest came on a 17-yard field goal by UT’s Sammy Burklow in the fourth quarter.

UT returned to the Gator Bowl in 1966 when they beat Syracuse.

Tennessee lost in its next two Gator Bowl appearances in 1969 and 1973.

The Vols lost to Southeastern Conference rival Florida, 14-13, and their coach, Doug Dickey, then left to return to coach his alma mater in Gainesville.

Tennessee fell to Texas Tech, 28-19, in the 1973 edition of the game.

The Big Orange nabbed a 45-23 victory over Virginia Tech in 1994 before beating Iowa in the 2015 TaxSlayer Bowl, 45-28.