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The Tennessee Volunteers (5-4) will be looking to become bowl eligible this week when the North Texas Mean Green (1-8) visits Neyland Stadium. Check out the Tennessee vs. North Texas prediction and game preview.

Tennessee vs. North Texas Game Preview

Broadcast

Date: Saturday, November 14
Game Time: 12:00 ET
Venue: Neyland Stadium, Knoxville, Tennessee
Network: SEC Network

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Why You Need To Care

It’s been an up-and-down year for Tennessee, which has generally won when it was supposed to, yet fell to the tougher opponents on the schedule. Still, while 2015 has been a mild disappointment in Knoxville, the Volunteers’ front-loaded slate allows for a strong final kick. And there’s a real good chance this team can win more than seven games for the first time in eight years. After exiting the ranks of the winless in Week 9, North Texas returned to normal with last Saturday’s lopsided loss to Louisiana Tech. The Mean Green is in the throes of a coaching search that began when Dan McCarney was fired following a 66-7 loss to Portland State on Oct. 10.

Why North Texas Will Win

Although the Vols are home to plenty of individual defensive talent, the team is allowing 4.3 yards per carry to rank No. 10 in the SEC. And yeah, the Mean Green hardly resembles an SEC squad, but they’ve been pretty good at establishing the run. RB Jeffrey Wilson is averaging six yards per carry, and QB DaMarcus Smith has twice rushed for more than 100 yards in a game.

Why Tennessee Will Win

A Mean Green defense giving up more than 45 points per game will spend most of the afternoon chasing Volunteers from behind. North Texas doesn’t have nearly enough quality personnel to halt an attack led by the backfield tandem of QB Joshua Dobbs and RB Jalen Hurd. Plus, a green Tennessee O-line will revel at the chance to finally shove an opponent around.

Player Who Matters

In theory, North Texas would like to establish the running game to keep the ball out of Dobbs’ hands. In reality, the Mean Green is going to get stuffed at the point of attack by a stout front seven headlined by LB Jalen Reeves-Maybin and DE Derek Barnett. And if Wilson can’t get going, North Texas lacks the passing accuracy to survive on third-and-long.

What’s Going To Happen?

A break in the SEC schedule could test Tennessee’s motivation. It’s a good thing for Butch Jones that there’s a postseason carrot sitting out there. The Vols will dominate overmatched North Texas on both sides of the line, building an early lead before giving rare reps to the reserves over the final 20 minutes.

Tennessee vs. North Texas Prediction

Final Score: Tennessee 56, North Texas 10, Line: Tennessee -40.5, o/u: 63
Must See Rating: 5: The Gospel According To Mac – 1: Supergirl … 1.5

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