Tennessee Volunteers vs. Ball State Cardinals Betting Lines & Preview | NCAAFB Week 1

At Neyland Stadium on Thursday, the Tennessee Volunteers play the Ball State Cardinals.

The Cardinals are expected to lose by at least two touchdowns (currently +35.5) versus the Volunteers (with an over/under of 66.5 points).

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Game Info and Betting Lines for Tennessee vs. Ball State

• Game Day: Thursday, September 1, 2022
• Game Time: 7:00 PM ET
• TV Channel: SEC Network
• Location: Knoxville, Tennessee
• Stadium: Neyland Stadium

Tennessee Betting Insights

• Tennessee went 5-8-0 ATS last season.
• Tennessee covered the spread once last season (1-1 ATS) when playing as at least 35.5-point favorites.
• Last season, the combined scoring went over the point total 10 times in Tennessee games.

Tennessee Stats & Insights

• Last year, Tennessee racked up 10.9 more points per game (39.3) than Ball State gave up (28.4).
• Tennessee was 5-3 against the spread and 7-1 overall last season when the team put up over 28.4 points.
• Last year Ball State had a 4-6 record against the spread and a 6-4 record overall in games when it held opponents to fewer than 39.3 points.
• Tennessee racked up 55.4 more yards per game (474.8) than Ball State gave up per contest (419.4) last season.
• Tennessee was 4-4 against the spread and 6-2 overall when the team picked up over 419.4 yards last season.
• Ball State had a 4-6 record ATS and a 6-4 record overall when holding its opponents to less than 474.8 yards last year.
• Tennessee rushed for 217.8 yards per game last season, 41.4 more than the 176.4 Ball State allowed per outing.
• Tennessee had a 4-3 ATS record and a 6-1 overall record when the team rushed for more than 176.4 yards last season.
• Ball State was 4-5 against the spread and 6-3 overall when holding opponents to less than 217.8 rushing yards last season.
• Tennessee had 13 giveaways last season, while Ball State had 19 takeaways.

Tennessee’s Best Players

• Hendon Hooker had an impressive passing stat line last year with 2,945 yards (226.5 yards per game), going 206-for-302 (68.2% completion percentage), 31 touchdowns and three interceptions. He was a factor in the running game as well, with 619 rushing yards on 166 carries, five rushing TDs, and averaging 47.6 yards per game.
• Last season, Jabari Small rushed for 792 yards on 140 attempts (60.9 yards per game) and scored nine times.
• In the previous year, Cedric Tillman grabbed 64 passes (on 89 targets) for 1,081 yards (83.2 per game). He also found the end zone 12 times.
• Velus Jones Jr. also impressed receiving last year. He had 62 receptions for 807 yards and seven touchdowns. He was targeted 80 times.
• JaVonta Payton reeled in 18 passes for 413 yards and six touchdowns, averaging 31.8 yards per game last year.
• Byron Young did his thing last season with a memorable stat line of 5.5 sacks, 10.0 TFL, 35 tackles, and one interception.
• Last season Jeremy Banks racked up 108 tackles, 7.0 TFL, 5.5 sacks, and one interception.
• Last season Jaylen McCollough had a huge stat line of three interceptions, 39 tackles, 2.0 TFL, one sack, and three passes defended.

Ball State Betting Insights

• Ball State won four games against the spread last year, failing to cover nine times.
• A total of four of Ball State games last season hit the over.

Ball State Stats & Insights

• Last season Ball State scored 5.0 fewer points per game (24.1) than Tennessee gave up (29.1).
• Ball State was 2-2 against the spread and 4-0 overall in games when it scored over 29.1 points last season.
• When Tennessee limited opponents to fewer than 24.1 points last season, it had a 4-2 record against the spread and a 6-0 record overall.
• Ball State collected 83.4 fewer yards per game (338.3) than Tennessee allowed (421.7) per outing last season.
• In games that Ball State amassed over 421.7 yards last season, the team was 1-1 against the spread and 2-0 overall.
• When Tennessee held its opponents to fewer than 338.3 yards last season, it had a 2-2 record ATS and a 4-0 record overall.
• Last year Ball State ran for 17.8 fewer yards per game (130.7) than Tennessee allowed per contest (148.5).
• Ball State had a 1-4 ATS record and a 3-2 overall record when the team rushed for over 148.5 yards last year.
• Last year, Tennessee was 3-4 against the spread and 5-2 overall when holding opponents to fewer than 130.7 rushing yards.
• Last year Ball State had 12 turnovers, three fewer than Tennessee had takeaways (15).

Ball State’s Best Players

• Drew Plitt averaged 195.5 passing yards per contest and threw for 18 touchdowns last season. In addition, he added 10.1 yards on the ground per game with two rushing touchdowns.
• Carson Steele accumulated 891 rushing yards and six touchdowns on the ground during last year’s campaign.
• Last season Will Jones rushed for 314 yards. He also scored three total touchdowns.
• Jayshon Jackson averaged 63.8 yards on 5.3 receptions per game and compiled five receiving touchdowns in 2021.
• Justin Hall caught 61 passes last season on his way to 613 yards and five receiving touchdowns.
• Yo’Heinz Tyler hauled in 49 passes on his way to 487 receiving yards and six touchdowns a season ago.
• Last year Tavion Woodard put pressure on opposing quarterbacks with 4.5 sacks, and added 5.0 TFL and 24 tackles.
• Bryce Cosby was a playmaker on defense last season with 101 tackles, 9.0 TFL, four sacks, and two interceptions.
• Jaylin Thomas collected four interceptions in addition to 85 tackles, 6.0 TFL, and four passes defended a year ago.