Nobody volunteers for quarterback troubles, but the Tennessee Volunteers didn't have to ask. This Saturday, redshirt freshman George MacIntyre will make his first career start, replacing Faizon Brandon. That may not be bad news for the Vols. MacIntyre took over in the second half against Auburn and completed eight of his 10 passes for 86 yards without a turnover. Arkansas may view Tennessee's quarterback situation as a lucky break, but it likely won't be enough to slow down the nation's #15 team, which remains largely intact outside of Brandon's absence.
The 2-3 Razorbacks have found success at home, but they've struggled against top competition, losing every matchup against teams that are ranked or were previously ranked in the Top 25 by at least 27 points. Arkansas ranks 93rd in defensive SP+, a number that reflects its performance against quality opponents. Even with a new quarterback under center for Tennessee, the Razorbacks will likely need a near-perfect performance and flawless execution to have any chance of keeping this game close.
Tennessee will be without its starting quarterback, but Arkansas still has plenty of questions on the defensive side of the ball. MacIntyre has already shown poise under pressure, and I expect him to have success against a Razorbacks defense that has struggled against quality opponents all season. As long as he limits turnovers, or avoids them altogether, he should be able to lead Tennessee to a victory by 15 points or more
Arkansas vs Tennessee prediction: Tennessee -13.5 (-110) available at time of publishing. Playable to -14.5 (-110).
