NCAAF · 11 months ago

Tennessee’s 5 Keys to Upsetting Ohio State in the CFP

John Canady

Host · Writer

5) Limit Turnovers
Taking care of the football is one of the biggest keys to winning every game. Although it's one of the most obvious keys to a victory, it can't be overlooked, especially in playoff football. If Tennessee can keep the turnovers to a minimum against the Buckeyes' stout defense, they'll put themselves in a good position to challenge the Buckeyes on the road.

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Tennessee's 5 Keys to Upsetting Ohio State in the CFP
Tennessee enters Saturday night's showdown against Ohio State as 7.5-point underdogs on the road. The Volunteers may not be expected to win, but they have all the tools necessary to steal a win and advance to the quarterfinals. That said, here's a look at the five keys for Josh Heupel and the Vols' to defy the odds.

Odds to Win the National Championship: Tennessee +2500

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1) Get Dylan Sampson Going Early
Dylan Sampson has arguably been the best and most reliable player for Tennessee up to this point in the season. The running back has racked up 1,485 rushing yards and 22 touchdowns while rushing for 5.8 yards per carry. There's no denying that when he's at his best, the Vols' offense can fire on all cylinders. With the Buckeyes likely prioritizing limiting Sampson's impact, the Volunteers will need to make it a point of emphasis to get him going early and avoid letting Ohio State dictate how effective he is on Saturday.
2) Pressure Will Howard
The Buckeyes made a move last season to land Will Howard in the transfer portal, hoping he could be the missing piece to get them over the hump. And while the quarterback has been a solid addition to get them up to this point, the dual-threat talent has shown weaknesses that Tennessee could use against them throughout the season. Howard's biggest skill that makes him tough to defend is his ability to use his legs and scramble when a play is dead or pressure is closing in. However, when the pressure does get to him, and he has no way to escape, the fifth-year senior tends to make mistakes. If the Vols can pressure the quarterback, their odds of stealing a win on the road will only increase, whether due to turnovers or just disrupting the Buckeyes' offense. Nonetheless, Tennessee's defense needs to show up Saturday ready to play.

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3) Keep Things Simple for Nico Iamaleava
Nico Iamaleava took over as Tennessee's starting quarterback this season and has shown promise under center. However, the freshman has also shown areas where he drastically needs to improve. The quarterback seems to struggle on offense when he tries to do too much. To avoid that against a dominant Ohio State defense, Josh Heupel and his staff must keep the game plan simple enough for Iamaleava to make the right reads and make plays when needed but not complicate things to where frustrations can grow. Now, that doesn't mean the Vols should oversimplify things to the point their offense looks dull and limited, but scheming an offense with a healthy balance to the game plan can allow their attack to be effective yet simple.
4) Slow Down the Buckeyes Backfield
While Tennessee enters this matchup with one of the best running backs in all of college football, Ohio State holds one of the best backfields in the nation. Between Quinshon Judkins and TreVeyon Henderson, the Buckeyes' two-headed monster in the backfield is a nightmare to defend for opposing defenses. Both running backs offer different skill sets that are hard to game-plan against. The duo's success is one of the most significant reasons that the Buckeyes' passing game has been so explosive. Putting pressure on their opponents until a big play opens up or they tire out sometimes overwhelms their offensive attack. However, the Volunteers' defense will need to enter this matchup with a bend but don't break mentality and slow down the rushing attack while limiting the passing game. It's a tall task for Tennessee to shut down the Buckeyes offense completely, but if they can restrict OSU's backfield, it will limit their offense.
5) Limit Turnovers
Taking care of the football is one of the biggest keys to winning every game. Although it's one of the most obvious keys to a victory, it can't be overlooked, especially in playoff football. If Tennessee can keep the turnovers to a minimum against the Buckeyes' stout defense, they'll put themselves in a good position to challenge the Buckeyes on the road.

Stay ahead of the game and elevate your sports betting experience with SportsGrid.
Tennessee's 5 Keys to Upsetting Ohio State in the CFP
Tennessee enters Saturday night's showdown against Ohio State as 7.5-point underdogs on the road. The Volunteers may not be expected to win, but they have all the tools necessary to steal a win and advance to the quarterfinals. That said, here's a look at the five keys for Josh Heupel and the Vols' to defy the odds.

Odds to Win the National Championship: Tennessee +2500

Have all the intel you need? Free actionable info is one click away! Sign up for our daily newsletter, SportsGrid Daily.

Tennessee’s 5 Keys to Upsetting Ohio State in the CFP

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