College Football Picks – Volunteers Play Ducks

The schedule-makers weren’t kind to the Volunteers this season, giving them early home games at top-ten teams in Oregon and Florida early on, and then a string of four straight games against ranked teams from the SEC including number-one Alabama at home, in between LSU, Georgia, and South Carolina on the road.

Tennessee faces their first tough test of the year as they welcome the seventh-ranked Oregon Ducks to town this week. Oregon’s schedule is relatively easy by comparison, which is more reason to believe the hype about the Ducks being a contender in the PAC-10.Here’s a preview for those making college football betting picks.

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Oregon Ducks @ Tennessee Volunteers

Saturday September 11, 2010 – 7:00 PM ET

Neyland Stadium, Knoxville, Tennessee

Broadcast: Local/ Regional Cable

NCCA Football Odds: Oregon -11.5

Total: 53.5

College Football Picks: What Oregon Will Have To Do To Win

Was there a better way for the Ducks to open their 2010 season than with a 72-0 blowout win over New Mexico? Oregon is ranked number-seven in the country this year, and celebrated their top-ten status by scoring the most points of any college football team week one.

The Ducks set a school record with 720 yards of total offense against the MWC opponent, with running back Kenjon Barner leading the way rushing for four touchdowns, and adding another one receiving to finish with five.

With only two ranked opponents on their schedule for the remainder of the season, the Ducks have the chance to make some major noise both in the PAC-10 and in the national standings. Tennessee marks their toughest challenge until week five when they welcome Stanford.

College Football Picks: What Tennessee Will Have To Do To Win

After a tumultuous offseason that included former head coach Lane Kiffin dipping and heading to USC at a moment’s notice, it must have felt good for Tennessee to open their season with a win week one, even if it was against a Tennessee-Martin team from the MVC.

The Volunteers made the most of the opportunity, destroying the Skyhawks 50-0, for their first shutout win since 2003. Junior running back Tauren Poole made the most of his chance as the starter by rushing for 110 yards on 17 carries, adding two touchdowns in the victory.

Quarterback Matt Sims was not asked to do much, but came through with what he was asked to do in throwing for 181 yards and a touchdown. Tennessee will now get a couple of solid tests in Oregon and Florida, two teams ranked in the top-ten in back-to-back weeks and should face a much stiffer challenge.

NCAA Handicapping: Outlook & Pick

Despite a convincing opening week win over Tennessee-Martin, the Volunteers don’t have many inferior opponents left on the schedule, and a home date against Oregon certainly isn’t one of them. The Ducks rushed for over 700 yards of total offense in week one, and although they won’t reach that total week two, look for Oregon to dominate.

Expert College Football Picks: Oregon -11.5