Music City Bowl Prediction
The SEC will oppose the Big Ten in the Music City Bowl on Thursday afternoon when Tennessee takes on Purdue at 3:00 p.m. ET. Will the Boilermakers cover as a 6-point underdog or are the Vols the better bet?
Game Snapshot
258 Tennessee Volunteers (-6) at 257 Purdue Boilermakers (+6); o/u 64.5
3:00 p.m. ET, Thursday, December 30, 2021
Nissan Stadium, Nashville, TN
TV: ESPN
Tennessee Vols Game Notes
Tennessee redshirt senior WR Velus Jones was named First Team All-SEC as an all-purpose player on Tuesday. Jones (6’0/200) was second on the Vols in receiving this season with 52 receptions for 722 yards and six touchdowns, but received all-purpose player honors thanks in part to his work on special teams. Jones averaged 126.3 all-purpose yards per game this season, and was second in the SEC in kick-return average (28.1) and first in punt return average (16.0). He and the Vols will face Purdue in the Music City Bowl on December 30th, which is played in their home state of Nashville, Tennessee.
Purdue Boilermakers Game Notes
Purdue redshirt sophomore WR David Bell has declared for the 2022 NFL Draft. Bell (6’2/205) was one of the best receivers in the nation in 2021, compiling a career high 1,286 yards and 93 receptions while also hauling in six touchdown passes. Bell brings quite the college resume to the NFL, as the junior averaged 101.6 receiving yards per game in 29 collegiate games while playing against some elite Big Ten defenses. His best game of the season came in Week 7 against Iowa, when he caught 11-of-12 targets for 240 yards and one touchdown. Iowa’s defense ranked 19th in the nation in yards allowed per game (326.9), and ranked 40th in passing yards against (213.1). Per Pro Football Focus, Bell was one of the most difficult receivers in the nation to bring down, totaling 25 missed tackles forced on the year, which ranked as the second-highest total in the nation. Bell is likely to be a Day 2 pick in the draft, but could see his stock jump with an impressive combine.
Tennessee vs. Purdue Bowl Betting Prediction
The Boilermakers are 4-1 against the spread in their last five games overall, are 20-8 against the number in their last 28 games as an underdog and have covered in seven of their last 10 games when facing an opponent with a winning record. The Vols, meanwhile, are 8-21 against the spread in their last 29 games after scoring more than 40 points in their previous game, are 3-10 against the number in their last 13 games when facing a team with a winning record and are 1-7 ATS in their last eight games following a win.
MUSIC CITY BOWL PREDICTION: PURDUE BOILERMAKERS +6