SUNDAY
Utah State (+6) over TENNESSEE: There is plenty of rebuilding to be done on the front lines on both sides of the ball for these programs, but Vols are on their third head coach (Butch Jones, in his second year) in what’s their sixth campaign since the end of the Phil Fulmer era — and the revival has yet to begin.
The Mountain West hardly is in the SEC’s class, but these Aggies more than held their own in ’13 — it took Utah, USC, BYU, Boise State and Fresno State to beat them. Chuckie Keeton is back at QB after going throwing 18 TDs to just two INTs last season, an ACL injury in his left knee intervened. There is no look-ahead to distract this underdog, and the Vols are very young. Aggies (+6) make it work, for one unit.
SUPER BOWL: 1-0. The Broncos? They’re off … you lose, as Peyton Manning was reintroduced to the quaint concept that, yes, football is a contact sport (Seahawks, plus one unit).
2013 SEASON: 21-18-2.
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