Tennessee enters its first road test with two very different observers arriving at a similar conclusion.
Former Vols defensive back Todd Kelly Jr. and Tennessee basketball guard Dai Dai Ames both expect Tennessee to win comfortably at Georgia Tech on Saturday. Their paths to that result start on the same side of the ball.
For Kelly, the matchup hinges on Tennessee’s ability to keep Georgia Tech quarterback Alberto Mendoza from turning broken plays into productive ones.
Mendoza can extend plays with his legs without immediately abandoning the pass. He can create a second phase of the play for Tennessee’s secondary to defend.
“You really have to be disciplined with your eyes and not forget what your assignment is,” Kelly said Friday on Live Ball. “The true definition of plastering and really sticking to your man is going to be essential.”
Kelly knows the challenge from experience. The former Tennessee defensive back said an extended play can make the job in coverage “at least twice as hard.”
That makes Tennessee’s pass rush as important to the secondary as it is to the defensive front.
Kelly pointed to Xavier Gilliam, Tyree Weathersby, Jordan Norman, and Daevin Hobbs as players capable of doing that.
“The more pressure we put on Alberto Mendoza, the better chance we have of really, really dominating this game,” Kelly said.
Ames is watching what happens behind them.
When asked which Tennessee player he expects to have a big game Saturday, the Vols guard quickly went to defensive back Kayin Lee.
“My boy K,” Ames said. “I feel like he’s going to have a big game.”
Lee had recently described himself as a “fast-flying cat.” Ames expects that speed to be apparent in Atlanta.
“He’s gonna run real fast,” Ames said.
The two predictions complement each other.
If Tennessee’s front can keep Mendoza from extending plays, Lee and the secondary should have fewer prolonged coverage situations to navigate. If Mendoza escapes, that back end becomes considerably more important.
Kelly and Ames also landed within three points of each other in their final predictions.
Kelly picked Tennessee to win 38-17, expecting the Vols to potentially start slowly before creating separation.
“I think Tennessee wins by three touchdowns,” Kelly said.
Ames went slightly lower on both sides, picking Tennessee 35-14.
Different matchups caught their attention. The expectation was nearly identical.
Both see Tennessee’s defense playing a significant role in the Vols leaving Atlanta with their second win of the season.
