Tennessee football has enough offense for Auburn, other SEC picks | Adams

Tennessee football’s easy nonconference schedule was a gateway to a fast start. It seemed ideal for a team breaking in a true freshman quarterback and adjusting to the schemes of new defensive coordinator Jim Knowles.

But the way UT’s offense collapsed in a 20-17 loss to No. 1 Texas, you likely concluded that the accommodating nonconference schedule was too soft.

Opening against lightweights like Furman, Georgia Tech and Kennesaw State might not have mattered if the Vols had begun their SEC schedule against Auburn instead of Texas.

However, the upgrade in quality from three outmanned opponents to the Longhorns had a shocking effect on UT’s offense. After averaging almost 300 yards per game rushing through three games, the Vols produced only 70 yards rushing against Texas.

In fact, Tennessee’s nonconference schedule turned out to be even weaker than expected. Furman, Georgia Tech and Kennesaw State failed to beat a single FBS opponent in September.

Georgia Tech and Furman both managed to defeat Mercer. Kennesaw State’s only win was against West Georgia.

Tennessee 27, Auburn 17: The Vols offense produced one mishap after another against Texas. But the Tigers offense didn’t exactly roll through September.

USF transfer Byrum Brown was expected to give Auburn a huge quarterback upgrade. Although he’s certainly an improvement over recent Tigers quarterbacks, he’s not producing the way he did at USF, where he accounted for 42 touchdowns last season.

He could be the next victim of Knowles’ defense.

Florida 37, Missouri 30: Gators fans could return to their rowdy ways after a 4-0 start under first-year coach Jon Sumrall.

Florida isn’t just winning. It’s entertaining fans the way Steve Spurrier’s and Urban Meyer’s teams once did.

Never mind that Sumrall has a defensive background as a player and assistant coach. Florida has been dominant offensively, totaling 214 points while averaging 53.5 points per game.

In Spurrier’s first four games with the Gators, they scored 128 points. In Meyer’s first four games at Florida, it scored 138 points.

Georgia 41, Vanderbilt 13: Any SEC coach breaking in a freshman quarterback would ideally like to lean on his running game while his young quarterback develops.

The Commodores don’t have that luxury with five-star Jared Curtis. They’re averaging only 132.5 yards per game rushing.

A lackluster running game coupled with a true freshman quarterback: How do think that will work out against Kirby Smart’s defense?

Alabama 35, Mississippi State 30: You don’t need a rooting interest in either team to like this matchup of sophomore quarterbacks.

Alabama’s Keelon Russell has completed 70.9% of his passes for 1,129 yards and eight touchdowns. He also has rushed for 168 yards.

Mississippi State’s Kamario Taylor has completed 69.2% of his passes for 1,192 yards and 14 touchdowns. And he has run for 185 yards.

Taylor might be the hottest quarterback in the country, but history is on Russell’s side. The Tide have won 16 consecutive games against the Bulldogs and lead the series with an 86-18-3 record.

Kentucky 34, South Carolina 31: The Wildcats are forewarned: The Gamecocks are fighting mad. Almost everybody but the officials saw South Carolina edge rusher Dylan Stewart throw a punch at Alabama tight end Josh Ford during the Gamecocks’ 49-18 loss.

Kentucky should be in a better mood. With back-to-back wins, it made the AP Top 25 for the first time in almost three years.

Texas A&M 30, Arkansas 15: Aggies fans are furious about the play of quarterback Marcel Reed, who completed only 10 of 26 passes for 106 yards in a 35-6 loss to LSU.

Reed clearly is regressing, but he’s not Texas A&M’s only problem. The Aggies have given up 66 points and 924 yards in their past two games combined.

ADAMS: Tennessee football needs to change its recent history against Auburn

LSU  41, McNeese State 13: The Tigers should be more concerned about their health than their next opponent.

They lost tight end Trey’dez Green to a lower leg injury in the fourth quarter against Ole Miss. Star linebacker and team leader Whit Weeks fractured his right leg against Texas A&M.

Although you couldn’t tell it by quarterback Sam Leavitt’s stats (312 yards passing), his mobility was hampered by a lower leg injury against the Aggies.

Record: 46-6 (.885), 34-18 (.651) against the spread.

John Adams is a senior columnist. He may be reached at 865-342-6284 or john.adams@knoxnews.com.

This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Tennessee football has enough offense for Auburn, other SEC picks | Adams