The No. 15 Tennessee Volunteers are on upset alert at halftime versus the Ohio Bobcats in Week 3. The Volunteers hold a slim 14-12 lead on the Bobcats.
The Tennessee Volunteers entered their Week 3 home game against the Ohio Bobcats as the No. 15 team in the nation. Tennessee was a whopping 27-point home favorite on the Bobcats in this one, according to OddsShark.com.
However, Tennessee has not handled Ohio as expected in the first half. The Volunteers only led Frank Solich’s Bobcats by a slim, 14-12 margin at halftime in Knoxville on Saturday afternoon.
Tennessee’s offense has been stagnant at best in its first three games of 2016. The Volunteers managed just 153 yards of total offense in the first half against Ohio. The Bobcats outgained them 200-153 in the first two quarters.
The Volunteers have not had the on-field leadership from senior quarterback Joshua Dobbs in these first three weeks. Dobbs was only 9-12 for 102 passing yards and an interception in the first half. This is troubling as the Volunteers only had 53 yards on the ground. Dobbs ran the ball five times for -17 yards in the first two quarters.
2016 was going to be the year that Tennessee broke on through in the SEC, but the team is not gelling under fourth-year head coach Butch Jones. Tennessee has done a remarkable job of recruiting under Jones, but has yet to live up to lofty expectations during his time in Knoxville.
Tennessee may hold a two-point lead at the half to Ohio, but trailing in the turnover margin might prove costly for the Volunteers in this one. The Volunteers needed a few lucky bounces on fumbles to beat Appalachian State at home in overtime in Week 1, as well as a neutral site victory over Virginia Tech at Bristol Motor Speedway in Week 2.
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The Volunteers should not be happy with their first half effort against Ohio. Though up two, Tennessee is now on upset alert here in Week 3.