SEC football predictions: Vols' General Neyland would approve of Indiana State matchup

Power 5 conference schools often are criticized for scheduling hopelessly outmanned opponents, like the one Tennessee will knock around Neyland Stadium on Saturday.

But strategic scheduling is as much a part of college football tradition as goofy mascots, marching bands and cheating in recruiting.

Long before the Power 5 came along, prominent programs routinely prospered from the ineptitude of others. And the game’s greatest coaches were quick to recognize the value in padding a schedule with teams that were smaller, slower and incapable of executing the most elementary acts of the sport.

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If legendary Tennessee coach General Neyland had added an eighth maxim to his program’s foundation, it likely would have been: “Schedule opponents that can’t score.”

Granted, that would have been easy for him because the average college football team in the 1920s ’30s or ’40s had a better chance of finding gold than crossing UT’s goal line. Scheduling further enhanced Tennessee’s chances for a shutout.

For example, take Maryville, which futilely butted helmets with Neyland’s defense from 1926 through 1928. Tennessee won 6-0, 7-0, 41-0.

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The Vols gave Maryville the season off in 1929, then resumed the series a year later. Tennessee won the next three games in the series 54-0, 33-0 and 60-0.

Tennessee 63, Indiana State 3: Fans can watch their beloved Vols warm up for Florida by roaring past the Sycamores, and for about half the price they would pay for a Georgia ticket. What a bargain.

Vanderbilt 38, Alabama A&M 7: Not only is this an easy test for the Commodores, they won’t have to worry about opposing fans taking over their stadium.

Auburn 27, Clemson 24: Auburn lost to Clemson by only six points last season. Since then, Clemson has lost quarterback Deshaun Watson, and Auburn has gained quarterback Jarrett Stidham.

Notre Dame 27, Georgia 24: The programs haven’t played since the 1981 Sugar Bowl when the Bulldogs beat the Irish for the national championship. That was so long ago, Notre Dame fans probably have forgotten that Georgia fans bark.

I have two memories from covering that game: Watching Herschel Walker in person for the first time, and witnessing a drunk, middle-aged Georgia man bark at an elderly woman in a Hyatt Regency elevator.

Mississippi State 41, Louisiana Tech 27: In three seasons (2007-2009) under coach Derek Dooley, Louisiana Tech averaged 5.6 victories. Since then, it has averaged 7.6 victories, including three consecutive nine-win seasons.

Hopefully, the folks in Ruston, La., are grateful enough to send Christmas cards to UT.

TCU 38, Arkansas 34: Quarterback Kenny “Trill” Hill has changed schools and lost his nickname since he threw for 386 yards and four touchdowns as Texas A&M beat Arkansas three years ago. At TCU, he’s just Kenny Hill.

But he’s still good enough to beat the Razorbacks for a second time in three tries.

Alabama 48, Fresno State 0: After a 1-11 season, the Bulldogs have brought back alum Jeff Tedford to run their program. Too bad, they couldn’t bring back quarterback Derek Carr, too.

He might be worth a touchdown against Alabama.

Kentucky 38, Eastern Kentucky 17: If you include South Carolina, four of the Wildcats’ first five games are against “directional schools.” Sorry, Gamecocks, but the name fits.

South Carolina 41, Missouri 38: The Tigers could qualify for the 40-40 club this season. They could average 40 points per game and give up 40 points per game.

Texas A&M 48, Nicholls State 20: The Colonels’ coach is Tim Rebowe. That’s close enough to Tim Tebow to get you two touchdowns against an SEC defense.

Ole Miss 45, UT Martin 13: If the Skyhawks “recruited” the way Ole Miss did, this game might be competitive.

LSU 42, Chattanooga 0: The Tigers haven’t lost to a team from Tennessee since September 2005. Since then, they’re 8-0.

Record: 11-2 (.846) overall, 6-5 (.545) against the spread.

John Adams is a senior columnist. He may be reached at 865-342-6284 or john.adams@knoxnews.com. Follow him at: Twitter.com/johnadamskns.