UT Vols football vs LSU prediction: Who has the edge

Quarterbacks

 For all of LSU’s highly ranked recruiting classes, it often comes up short at quarterback. Danny Etling won’t scare opponents with either his arm or legs. But he can take a snap from center with the best of them and has been effective at times, as he was last week against Arkansas. Although UT’s Jarrett Guarantano lacks Etling’s experience, he’s more mobile and has a stronger arm. Freshman Will McBride, who started in place of the injured Guarantano against Missouri, is an even better runner. The question: Can either Guarantano or McBride stay upright long enough against LSU’s pass rush to demonstrate his skill?

Advantage: LSU

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Running backs

Derrius Guice, who has rushed for 929 yards, is just another reminder that LSU has no trouble recruiting running backs. An early season injury short-circuited his Heisman Trophy possibilities, but he flashed his talent against Ole Miss a few weeks ago when he rushed for 276 yards on 22 carries. He probably could limp his way to 100 against UT’s run defense, which ranks 126th out of 129 FBS teams. Power-running Darrel Williams also could pose problems for UT’s defense. UT’s John Kelly rushed for only 21 yards last week against Missouri but has 711 yards for the season.

Advantage: LSU

Receivers/tight ends

Wide receiver Brandon Johnson leads the Vols with 28 catches for 350 yards. Marquez Callaway, who missed last week’s Missouri game with an ankle injury, has 19 catches for 318 yards. It wasn’t so long ago that LSU had several future NFL players in its wide receiving corps, but D.J. Chark sticks out now. He has 29 catches for 718 yards and a 24.8-yard average per catch. After going nine games without a touchdown, he had two last week against Arkansas. Tight end Foster Moreau has caught three touchdown passes.

Advantage: LSU

Offensive line

Tennessee starting tackles Drew Richmond and Brett Kendrick have missed the past two games with injuries. The Vols have adjusted by moving freshman Trey Smith from guard to tackle and starting redshirt tackle Devante Brooks. Smith played right and left tackle last week against Missouri. Redshirt freshman Ryan Johnson has become a regular at left guard in the second half of the season. LSU’s offensive line, which starts two true freshmen, struggled early but has improved. It held up remarkably well against Alabama’s defensive front two weeks ago.

Advantage: LSU

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Defensive line

Tennessee’s defensive front was pounded by Missouri’s offensive line, which helped the Tigers pile up 433 yards rushing. The Vols had only one sack and two tackles for loss against Missouri. Defensive end Darrel Taylor leads UT's defensive front with three sacks. LSU’s defense got everyone’s attention when it held Alabama to 299 yards. You don’t do that unless you’re strong up front, which the Tigers usually are. Their three-man defensive front is comprised of Greg Gilmore, Christian LaCouture and Rashard Lawrence. The Vols haven’t faced a defensive line as physical as this one since the Alabama game.

Advantage: LSU

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Linebackers

Daniel Bituli leads the Vols with 70 tackles. Colton Jumper has 9.5 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks. LSU’s Devin White has been a tackling machine. He leads his team with 103 tackles and also has 8.5 tackles for loss and 3.0 sacks. Despite a slow start, Arden Key is one of the SEC’s most feared pass rushers on a defense that ranks second in the SEC in sacks. He has four sacks in eight games.

Advantage: LSU

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Secondary

Freshman cornerback Andraez “Greedy” Williams, who has four interceptions, plays with great confidence, as does this secondary in general. Grant Delpit, another freshman, has seven passes broken up. Safety John Battle leads the secondary with 50 tackles. Tennessee safety Nigel Warrior, who has 69 tackles, returned an interception 70 yards for a touchdown against Missouri. Cornerback Emmanuel Moseley has a team-high seven passes broken up.

Advantage: LSU

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Special teams

LSU’s Connor Culp has made 9 of 11 field-goal attempts, and Zach Von Rosenberg has punted for a 42.3-yard average. Chark has returned two punts for touchdowns. Aaron Medley had a career-long 48-yard field goal against Missouri. Trevor Daniel is averaging 47.1 yards  per punt.

Advantage: Tennessee

Prediction

The two teams are headed in different directions. Tennessee has lost five of its past six games and was awful on both sides of the ball in last week’s 50-17 loss to Missouri, after which coach Butch Jones was fired. LSU’s only loss in the past five games was to No. 1 Alabama.

LSU 27, Tennessee  6

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.