Tennessee
Josh Heupel in close games? Only oddsmakers know this about Tennessee football vs Missouri
If it’s a coin flip, bet on Josh Heupel.
That’s not professional gambling advice. But if there’s a dispute over picking a clear-cut winner, Heupel’s teams stand a pretty good chance on the scoreboard.
Tennessee (7-2, 3-2 SEC) is a 1-point favorite over Missouri (7-2, 3-2), according on BetMGM, in its game on Saturday (3:30 p.m. ET, CBS) in Columbia, Missouri.
As a head coach, Heupel has a 6-2 record in games that have a point spread of 3 points or less. He has the same record against the spread in those games. But again, this isn’t gambling advice.
The more stunning revelation is that when Heupel’s teams are predicted to play a very close game, they usually win in a blowout.
Tennessee has won by an average margin of 19 points in its six victories under Heupel in which the point spread was 3 points or less.
Josh Heupel’s hot streak against odds started at Missouri
Heupel’s run of overwhelmingly beating the odds at Tennessee actually began against Missouri.
In 2021, the Vols were a 2.5-point underdog at Missouri. UT won 62-24.
In 2022, the Vols were a 2.5-point favorite at LSU. UT won 40-13.
When Heupel was at UCF, his team was a 1-point home favorite against Memphis in 2018. UCF won 56-41.In 2020, UCF was a 3-point favorite at Houston. UCF won 44-21.
At Tennessee, Heupel also beat Kentucky 45-42 in 2021 and beat Texas A&M 20-13 this season as a 1-point and 3-point favorite, respectively.
Heupel has lost only two games in which there was a spread of 3 points or less. In 2020, UCF was a 3-point favorite at Memphis, but it lost 50-49. And in 2021, UT was a 1-point underdog to Ole Miss, and it lost 31-26 in controversial fashion to Lane Kiffin’s squad.
NICO IAMALEAVA Why quarterback signed autograph for Tennessee teammate, and what it means for 2024
Here’s the recipe for Vols winning another close game
Of course, a predicted close game and an actual close game aren’t the same. But Heupel’s teams have performed well in both, at least at Tennessee.
Heupel has a 6-3 record in games decided by 7 points or less at UT, including five straight wins.
Last season, the Vols beat Pittsburgh by 7 in overtime, Florida by 5 and Alabama by 3. This season, the Vols beat Texas A&M by 7 and Kentucky by 6.
There are common factors to how Heupel wins games that are predicted to be close and those that actually are close. And they’re both relevant in this game against Missouri.
In those wins, Heupel’s teams dominated on the ground, rushing for 230 yards per game. This season, the Vols lead the SEC in rushing offense and rushing defense.
And in those wins, Heupel’s teams took advantage of scoring opportunities. They scored in 46 of 52 trips to the red zone (88%).
RUN OFFENSE OR RUN UP SCORE? Why Josh Heupel handshakes don’t always go well after Tennessee wins
Missouri leads the nation in red-zone scoring efficiency at 97.4%. UT ranks 63rd at 85.4%.
The Vols must continue running the ball effectively but also improve their red-zone scoring to add another nail-biting victory to Heupel’s resume. History says not to bet against him.
Adam Sparks is the Tennessee football beat reporter. Email adam.sparks@knoxnews.com. X, formerly known as Twitter@AdamSparks. Support strong local journalism by subscribing at knoxnews.com/subscribe.
Get the latest news and insight on SEC football by subscribing to the SEC Unfiltered newsletter, delivered straight to your inbox.
Tennessee
Tennessee State Parks provides new all-terrain wheelchairs at additional state parks – KTVZ
Click here for updates on this story
NASHVILLE, Tennessee (WTVF) — Tennessee State Parks are providing new all-terrain wheelchairs at state parks!
You may remember this story from last summer, where our Cole Johnson showed how the wheelchairs were helping those at Radnor Lake State Park.
The new additions announced this week will bring the total chairs to 22. The chairs are designed to navigate a wide range of terrains and give visitors the opportunity to access recreation that they would’ve been unable to access prior.
The chairs are free and are available for kids and adults.
You are allowed to request a wheelchair upon arrival to the park, but its advised to give advance notice to the park you’re visiting so that you can ensure there’s one available for use.
The wheelchairs are available at the following parks:
Cedars of Lebanon State Park Cordell Hull Birthplace State Park David Crockett State Park Fall Creek Falls State Park Fort Pillow State Historic Park Harrison Bay State Park Indian Mountain State Park Meeman-Shelby Forest State Park Nathan Bedford Forrest State Park Sgt. Alvin C. York State Park Booker T. Washington State Park Cove Lake State Park Cumberland Mountain State Park Cummins Falls State Park Chickasaw State Park Henry Horton State Park Long Hunter State Park Natchez Trace State Park Radnor Lake State Park Tims Ford State Park Lamar Alexander Rocky Fork State Park Warriors’ Path State Park
Please note: This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.
KTVZ NewsChannel 21 is committed to providing a forum for civil and constructive conversation.
Please keep your comments respectful and relevant. You can review our Community Guidelines by clicking here
If you would like to share a story idea, please submit it here.
Tennessee
What guaranteed admission to University of Tennessee? You now need a test score (and more)
University of Tennessee Knoxville parking: Walk or drive to campus?
Tennessee Volunteers say parking is tough this semester. We experimented to see if it’s faster to walk to campus or drive and look for parking.
The University of Tennessee System has standardized its language across all campuses to include standardized test scores in its guaranteed admissions requirements for top-performing high school seniors.
The biggest change to the guaranteed admissions policy, which is less than one year old, most applies to the University of Tennessee at Knoxville. The flagship campus previously did not require an ACT or SAT score for guaranteed admission. UT Chattanooga, UT Martin and UT Southern did.
The ACT and SAT score requirements, which vary between universities, are in addition to requirements related to student performance and class standing.
Previously, UT Knoxville only required a 4.0 cumulative GPA or that students finish in the top 10% of their class for guaranteed admission. Other campuses had their own requirements, including a lower GPA benchmark and an ACT score.
Here’s how the new policy, approved at the UT System Board of Trustees meeting June 25, will work for students applying for fall 2025:
For UT Knoxville
- Students must get either a 4.0 cumulative grade-point average (GPA) or finish in the top 10% of their high school graduating class.
- And students need a 24 ACT composite score (or an SAT score of 1160-1190 or higher).
For UT Chattanooga, UT Martin and UT Southern:
- Students must get either at least a 3.2 cumulative GPA or finish in the top 10% of their high school graduating class.
- And students need a 23 ACT composite score (or an SAT score of 1130-1150 or higher).
The original guaranteed admissions policy was approved in September 2023 as a way to give top-earning high schoolers in Tennessee the opportunity to receive early admission to any UT campus across the state.
Why the University of Tennessee changed the guaranteed admissions policy
Only 30% of Tennessee high schools reported class ranking data to UT for the high school graduating class of 2024, according to UT Knoxville Chancellor Donde Plowman. That’s just 226 of 740 high schools.
The original guaranteed admissions policy also was challenged by the lower requirements from UT Martin, UT Chattanooga and UT Southern. Their policies, which required a 3.2 GPA and 23 ACT composite score, were so close to standard admission criteria that prospective students were worried no guaranteed admission would mean no admission at all, according to Bernie Savarese, vice president for academic affairs, research and student success for the UT System.
When the UT System Board of Trustees kicked off its annual meeting June 24, Savarese presented a different version of the proposed changes that would have made 4.0 the required GPA for all campuses. The top 10% criteria also would have been dropped.
But because the guaranteed admissions policy is so new, the board was hesitant to make such drastic changes. The policy needs more time for data to accrue before it can be reevaluated at a higher level, trustee Jamie Woodson said during the meeting.
Keenan Thomas is a higher education reporter. Email keenan.thomas@knoxnews.com. X, formerly known as Twitter @specialk2real.
Support strong local journalism by subscribing to knoxnews.com/subscribe.
Tennessee
How the Humane Society protects outdoor dogs in Tennessee
As winter tightened its grip on Tennessee earlier this year, an HSUS-led initiative brought warmth to pets and the hearts of their owners. Across the state, families in under-resourced areas began receiving visits from local animal care centers, delivering insulated doghouses for their beloved companions, all provided free of charge.
While hundreds of thousands of dogs live outdoors in rural and urban areas across the country, the lack of a clear legal definition of adequate shelter for outdoor dogs in Tennessee had left both animals and their owners uniquely vulnerable. The law was open to interpretation by pet owners, law enforcement agencies and the courts, making it tough for authorities to enforce and for pet owners to understand. This ambiguity meant that enforcement efforts could sometimes be too harsh or not protective enough, causing harm to both people and animals. It also left many owners unsure if what they had—or what they could afford—qualified as adequate shelter for their pets.
But thanks to our advocacy and the support of state legislators, Tennessee became the newest state to define what constitutes proper shelter for dogs. The legislative win creates clear and reasonable expectations for the humane treatment of dogs, laying the groundwork for a more compassionate and equitable approach to animal welfare.
-
Politics1 week ago
John Kerry used government email alias as secretary of state, whistleblowers say
-
Movie Reviews1 week ago
Fancy Dance (2024) – Movie Review
-
News1 week ago
NYC pastor is sentenced to 9 years for fraud, including taking a single mom's $90,000
-
News1 week ago
Read the Ruling by the Virginia Court of Appeals
-
Politics1 week ago
Trump targets House Freedom Caucus chair in intra-party Republican primary feud
-
News6 days ago
Tracking a Single Day at the National Domestic Violence Hotline
-
Crypto1 week ago
Idris Elba Promotes Cryptocurrency in West Africa – BORGEN
-
Politics6 days ago
Trump classified docs judge to weigh alleged 'unlawful' appointment of Special Counsel Jack Smith