Tennessee vs. Nebraska prediction, Music City Bowl pick, odds, line, watch live stream
How to watch the Music City bowl: Game storylines, spread, time, date, TV channel
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Tennessee has an easy weekend trip to Nashville as the unofficial host of this year's Music City Bowl. Nebraska started the season 7-0 and, like Tennessee, had its sights set on conference title contention only to fall short. Both teams finished the regular season with bad division losses -- Tennessee to Vandy and Nebraska to Iowa -- and are looking to get one back in the postseason to get some juice heading into work ahead for 2017.
Viewing information
Date: Friday, Dec. 30
Time: 3:30 p.m. ET
Location: Nissan Stadium -- Nashville, Tennessee
TV: ESPN
Live streams: WatchESPN / WatchESPN apps
Storylines
Tennessee: The 2016 season didn't shape up quite like Tennessee fans hoped. Favored to win the SEC East in August, the Vols suffered injuries at nearly every key position during a stretch that included three straight losses and a fall from conference title contention. Though considered "Champions of Life" by Butch Jones, the Vols are looking for a strong bowl performance to send Josh Dobbs, Derek Barnett and other leaders out in style at the end of their college careers.
Nebraska: Everything seems to hinge on the hamstring of Tommy Armstrong. At the time of this writing, things aren't looking good: Armstrong has been dealing with a hamstring injury for more than a month, didn't take the field with his teammates for the start of bowl practice and Mike Riley was calling him "that emergency guy" when speaking to reporters on Monday. Armstrong is and has been the star of Nebraska's offense for some time, now one score from breaking Eric Crouch's school touchdowns record and a 3,000-yard passer this year. If he's out of the game, it's a big step back to Ryker Fyfe, a senior with two starts to his name (1-1).
The Cornhuskers already lost senior receiver Jordan Westerkamp (knee) -- ending his career as the third-leading receiver in program history -- and three-year starting safety Nate Gerry (ineligible, university decision) from the lineup.
Players to watch
Derek Barnett, Tennessee DE: While other future pros and potential all-conference picks joined the walking wounded on Tennessee's lengthy injury report, Barnett flourished in an All-American caliber season. Barnett's 12.0 sacks in 2016 made him the only player in SEC history to have at least 10.0 sacks in three or more seasons and it's brought him just one sack shy of breaking the school's career record (32.0) set by Reggie White.
Terrell Newby, Nebraska RB: With uncertainty at quarterback and the top receiving threat out, Nebraska's hopes on offense lie in the hands of senior running back Terrell Newby. He's got just four games this season with more than 20 carries, but this bowl matchup favors him getting plenty of work against a Tennessee defense that has struggled to stop the run this season.
Prediction
If Armstrong plays, Nebraska can win this game. After watching the Cornhuskers enter their bowl game at 5-7 a year ago when they rolled USC in the Holiday Bowl. While Tennessee may be going through some disappointing review sessions right now, the Cornhuskers are just banged up and ineligible and all sorts of depleted. Dobbs is the ultimate weapon here, take the Vols by anything under a touchdown. Pick: Vols -3.5
Music City Bowl Expert Picks
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tennessee -3.5 |
