The Tennessee Vols will play in their biggest football game since the 1998 BCS Championship game when they travel to Columbus to take on the Ohio State Buckeyes in the first round of the College Football Playoff on December 21. 

If Tennessee beats Ohio State on the road, they’ll advance to the quarterfinals of the playoff where they’ll face the No. 1 seeded Oregon Ducks. 

It’s not an easy road for the Vols. 

ESPN’s Cole Cubelic, though, thinks Tennessee will make it to at least the quarterfinals. 

The former Auburn offensive lineman is surprisingly very confident that the Vols will take down the Buckeyes on December 21. 

“This is the easiest one for me in all of these matchups,” said Cubelic. “I’ll take Tennessee because that defensive line is going to dominate….[Ohio State is] down a left tackle, you’re down Seth McLaughlin at center just in the last couple of weeks. I don’t care about the weather. Tennessee’s (defensive) front wins this game for them. Nico [Iamaleava] is not going to have to do heavy lifting in this game.” 

Not many folks know ball quite as well as Cubelic. Most analysis these days can be taken with a grain of salt, but Cubelic is a guy that sees the game in a way that most fans and media don’t. He’s lived it, and he’s been able to remain fairly objective in his media career. 

Now, that doesn’t mean that Tennessee is going to blow the doors off Ohio State. If the Buckeyes play a great game, they’ll likely win. But the Vols have a real chance to handle business in a convincing way in Columbus. 

It’ll take a quick start from Tennessee — the Vols can’t afford to fall behind early — but UT winning in the horseshoe isn’t as absurd as some fans outside of the south may think. 

ESPN’s Cole Cubelic, though, thinks Tennessee will make it to at least the quarterfinals. 

The former Auburn offensive lineman is surprisingly very confident that the Vols will take down the Buckeyes on December 21. 

“This is the easiest one for me in all of these matchups,” said Cubelic. “I’ll take Tennessee because that defensive line is going to dominate….[Ohio State is] down a left tackle, you’re down Seth McLaughlin at center just in the last couple of weeks. I don’t care about the weather. Tennessee’s (defensive) front wins this game for them. Nico [Iamaleava] is not going to have to do heavy lifting in this game.” 

Now, that doesn’t mean that Tennessee is going to blow the doors off Ohio State. If the Buckeyes play a great game, they’ll likely win. But the Vols have a real chance to handle business in a convincing way in Columbus. 

It’ll take a quick start from Tennessee — the Vols can’t afford to fall behind early — but UT winning in the horseshoe isn’t as absurd as some fans outside of the south may think.