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Tennessee football vs Arkansas picks: Vols run away from SEC's worst team

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Mary Reid

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Tennessee Vols football is back on the road on Oct. 10 to face Arkansas, a team struggling this season but in a setting where the Vols often struggle in recent years.

Tennessee has lost four in a row at Arkansas dating back to 2001.

The Vols (4-1, 1-1 SEC) have uncertainty at quarterback, but they handled Auburn in the second half last week via DeSean Bishop’s three touchdowns.

Arkansas (2-3, 0-2) has lost all three of its games against power competition by an average of 29 points.

Here are Knox News’ staff predictions for Tennessee-Arkansas:

Tennessee coach Josh Heupel celebrates with Tennessee offensive lineman David Sanders Jr. (70) after winning a college football game between Tennessee and Auburn at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn., on Oct. 3, 2026.

(Angelina Alcantar/ News Sentinel)

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Josh Heupel, Tennessee football coach in his sixth season with the UT Vols

Tennessee coach Josh Heupel celebrates with Tennessee offensive lineman David Sanders Jr. (70) after winning a college football game between Tennessee and Auburn at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn., on Oct. 3, 2026.

(Angelina Alcantar/ News Sentinel)

Tennessee-Arkansas expert predictions: Vols win in Fayetteville

Adam Sparks, UT beat reporter: Tennessee 28, Arkansas 17

Arkansas will sell out to stop the run, which means George MacIntyre should get opportunities for passes over the top, especially off play action. Arkansas has struggled to run the ball, and the Vols will seize upon that weakness to create third-and-long situations. UT’s defense has held both SEC opponents to 20 points or less, and it’ll make it 3-for-3 in this one.

Emmett Siegel, UT beat reporter: Tennessee 31, Arkansas 14

Tennessee hasn’t won at Arkansas in four games since 2001. That includes an upset in 2024 when the No. 4 Vols lost to the unranked Razorbacks.

That streak looks destined to end on Oct. 10.

Cora Hall, UT beat reporter: Tennessee 20, Arkansas 13

The Vols will do enough to get their first win in Fayetteville since 2001, but it won’t be pretty. Tennessee’s defense will once again ensure it stays in control of the game, even if the offense is still a work in progress.

Stephen Thompson, UT beat reporter: Tennessee 25, Arkansas 6

This isn’t the type of SEC atmosphere that will rattle George MacIntyre, who is making his first career start. He’ll be efficient, but not prolific as the Vols defense and running game shines again.

John Adams, columnist: Tennessee 27, Arkansas 10

Only four Tennessee players − Chuck Webb, Tony Thompson, Jamal Lewis and Johnnie Jones – rushed for at least 200 yards more than once.

Webb holds the school record with 294 yards rushing against Ole Miss in 1989. He also ranks second with a 250-yard game in the 1990 Cotton Bowl. Guess whom that was against?

Answer: Arkansas.

Gentry Estes, Tennessean columnist: Tennessee 31, Arkansas 13

Timely opponent for the Vols to try to get sorted offensively before Alabama comes to town.

Wynton Jackson, sports reporter: Tennessee 20, Arkansas 9

Tennessee pulls out another gritty, unflattering win to move to 2-1 in SEC play. Starting QB George MacIntyre won’t be asked to much, but a strong performance could present an interesting conversation when Alabama comes to town.

This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Tennessee football vs Arkansas picks: Vols run away from SEC’s worst team

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