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The Tennessee Vols versus Ball State Cardinals Thursday night game for Week 1 of the 2022 season was not even a competition. Tennessee won this game 59-10 and the 49-point margin of victory was an easy cover for a -37 point spread.
BetOnline was reporting 71% of the spread action on the Vols ahead of this game. Most of the Thursday night matchups featured relatively balanced action.
59% C. Michigan +20.5 @ Oklahoma St
71% Tennessee -37 v Ball St
52% Pitt -7.5 v WVU
51% Penn St -3.5 @ Purdue
59% LA Tech +20 @ Mizzou
56% New Mexico St +36 @ Minnesota
Hendon Hooker threw for 222 yards and two touchdowns and ran for two more scores, bringing his career total touchdowns to 33 in his two-year career at Tennessee.
Hooker's player props for the Tennessee-Ball State game came in as follows:
Hendon Hooker (Tennessee) Total Passing Yards
Over 272½ Passing Yards-115
Under 272½ Passing Yards-115
Hendon Hooker (Tennessee) Total Touchdown Passes
Over 2½ TD Passes-135
Under 2½ TD Passes+105
Hendon Hooker (Tennessee) Total Interceptions
Over ½ Interceptions+240
Under ½ Interceptions-330
Hendon Hooker (Tennessee) Total Rushing Yards
Over 45½ Rushing Yards-115
Under 45½ Rushing Yards-115
Hooker extended his streak of games with having thrown a touchdown pass to 13. That is tied with Tony Robinson (1984-85) for second all-time in Vols' history behind Heath Shuler's 18 (1992-94).
"(Hooker) was really efficient," said Tennessee coach Josh Heupel. "He was in command; in control. He was in complete command of the football game."
"Tennessee is good at what they do from an offensive standpoint," said Ball State coach Mike Neu. "It's tough to slow down an offense like that with a quarterback playing at a high level."
"We have more guys who understand the ‘why' behind (what's being done)," said Heupel, comparing his second season to last year. "We're a deeper team than a year ago.
"We know more about this football team than a year ago. Roles are going to change throughout the season."
Jaylen Wright led the Tennessee ground game with 86 yards and a touchdown.
Elsewhere, the West Virginia vs. Pittsburgh "Backyard Brawl" proved to be one of the better games Thursday night.
The Panthers edged their rivals for the first time since 2008 after a pass by West Virginia’s JT Daniels smacked off the hands of Bryce Ford-Wheaton and into the hands of MJ Devonshire. This resulted in a 38-31 victory. But this was a failed cover at many books that had Pittsburgh as a -7.5 favorite. Some books had a push at -7.
- Don Shapiro, Gambling911.com
