Kent State at Tennessee Week 3 College Football Matchup Kent State at Tennessee Matchup - Week 3
Sat, Sep 14 2024 · Week 3 · 🏟 Neyland Stadium Knoxville, TN · Turf · 102,455 cap
Kent State✈ 384 miSame TZ
0 71
Final
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📊 Punt & Rally Projection
Kent State
10
Tennessee
48
P&R Line Tennessee -38.5
P&R Total O/U 58
Confidence 90 High
Vegas Tennessee -49.5 · O/U 61.5
Matchup Prediction
Tennessee has the edge in this matchup
Both Momentum Control (CSS) and Game Control metrics favor Tennessee entering this game.
Momentum Control
78.1%
Tennessee wins
Strong
Game Control
76%
Tennessee wins
Strong
Vegas Spread
Tennessee -49.5
O/U 61.5
ESPN Bet
Advanced Stats
All 4 factors agree → Tennessee · 83.1% ATS historically when all four align
↓ See full breakdown
Kent State 2024 Schedule
Kent State's 2024 Schedule
DateMatchupSpreadTotalResultO/UCover
Sat 8/31Kent State at Pittsburgh+23.5L24–5555.5L24–55ON
Sat 9/7Kent State vs St. Francis (PA)-17.5L17–2349.5L17–23UN
Sat 9/14Kent State at Tennessee+49.5L0–7161.5L0–71ON
Sat 9/21Kent State at Penn State+49.0L0–5658.0L0–56UN
Sat 9/28Kent State vs Eastern Michigan+14.0L33–5246.0L33–52ON
— Bye Week —
Sat 10/12Kent State vs Ball State+3.0L35–3758.0L35–37OY
Sat 10/19Kent State at Bowling Green+24.0L6–2754.5L6–27UY
Sat 10/26Kent State at Western Michigan+19.0L21–5261.0L21–52ON
— Bye Week —
Wed 11/6Kent State vs Ohio+20.5L0–4153.5L0–41UN
Wed 11/13Kent State at Miami (OH)+31.0L7–3447.5L7–34UY
Tue 11/19Kent State vs Akron+10.5L17–3849.0L17–38ON
Tue 11/26Kent State at Buffalo+23.5L7–4350.5L7–43UN
Tennessee 2024 Schedule
Tennessee's 2024 Schedule
DateMatchupSpreadTotalResultO/UCover
Sat 8/31Tennessee vs Chattanooga-38.5W69–356.5W69–3OY
Sat 9/7Tennessee vs NC State-10.0W51–1060.5W51–10OY
Sat 9/14Tennessee vs Kent State-49.5W71–061.5W71–0OY
Sat 9/21Tennessee at Oklahoma-6.0W25–1557.0W25–15UY
— Bye Week —
Sat 10/5Tennessee at Arkansas-14.0L14–1957.5L14–19UN
Sat 10/12Tennessee vs Florida-13.5W23–1754.5W23–17UN
Sat 10/19Tennessee vs Alabama+3.5W24–1757.5W24–17UY
— Bye Week —
Sat 11/2Tennessee vs Kentucky-17.5W28–1845.5W28–18ON
Sat 11/9Tennessee vs Mississippi State-26.5W33–1461.5W33–14UN
Sat 11/16Tennessee at Georgia+8.5L17–3147.0L17–31ON
Sat 11/23Tennessee vs UTEP-41.5W56–054.0W56–0OY
Sat 11/30Tennessee at Vanderbilt-9.5W36–2345.5W36–23OY
Sat 12/21Tennessee at Ohio State+7.5L17–4247.0L17–42ON
Advanced Stats
Advanced Analytics Matchup
Matchup-adjusted (offense vs opponent defense) · 2024 season
Tennessee PPA Edge
Agreement Signals — When All Metrics Agree
Elite · 83.1% ATS
PPA + PPO + SR + Havoc
All 4 Agree
→ Tennessee
Elite · 82.4% ATS
PPA + PPO + Havoc
3 Agree
→ Tennessee
Elite · 73.9% ATS
PPA + Success Rate
Both Agree
→ Tennessee
Individual Factors — Ranked by Predictive Strength
PPA Overall
Points added per play · Elite predictor
Kent State #131
+0.075
Tennessee #46
+0.577
Tennessee Edge
PPA Passing
Pass efficiency edge · Strong predictor
Kent State #109
+0.293
Tennessee #51
+0.699
Tennessee Edge
Havoc Total
Def. disruption rate · Strong predictor
Kent State #127
0.123
Tennessee #5
0.207
TFLs, sacks, PBUs, forced fumbles — higher is better
Tennessee Edge
Points Per Opp
Drive-finishing edge · Strong predictor
Kent State #130
+5.918
Tennessee #55
+8.357
Tennessee Edge
Success Rate
Play consistency edge · Solid predictor
Kent State #134
+0.681
Tennessee #18
+0.975
Tennessee Edge
Field Position
Avg start (lower=better) · Solid predictor
Kent State #111
72.8
Tennessee #15
68.4
Avg yards from own endzone to average start — lower is better · longer bar = better field position
Tennessee Edge
Advanced stats sourced from CFBD · 2024 season · Edges are matchup-adjusted (offense vs opponent defense)
Power Ratings
Team Power Ratings
Overall · Offense · Defense ratings · Updated as season progresses
Tennessee Rated Higher
Overall Power Rating
Kent State
-16.7
Tennessee
14.6
Offense Rating
Kent State
7.5
Tennessee
21.0
Defense Rating (lower = better defense)
Kent State
24.2
Tennessee
6.4
Power ratings updated throughout the season as results accumulate
Momentum Control (CSS)
Consecutive Scoring Sequences Who builds scoring momentum? Tennessee Edge
Avg sequences created per game
Kent State #134
0.00
Tennessee #49
4.00
Avg sequences allowed per game (lower is better)
Kent State #134
4.00
Tennessee #60
0.00
Tennessee +4.00
CSS Edge (season-to-date)
Teams with this edge win 78.1% of games historically
Based on 1 game this season
Game Control (GC)
Win Probability Dominance Who controls games start to finish? Tennessee Edge
Avg GC score per game (offense)
Kent State #1
6.8
Tennessee #1
84.3
Avg GC score allowed per game (lower is better)
Kent State #140
88.0
Tennessee #29
5.3
Tennessee +77.5
GC Edge (season-to-date)
Teams with this edge win 76% of games historically
Based on 2 games this season
Actual Result
CSS Battle
Tennessee
8 — 0 sequences
✓ Predicted correctly
GC Battle
Tennessee
92.8 — 2.9 GC score
✓ Predicted correctly
Game Result
Tennessee won by 71
✓ Model called it
Spread Context
ATS Historical Context
Based on 2021–2025 backtest · FBS vs FBS · Regular season

Both metrics agree on Tennessee with a large edge. Historically, dominant teams like this are fully priced into the spread — the agreed-upon team covers just 50.2% of the time. The metrics predict game control better than they beat the number.

ATS data is informational only. Past cover rates do not guarantee future results.

Coaching Matchup
Kent State
Kenni Burns #1
1–11 (8%) · Yr 2 at school
OC Mark Carney Yr 1 #1
DC David Duggan Yr 2 #1
Staff Rating
0.00 #1
Tennessee
Josh Heupel #1
27–12 (69%) · Yr 4 at school
OC Joey Halzle Yr 2 #1
DC Tim Banks Yr 3 #1
Staff Rating
0.00 #1
About these metrics
Advanced Stats shows matchup-adjusted factor edges (offense vs opponent defense). Combination signals — when PPA, PPO, Success Rate, and Havoc all point the same direction — have historically predicted the SU winner in 95–97% of games and the ATS winner in 82–83% of games (2021–2025, FBS vs FBS, regular season).
Impact: Advanced Stats are the best performance based metric used to predict the outcome of games.

Momentum Control (CSS) measures consecutive scoring sequences — when a team scores, holds the opponent scoreless, then scores again. Teams entering a game with a CSS edge of +1.0 or more have won 71–78% of games historically (2021–2025, FBS vs FBS).
Impact: CSS is not a predictive ATS advantage, data shows this is already considered when lines are set.

Game Control (GC) measures win probability dominance — how thoroughly a team controlled the game from start to finish. Teams with a GC edge of +12 or more have won 67–76% of games historically. When both metrics agree, combined confidence is higher. When they split, treat as a lean at best.
Impact: GS is not a predictive ATS advantage, data shows this is already considered when lines are set.

Power Ratings are a custom-built composite of a Teams Talent, Experience & Production, Coaching & Performance Metrics. These are updated constantly with roster changes, performance once the games start for the 2026 season, injuries the team is dealing with and scheduling situations.
Impact: There are a wide range of power ratings available, we think ours is the best, you can decide for yourself