Sports Illustrated’s Pat Forde probably doesn’t get any Christmas cards from Tennessee Vols fans.
Forde, a longtime college football writer/reporter, has had a contentious relationship with Vols fans over the years due to some of his takes about Tennessee athletics.
For example, last year after the Vols’ loss to the Florida Gators in Gainesville, Forde used “sore loser” and “petulance” while discussing some of Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel’s late game decisions.
That’s just one of the many examples of Forde’s “anti-Vols takes”.
Pat Forde picks Tennessee to beat Oklahoma
Forde may seem to have a strange disdain for Tennessee, but he’s not letting that influence his pick for the Vols’ huge game against the Oklahoma Sooners in Norman this weekend.
On Tuesday, Forde predicted that Tennessee will beat Oklahoma 35 to 24.
From SI.com: Key matchup: Heupel’s offensive brain against Brent Venables’s defensive acumen. Famed former Sooners head coach Bob Stoops has begged off interview requests before this game, having been the boss of both men and the coach when Heupel was quarterbacking Oklahoma to the 2000 national title. As impressive as Tennessee QB Nico Iamaleava has been, the Vols have been more productive running than passing. The Oklahoma run defense ranks 11th nationally in fewest yards allowed per carry at 2.22 and has yet to give up a rushing touchdown. The Sooners also have a nation-leading 10 takeaways so far.
Tennessee and Oklahoma will kick off at 7:30 PM ET on Saturday night. \
