The Syracuse Orange and Tennessee Volunteers will play in the Aflac Kickoff Game from Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. Both teams will have new starting quarterbacks leading them this year and will look to get off to a strong start with a win over a power conference opponent. Before this Week 1 matchup from Atlanta, continue reading to get my Syracuse vs Tennessee prediction.
Our Syracuse vs Tennessee Pick
- Pick: Tennessee -13.5
- Confidence: 3/5
- Claim Your Bonus Bets: Click the Claim Bonus button below to claim our DraftKings Sportsbook bonus. You can bet $5 and get $300 in bonus bets INSTANTLY and over $200 off NFL Sunday Ticket!
Bet $5, Get $300 in Bonus Bets Instantly + Over $200 Off NFL Sunday Ticket
Gambling Problem? Call or TEXT 1-800-Gambler 21+ 
Gambling Problem? Call or TEXT 1-800-Gambler 21+
Promo Code: Click To Claim
Bet $5, Get $300 in Bonus Bets Instantly + Over $200 Off NFL Sunday Ticket
Gambling Problem? Call or TEXT 1-800-Gambler 21+
Promo Code: Click To Claim
Gambling Problem? Call or TEXT 1-800-Gambler 21+
Game Snapshot
- Matchup: Tennessee vs Syracuse
- Date & Time: Saturday, August 30, 2025, 12:00 p.m. ET
- Venue: Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, GA
- Broadcast: ABC
Syracuse vs Tennessee Odds
| Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|
| Tennessee –13.5 | Tennessee -650 / Syracuse +425 | 50.5 |
Key Storylines
- Tennessee opens with a new starting quarterback after the departure of Nico Iamaleava to UCLA. Senior transfer Joey Aguilar will take over under center and his performance will determine how this season goes for the Vols.
- Syracuse will go with Steve Angeli at quarterback. The Notre Dame transfer will look to help the Orange overcome the losses of QB Kyle McCord to the NFL along with key skill players like Oronde Gadsden.
- Tennessee’s defense was one of the nation’s strongest units last season. The Vols were blown out by eventual champions Ohio State in the College Football Playoff last year. They will look to bounce back from that here.
- Syracuse’s schedule is among the toughest in the country. This game is a huge opportunity for Fran Brown’s team to prove that they can handle the demands of their 2025 slate.
Quarterback Play
Tennessee’s Joey Aguilar must adapt to SEC-level competition and establish chemistry with a revamped receiving corps and offensive line. Aguilar threw 56 touchdown passes over the last two years at App State but this could be a more difficult situation for him to adapt to. Syracuse’s Steve Angeli has attempted just 80 passes in two seasons at Notre Dame and this is his first real chance to prove himself in college football.
Betting Trends & H2H
- These teams have played just three times in their history. Tennessee has won all three of those matchups and the most recent of those games came in 2001.
- Syracuse has covered as an underdog in five of its last seven such games
- Tennessee went 3–6 ATS in its last nine games a season ago.
Syracuse vs Tennessee Model Projection
Score Projection: Tennessee 31 – Syracuse 17
Win Probability: Tennessee 85%, Syracuse 15%
Final Thoughts
This game is being played at a neutral site. But that neutral site is right in the heart of SEC country and Tennessee should have a major advantage in terms of crowd support in this game. Tennessee’s defense will provide them with even more of an advantage against a Syracuse offense that will have to figure things out with a new quarterback on the fly.
In my opinion, Aguilar is the better transfer QB than Angeli and Tennessee should be able to win with some margin here. I’ll lay the points with the Volunteers as Tennessee should stay in the top 25 with a win here.
