No. 14 LSU at No. 13 Tennessee: Week 12 preview

No. 14 LSU (6-3) visits No. 13 Tennessee (7-2) on Sat, Nov 21 · TBD. The line is LSU −1.5 with a total of 57.5.
SP+ power ratings: LSU 22.9 (7th), Tennessee 20.5 (10th). SP+ projects an even game, including 2.5 points of home field.
The LSU offense ranks 29th in FBS in EPA per play (+0.20); the Tennessee defense ranks 5th (−0.07 allowed). Biggest LSU edges: second-level yards per carry, power success rate, standard-downs success rate. The Tennessee defense holds the edge in explosiveness, passing explosiveness, rushing explosiveness.
The Tennessee offense ranks 58th in FBS in EPA per play (+0.13); the LSU defense ranks 18th (−0.01 allowed). The LSU defense holds the edge in passing explosiveness, sack rate, passing-downs success rate.
Schedule: comparable so far (LSU 20th toughest, opp. SP+ +8.1; Tennessee 35th toughest, opp. SP+ +6.2), so their numbers compare on even footing.
Pace: projected for about 133 total snaps in regulation (+1.8 vs. the FBS average of 132), a bit faster than average. Single games vary a lot: most land within 12 snaps of the projection.
Weather: Cloudy, 68°F at kickoff (feels like 65°), 13% chance of rain, wind S 10 mph gusting to 24.