The Tennessee Volunteers are preparing to face No. 24 NC State in the Duke Mayo Classic at Bank of America Stadium. Tennessee, coming off a dominant 69-3 victory over Chattanooga, features standout quarterback Nico Iamaleava, who threw for 314 yards and three touchdowns in his debut. NC State, fresh off a 38-21 win against Western Carolina, will rely on running back Jordan Waters and quarterback Cole Gonzales to challenge Tennessee's defense. Despite Tennessee being favored by 9 points, analysts suggest NC State's strong defense could exploit the Volunteers' secondary. Both teams have shown promise early in the season, with Tennessee holding a strong non-conference record under head coach Josh Heupel. The matchup is expected to be high-scoring, with analysts divided on the outcome, but leaning towards Tennessee's overall talent advantage.