VSiN PrimeTime | August 6, 2026 | Hour 3

**SPEAKER_1** (0:01)
This is VSiN, the SportsBetting Network. This is VSiN PrimeTime, live from the Circus Sportsbook in downtown Las Vegas on VSiN, the SportsBetting Network.

**Tim Murray** (0:21)
Alongside Matt Youmans, I'm Tim Murray. The first half over has cash, so if you want a little contrarian or fated me, winner winner, chicken dinner. 14-7 Cardinals up on the Carolina Panthers. All right, let's head to our progressive guest line, talk a little college football as the VSiN College Football Betting Guide is out.
JVT, Jonathan Von Tobel, fresh off of some local radio. And is that your UNLV jersey in the background from your days with the Rebels?

**Jonathan Von Tobel** (0:53)
No, no, this is, actually, I don't know who it is. I probably should know who is behind me. But I like to say that it's Tony Miller, former walk on defensive back, now retired as a former member of the gambling market out here.

**Tim Murray** (1:06)
The JVT wrote up the SEC and the Mountain West for our VSiN College Football Betting Guide.

**Matt Youmans** (1:13)
That's a lot of work.

**Tim Murray** (1:14)
It is. And we went in depth on the VSiN College Football Betting Podcast episode out now. So make sure you check that out. But let's start with the SEC real quickly. And I want to hit you on Tennessee because we talked about this on the pod. And this is a team that JVT, I just all the prep that we've done this off season, I didn't get a good feel on them. And I feel like you have a stronger grasp of this Tennessee team and what to expect. Win totals around seven and a half for the Vols this year. They are going to be going with a true freshman. It looks like Faison Brandon at quarterback. What did your take away from Josh Hypple's squad this season?

**Jonathan Von Tobel** (1:48)
That they're going to be really good, or at least I think they're going to be pretty good. And I'll start with Hypple because going into Tennessee, I was kind of surprised about the amount of consistency that Hypple's had in his career there at Tennessee. I didn't realize it was as consistent as he's been. You know, he's won eight games and I think it's four straight seasons. Since he's taken over the program, guys, they have averaged at least 31.3 points per game offensively. They've had a pretty sturdy floor of production. And so I think taking that into account and then looking at this team as a whole, the returning production is awesome. I mean, pretty much the entire offensive line intact, safe for one starter. You've got three of your top four receivers back. You've got your leading rusher back defensively. I think you have some questions about where this team is going to be, but linebacking core is really strong. You did suffer a suspension. He's going to be out for two games. You bring in Penn State's leading tackler from last year. Oh, and by the way, you hired Jim Knowles because he was out of a job because of what happened at Penn State last year. I think this team is going to be really freaking good. You know, the win total is seven and a half. The schedule has some trip up spots, right? You got to take on Texas. You got to take on Auburn, who I think is going to be very good. Alabama is in there as well as you have the schedule up. But I think this team can surprise quite a few people, pull off some of those upsets. And there's some really winnable games that you can kind of bank on with the volunteers. And I think the upside, a lot of it is going to have to do with our boy Brandon, right? That's not his first name. That's his last name. But I do think if he hits, which I think Hypal is going to allow him to do, it's going to be a pretty formidable team that a lot of people won't see coming.

**Matt Youmans** (3:07)
Well, the thing is, Jim Knowles is one of the best defensive coordinators in the business. That's a great hire for Tennessee. All right, where do you stand on Alabama?

**Jonathan Von Tobel** (3:17)
Well, I'm sitting currently, but I will say that Alabama can win a national championship, I think. I think it really just depends on what you're going to get a quarterback. Kaelin Russell is going to be the big question, Matt. But I think that Kaelin DeBoer has a strong enough track record of helping quarterbacks develop and get the most out of their game, that I'm going to trust that Russell is going to be the guy and be what you expect him to be.