Tennessee Vols football: Betting odds, top contenders to be the Volunteers starting quarterback in 2021

The 2021 college football season will be all about fresh starts for the once-proud Tennessee Volunteers football program. The Josh Heupel era officially begins on Thursday, September 2 when the 2021 Tennessee football schedule opens with a non-conference game against Bowling Green at Neyland Stadium. Along with a new head coach and coaching staff, the Vols will also be breaking in a new starting quarterback. 

Four players are currently vying for the top spot on the Tennessee's depth chart as the Vols open fall camp. The betting odds to be the starting quarterback for Tennessee in the Vols' season opener are as follows:

Joe Milton +100

Milton, a Michigan transfer who stands 6-foot-5 and 244 pounds, has all the physical tools to be an excellent college quarterback and eventual NFL Draft Pick. Unfortunately, the former four-star recruit was extremely inconsistent during his first three college seasons playing for Jim Harbaugh in Ann Arbor. If things click for Milton under Heupel and quarterbacks coach Chris Weinke, the Vols could finally have a difference maker leading their offense.  

Harrison Bailey +150

Bailey has some starting experience under his belt, but it came under the previous coaching staff and it produced mixed results. The physical talent is there for the former four-star and national top-100 recruit. Like Milton, Bailey will have to prove he can mesh well in the new offensive system Weinke and Heupel are installing to win the job.

Hendon Hooker +250

Hooker, a transfer from Virgina Tech, is a 6-foot-4, 218-pound true dual threat quarterback. In 15 starts for the Hokies, Hooker threw for 2,894-yards, 22 touchdowns and seven interceptions, while rushing for 1,033 career yards and 15 touchdowns. If healthy, Hooker will be difficult to keep off the field with his elite playmaking ability. 

Brian Maurer +550 

Maurer is the long shot in this battle. The redshirt sophomore saw the field in eight games in 2019 and four games in 2020 completing 37-of-81 passes for 550 yards, two touchdowns, and five interceptions. 

Which Fantasy Football sleepers, breakouts and busts should you target? And which players should you fade in 2021? And which QB shocks the NFL with a top-five performance? Join SportsLine now to get 2021 Fantasy Football cheat sheets for every single position, all from the model that called Josh Allen's huge season.