Arkansas
Oct. 3
Neyland Stadium (Home)
For those gamers like me I bet you remember the early Mortal Kombat games in which before fighting Goro you had to complete a mirror match. Well in terms of a competitor whose trajectory and potential aligns with the Vols this is as close to a mirror match as you will find. Arkansas is a trendy pick to make some noise in the West the same way Tennessee is a trendy pick to make noise in the East. If there is any team with more hype surrounding it at the moment than UT it is ARK. This is the game we find out who is legit and who deserves the hype. Last year Arkansas' two crossover games were against UGa and Mizzou. Arkansas left with L's in each of those matchups the same as UT's record against those same teams last year. The game against UGa was really not close at all...The dogs pumped the breaks and allowed a few scores that made the score look more appealing than it was. The Razorbacks lost by only a score to the Tigers. Arkansas' MO last year was much the same as a throwback Steelers or Ravens team; pound the rock, hit you in the mouf'. The defense is where the 'Backs hung their hats last year as evident with two noteworthy shutouts of Western conference foes LSU and Ole Piss (SIC);-). Arkansas loses a lot of talent on this side of the ball and it is up in the air as to whether the replacement pieces this year are up to par with last years' breakout performers. The 'Backs signature wins were no doubt the two shutout wins however they also blew out the Longhorns in their bowl game to cap off a season that had it's highs and lows but ended in creating much anticipation for the upcoming season. Arkansas finished the year 7-6 and 2-6 in SEC play. You can read this stat line and ask yourself "Why all the hype for a team that was barely over .500 and lost 6 conference games". Keep in mind they blew out usual powerhouse LSU, destroyed an Ole Miss team that was once ranked amongst the top in the country, and lost to Alabama by all of 1pt in a game that they should have won, had an OT loss to TAMU by a score and lost to #1 ranked MSST by a score. This is not your usual 7-6 team. With all this being said it's prediction time and I believe home field in this matchup is paramount. This is the game in which two freshman will emerge on the national stage (McKenzie & Kirkland Jr.). These guys will have to play huge to stop this rushing attack. I think they do that and the rest is history.
Prediction: Win (24-23)
Georgia
Oct. 10
Neyland Stadium (Home)
Ole Seth Strokes' favorite game right here! In interest of full disclosure I live in Chickamauga Ga and most of my friends are UGa friends so my hate for UGa is about as thick as ole Strokes'. The previous two matchups between the Vols and the Dawgz have been eventful to say the least. Oh how different the perception of our Vols would be if we have won these last two matchups (let that settle in for a sec). Georgia has, in my mind, the best 1-2 punch in the SEC and possibly in the country. Sony Michel was injured in the last matchup after suffering a punishing blow by UT safety Brian Randolph, but let's not forget that it was Sony Michel that was receiving the bulk of the carries behind Gurley before his injury and Chubb seized control. The Bulldogs return an offensive line that could likely make my 9 yr old son an All-American RB. They are talented, experienced, and big all across that offensive line. They have serious questions at QB at the moment and they are welcoming a new OC but they also are a year more experienced behind Jeremy Pruitt's defensive scheme. I'm still not a believer in their secondary but it is hard to argue that they did indeed improve as the season progressed last year. UGa is, in my opinion, inarguably the most talented team in the East. Lorenzo Carter, Leonard Floyd, Jordan Jenkins, Trent Thompson, etc... will all be hell to deal with in the passing game. If you review last years' game footage as I did before this post you will see that Ethan Wolf torched them last year and we ate them up on draw plays in the second half. That is one disadvantage to having so much speed off the edge. We have to take advantage of screen plays, TE seam routes, and quick slants if we want to counteract their pass rush. Georgia's signature win last year came against Auburn in a game that the Dawgz destroyed the Tigers 34-7. Georgia finished the season at 10-3 and 6-2 in conference play. They capped off the season with a convincing when over the Louisville Cardinals. This is a game that I struggled with picking so much. I admit that my prediction here may be clouded by my unobjectivity when it comes to UGa. In all honesty I have been struggling to find sure-fire losses for the Vols and I had to pick a few games for them to lose to account for my final season ending projection.
Prediction: Loss (34-37)
Oct. 17
Bye Week
***Much needed bye week coming off of another deflating loss to a conference rival heading into the toughest game of the year on the road in Tuscaloosa***
Oct. 24
Alabama
Bryant-Denny Stadium (Away)
Josh Dobbs made his debut against this team last year in a game in which I cringed when I saw Nathan Peterman walk out for the opening snap. I am not criticizing the staff for all of you waiting to pounce on me for that remark. Regardless of what any Bama fan is willing to admit, their defense had it's share of problems defending Dobbs at times. The defense was torched last year in Neyland and the offense never really had a chance to compete. This was the first game in which the defense was a liability rather than a strength. Amari Cooper has a tendency of doing that to opposing defenses. It is my opinion that it was this game that caused the staff to consider playing Cam Sutton at nickel in certain situations. Amari Cooper was moved all over the field and torched whoever was lined up across from him (including Cam at times). The good news....That guy is playing for the Raiders. The bad news....It's Alabama and they just reload. Freshman Calvin Ridley is a stud and they have weapons like O.J. Howard and Kenyan Drake in the passing game as well. I do not foresee the Alabama O-line being nearly as strong as it has been. They will still be strong on the defensive front. Their secondary should receive some help this year although it is young help. I'm a paragraph in or so and I haven't mentioned Derek Henry yet. The Bammers lost 3 RB's from that stud class a few years back, 5 star Bo Scarborough, and still have Derek Henry, Kenyan Drake, and the #1 RB from last year's class. Alabama, like most teams in the SEC, are still searching for an answer at QB. This was the case last year and it didn't seem to bother them much. I have a feeling that Barnett will go crazy in this game. He seems to save his best for the games that matter. Alabama finished last season 12-2 and 7-1 in the SEC. The Tides signature win was a great game at #1 Mississippi State 25-20. The Bammers season ended on a sour note losing to Ohio State in a game that nobody expected them to lose. Butch would do well to revive the rivalry with Alabama by pulling off the upset victory in Saban's back yard.......but.
Prediction: Loss (28-24)
Oct.31
Kentucky
Commonwealth Stadium (Away)
I was in the crowd last year that was telling everyone not to sleep on Kentucky. Well Butch and company went on to walk all over the Wildcats 50-16. The defense was dominant in this matchup last year. UT has done nothing but improve on that side of the ball in the off season and that spells disaster for the 'Cats. Call me crazy but I am still not too down on the 'Cats. I believe Patrick Towles is a pretty good QB. The loss of Bud Dupree on that defense, I think, is catastrophic. They have pretty strong safety play but that loss will hurt them pretty bad as a unit. This is a game that I can see Hurd and Kamara rushing for 100 yds each and Dobbs giving us another 60+. Kentucky began the year hot and was a shoe in to make a bowl but collapsed on their way to a 5-7 finish and 2-6 in the SEC. Their signature win came against South Carolina by a score. It is never good to finish a season on a 6 game losing streak and I think that taste is longlasting in the back of the mouths of those Kentucky players. Fool me once shame on me...Fool me...can't fool me again ;-).
Prediction: Win (49-20)
Thanks for those who engaged in conversation on the last post. I imagine there will be a bit more vitriol aimed at this post seeing as how the first had us undefeated and there is 2 losses on this one.
Oct. 3
Neyland Stadium (Home)
For those gamers like me I bet you remember the early Mortal Kombat games in which before fighting Goro you had to complete a mirror match. Well in terms of a competitor whose trajectory and potential aligns with the Vols this is as close to a mirror match as you will find. Arkansas is a trendy pick to make some noise in the West the same way Tennessee is a trendy pick to make noise in the East. If there is any team with more hype surrounding it at the moment than UT it is ARK. This is the game we find out who is legit and who deserves the hype. Last year Arkansas' two crossover games were against UGa and Mizzou. Arkansas left with L's in each of those matchups the same as UT's record against those same teams last year. The game against UGa was really not close at all...The dogs pumped the breaks and allowed a few scores that made the score look more appealing than it was. The Razorbacks lost by only a score to the Tigers. Arkansas' MO last year was much the same as a throwback Steelers or Ravens team; pound the rock, hit you in the mouf'. The defense is where the 'Backs hung their hats last year as evident with two noteworthy shutouts of Western conference foes LSU and Ole Piss (SIC);-). Arkansas loses a lot of talent on this side of the ball and it is up in the air as to whether the replacement pieces this year are up to par with last years' breakout performers. The 'Backs signature wins were no doubt the two shutout wins however they also blew out the Longhorns in their bowl game to cap off a season that had it's highs and lows but ended in creating much anticipation for the upcoming season. Arkansas finished the year 7-6 and 2-6 in SEC play. You can read this stat line and ask yourself "Why all the hype for a team that was barely over .500 and lost 6 conference games". Keep in mind they blew out usual powerhouse LSU, destroyed an Ole Miss team that was once ranked amongst the top in the country, and lost to Alabama by all of 1pt in a game that they should have won, had an OT loss to TAMU by a score and lost to #1 ranked MSST by a score. This is not your usual 7-6 team. With all this being said it's prediction time and I believe home field in this matchup is paramount. This is the game in which two freshman will emerge on the national stage (McKenzie & Kirkland Jr.). These guys will have to play huge to stop this rushing attack. I think they do that and the rest is history.
Prediction: Win (24-23)
Georgia
Oct. 10
Neyland Stadium (Home)
Ole Seth Strokes' favorite game right here! In interest of full disclosure I live in Chickamauga Ga and most of my friends are UGa friends so my hate for UGa is about as thick as ole Strokes'. The previous two matchups between the Vols and the Dawgz have been eventful to say the least. Oh how different the perception of our Vols would be if we have won these last two matchups (let that settle in for a sec). Georgia has, in my mind, the best 1-2 punch in the SEC and possibly in the country. Sony Michel was injured in the last matchup after suffering a punishing blow by UT safety Brian Randolph, but let's not forget that it was Sony Michel that was receiving the bulk of the carries behind Gurley before his injury and Chubb seized control. The Bulldogs return an offensive line that could likely make my 9 yr old son an All-American RB. They are talented, experienced, and big all across that offensive line. They have serious questions at QB at the moment and they are welcoming a new OC but they also are a year more experienced behind Jeremy Pruitt's defensive scheme. I'm still not a believer in their secondary but it is hard to argue that they did indeed improve as the season progressed last year. UGa is, in my opinion, inarguably the most talented team in the East. Lorenzo Carter, Leonard Floyd, Jordan Jenkins, Trent Thompson, etc... will all be hell to deal with in the passing game. If you review last years' game footage as I did before this post you will see that Ethan Wolf torched them last year and we ate them up on draw plays in the second half. That is one disadvantage to having so much speed off the edge. We have to take advantage of screen plays, TE seam routes, and quick slants if we want to counteract their pass rush. Georgia's signature win last year came against Auburn in a game that the Dawgz destroyed the Tigers 34-7. Georgia finished the season at 10-3 and 6-2 in conference play. They capped off the season with a convincing when over the Louisville Cardinals. This is a game that I struggled with picking so much. I admit that my prediction here may be clouded by my unobjectivity when it comes to UGa. In all honesty I have been struggling to find sure-fire losses for the Vols and I had to pick a few games for them to lose to account for my final season ending projection.
Prediction: Loss (34-37)
Oct. 17
Bye Week
***Much needed bye week coming off of another deflating loss to a conference rival heading into the toughest game of the year on the road in Tuscaloosa***
Oct. 24
Alabama
Bryant-Denny Stadium (Away)
Josh Dobbs made his debut against this team last year in a game in which I cringed when I saw Nathan Peterman walk out for the opening snap. I am not criticizing the staff for all of you waiting to pounce on me for that remark. Regardless of what any Bama fan is willing to admit, their defense had it's share of problems defending Dobbs at times. The defense was torched last year in Neyland and the offense never really had a chance to compete. This was the first game in which the defense was a liability rather than a strength. Amari Cooper has a tendency of doing that to opposing defenses. It is my opinion that it was this game that caused the staff to consider playing Cam Sutton at nickel in certain situations. Amari Cooper was moved all over the field and torched whoever was lined up across from him (including Cam at times). The good news....That guy is playing for the Raiders. The bad news....It's Alabama and they just reload. Freshman Calvin Ridley is a stud and they have weapons like O.J. Howard and Kenyan Drake in the passing game as well. I do not foresee the Alabama O-line being nearly as strong as it has been. They will still be strong on the defensive front. Their secondary should receive some help this year although it is young help. I'm a paragraph in or so and I haven't mentioned Derek Henry yet. The Bammers lost 3 RB's from that stud class a few years back, 5 star Bo Scarborough, and still have Derek Henry, Kenyan Drake, and the #1 RB from last year's class. Alabama, like most teams in the SEC, are still searching for an answer at QB. This was the case last year and it didn't seem to bother them much. I have a feeling that Barnett will go crazy in this game. He seems to save his best for the games that matter. Alabama finished last season 12-2 and 7-1 in the SEC. The Tides signature win was a great game at #1 Mississippi State 25-20. The Bammers season ended on a sour note losing to Ohio State in a game that nobody expected them to lose. Butch would do well to revive the rivalry with Alabama by pulling off the upset victory in Saban's back yard.......but.
Prediction: Loss (28-24)
Oct.31
Kentucky
Commonwealth Stadium (Away)
I was in the crowd last year that was telling everyone not to sleep on Kentucky. Well Butch and company went on to walk all over the Wildcats 50-16. The defense was dominant in this matchup last year. UT has done nothing but improve on that side of the ball in the off season and that spells disaster for the 'Cats. Call me crazy but I am still not too down on the 'Cats. I believe Patrick Towles is a pretty good QB. The loss of Bud Dupree on that defense, I think, is catastrophic. They have pretty strong safety play but that loss will hurt them pretty bad as a unit. This is a game that I can see Hurd and Kamara rushing for 100 yds each and Dobbs giving us another 60+. Kentucky began the year hot and was a shoe in to make a bowl but collapsed on their way to a 5-7 finish and 2-6 in the SEC. Their signature win came against South Carolina by a score. It is never good to finish a season on a 6 game losing streak and I think that taste is longlasting in the back of the mouths of those Kentucky players. Fool me once shame on me...Fool me...can't fool me again ;-).
Prediction: Win (49-20)
Thanks for those who engaged in conversation on the last post. I imagine there will be a bit more vitriol aimed at this post seeing as how the first had us undefeated and there is 2 losses on this one.
