Tennessee Volenteers

7-5 (3-5)

Week 1: September 3rd vs. Montana - Montana is usually contending for a Division 1-AA Championship, but I think they have been down the last couple years. This will be a very tough challenge for them going across the country to play in front of 100,000. But App. St. did the same thing to Michigan a few years ago so UT better be ready to play.

Week 2: September 10th vs. Cincinnati - Tennessee has played Cincy 5 times in its history losing once, in 1904. The Bearcats have 10 returning starters on defense, but that defense wasn't very good. As long as the Vols aren't looking ahead to the game next week at Florida then they should be able to take care of Cincinnati.

Week 3: September 17th at Florida - Even though Florida has dominated this series from the Spurrier era on, this game is close almost every year...even if you never feel the Gators are in too much trouble. I think we are in store for more of the same here. Neither team has to deal with too difficult of competition leading up to the game, and they should be revved up for SEC play. But the game is in the swamp and Tennessee is still inexperienced. They may perform well for 3 quarters but I think Florida will pull away at the end.

Week 4: Bye - This is the earliest bye in the SEC, and UT might be wishing later in the season they had that bye when they are going through the meat of the SEC.

Week 5: October 1st vs. Buffalo - Turner Gill somehow turned Buffalo into a bowl team and MAC champ in 2008 but that magic is gone. They went 2-10 last year and they certainly shouldn't compete with an SEC team on the road this year. UT wins.

Week 6: October 8th vs. Georgia - I think this will be a very good game. Derek Dooley has not had a signature win at UT and this has a chance to be it. I think the cards stack will for Tennessee going into this game as they have an off week, Buffalo, then this game at home. UGA will be coming off must win games at Ole Miss and vs. MSU. Tennessee needs a big win vs. Georgia and I think they get it done here.

Week 7: October 15th vs. LSU - Everybody remembers the finish to this game last year, and hopefully this game can be that good again. I was very surprised Tennessee was able to keep up with LSU in 2010, especially on the road. But with the game in Knoxville, I'm not so sure this won't be another close game. The last time these two teams met in Knoxville, 2006, it was a classic. In fact, the last 3 regular season meeting between these two have been classics...and the 2007 SEC Championship game was a good game. So why not expect anything different here? I give LSU the edge at the lines, but UT's got enough play makers to keep it close. Still, LSU wins the game.

Week 8: October 22nd at Alabama - This is one of those classic SEC rivalries. Two years ago Mount Cody had to block two field goal attempts to preserve Bama's perfect season and eventual national championship. UT comes into this game in the middle of one of the most difficult stretches of SEC games, so a game like this is not what the doctor ordered. You never know what could happen in a rivalry, but I don't see Tennessee being able to pass the ball much with their young receivers, and I think Bama will be able to move the ball pretty well against an average Tennessee D. Tide wins.

Week 9: October 29th vs. South Carolina - South Carolina has lost 14 of the 15 games they have played in Knoxville, but the tides have turned. I think this has the chance to be a good game, but that could be contingent upon UT coming out of the UGA, LSU, and Bama games in back-to-back-to-back weekends without too many injuries. But that is a tough stretch to go through and then have to face Marcus Lattimore running right at you on fresh legs. Carolina wins.

Week 10: November 5th at Tennessee - MTSU has made it to two straight bowl games and they have fared pretty well in the Sun Belt recently. I think this is a good game for Tennessee to play each year. The Vols will be coming off one of the most brutal stretches in the country in which they will be very fortunate to come away with their health. They will need this game to ensure a bowl, and I think they will get it fairly easily.

Week 11: November 12th at Arkansas - The Vols always have an easy path in November, but not this year with this game right in the middle of it. Tennessee is young, but by this point in the year they should have the experience needed to win a game like this. But Arkansas has too many weapons and I'm not so sure UT's O-line will be able to hold off the Hog's D-line from pressuring Bray. On the road against a really tough opponent, the Vols go down.

Week 12: November 19th at Vanderbilt - This is a rivalry in the sense that Vanderbilt really wants to beat Tennessee. And the last couple of years UT has needed to beat Vandy in order to go to a bowl game, and that adds a little salt. I think this is a good matchup with both lines matching up pretty equally. I think UT's D-line has really good potential and could be excelling by this time of year and this game is at home. There are other areas like WR were the Vols are young and should be improved by late November, in time for this game. It could be really close, but I'm taking Tennessee.

Week 13: November 26th at Kentucky - Last year I got burned by calling for this streak Tennessee has over UK to end, that won't happen again. Vols win.


JB