Schedule advantages/disadvantages

[sjt18]

Those things aren't necessarily chosen. I believe the SEC sets the conference schedule.

[fade route]

If used properly, the bye can be an advantage. If not, the team can come out flat and finf themselves down 14 points by halftime.
Posted via VolNation Mobile

[VOL COP]

Dont dismiss MSU, esp. since we are playing there. They have cowbells and Im not just talkin about the ones around the cheerlearders in the pasture.

[SouthKnoxVOL]

Tennessee has no say on the conference schedule, that's all up to the SEC offices. The only part of scheduling that UT has control of is OOC.

[volomon]

The debate goes on. The advantages and disavantages have been debated as long as I can remember.

[Teeman]

Originally Posted by _vol

Overthink much?

First game against NC State is likely the most important game this team has played in two years. If the Vols lose that game they will not recover the avalanche of negativity that will follow. If they win and find a way to get past Florida as well, then it will certainly be an interesting UGA game.

I disagree. Florida is the key game. A loss to NC State would be a terrible way to start the season, but follow it up with a win vs. FLA and all is forgiven. The winner of this game could contend for the East. The loser will take a massive nose dive.

[sonofUT62]

Originally Posted by SmokeyHound

Is there any advantage of having a bye before a decent to bad opponent? Or maybe they are good i dont know. Or was that week the only week we could have used the bye? Does MSU run the same offense as Alabama? (the following week )I wish we would have had our bye before Georgia.

This works out much better. It has killed us lately to play 4 tough opponents in the month of October. We have what should be a bye week on paper before UGA, although I'm sure Bowden will have Akron ready to play.

[X-Factor]

Originally Posted by DjCrenshaw

I thought it would be neat to look at who plays UT the week before and after UT. Maybe look to see if who has the tougher week before game, or maybe find where someone may or may not be looking past the game with UT. Since we don't know how good a lot of these teams will really be, this will be just a hypothedical approach. I'm just going to pick out some key games, feel free to add to it if you feel neccessary.

NC State Week before: None
Week after: Uconn

UT Week before: none
Week after: Georgia State

No real advantage to either team as it is the first game of the season.

Florida Week before: @Texas A&M
Week after: Kentucky

UT Week before: Georgia State
UT Week after: Akron

This has got to be a huge schedule advantage for UT. UF will have 2 of their first 3 games on the road, and luckily for UT, they are the second team. UT will have what a lot hope/guess is a creampuff the week before the florida game; however, UF has to travel to a different time zone and play a non citadel-esqe team. There is no real benefit to UF playing UK after the UT game, but if A&M can push UF to the limits, UT could be playing a worn down or weary UF team.


UGA Week before: Vanderbilt
Week after: @South Carolina

UT Week before: Akron
Week after: bye


This is probably going to be in UGA's favor for a couple of reasons. 1) It's at UGA. 2) Technically it is the first away game of the year for the Vols. UT has a simple opponent the week before UGA. I don't want to put too much hope on Vandy playing a tight game with UGA, although I think it is possible. The only possible schedule placement advantage for the Vols would be UGA looking ahead to South Carolina.


Missippi State Week before: @Kentucky
Week After: MTSU

UT Week before: Bye
Week after: Crimson Turd

Missippi State has homefield advantage, and there is no real advantage to either team in the placement. UK shouldn't beat MSU, and I doubt they are overlooking the vols for MTSU. UT has 2 weeks to plan for MTSU, but at the same time UT could overlook MSU and be focused on bama. MSU could be a big trap game in the schedule.

Alabubba Week before: @ Mizzou
Week after: Missippi State

UT Week before @ Missippi State
Week after @ South Carolina

UT gets the homefield advantage. Mizzou could play Bama in a close game, but I don't really see it. UT will be back at home after playing what could be a very rough midseason game. Not to mention will have another hard test waiting the following week at USCjr. I just can not see UT overlooking Bama, but I could see a UT team that had a difficult week at MSU, having an even harder week with Bama.

South Carolina 2 Weeks before: @ LSU
Week before: @ Florida
Week after: bye

UT Week before: Bama
Week after: Troy

USCjr. gets homefield advantage, and they get to look forward to an off week after the Vols. UT could be coming off of a bad or rough game or two with Bama and MSU, but USCjr. has a horrible task in playing LSU and Florida on the road back to back before taking on the Vols at home. This could be one of the greater schedule placements for the Vols. UT and USCjr. could both come into this game limping, but I would imagine USCjr. would have to be worn down.


Mizzou Week before: @ Florida
Week after: Syracuse

UT Week before: Troy
Week after: @ Vandy

I don't know that either team will be overlooking this game; however, I think the UF game could wear down an already battered Mizzou team. UT should have a fairly easy time with Troy, but Mizzou traveling to the swamp a week before traveling to Rocky Top should put this placement in the Vols favor.

An additional comment on your UT-UF analysis--I'm afraid playing GA State the week before may not be as advantageous as it looks on paper. Normally a "cream puff" would afford an opportunity to look ahead and install some surprises for Florida; however, I BELIEVE GA State is a triple option team. That being the case, at least defensively, it will be a long week of coaching and film study to make sure our guys know how to play it--especially with the new defensive scheme. Just my thoughts.

[Volgrad98]

Originally Posted by X-Factor

An additional comment on your UT-UF analysis--I'm afraid playing GA State the week before may not be as advantageous as it looks on paper. Normally a "cream puff" would afford an opportunity to look ahead and install some surprises for Florida; however, I BELIEVE GA State is a triple option team. That being the case, at least defensively, it will be a long week of coaching and film study to make sure our guys know how to play it--especially with the new defensive scheme. Just my thoughts.

I get what you're saying, triple option teams can cause confusion and problems. But if GA State gives Tennessee fits defensively, that's not a good sign and we will be in for a long year.

[sonofUT62]

Originally Posted by X-Factor

An additional comment on your UT-UF analysis--I'm afraid playing GA State the week before may not be as advantageous as it looks on paper. Normally a "cream puff" would afford an opportunity to look ahead and install some surprises for Florida; however, I BELIEVE GA State is a triple option team. That being the case, at least defensively, it will be a long week of coaching and film study to make sure our guys know how to play it--especially with the new defensive scheme. Just my thoughts.

They play a pro style offense, with some spread. Georgia Southern is the trip option team.

[rockydoc]

Excellant, well thought out post by OP.

[orangebloodgmc]

Originally Posted by rach83

Very nice analysis. In the betting world you always look at 3 game stretches, with the 3rd game typically being a letdown especially if they played physical teams. Florida and USCjr are really favorable scheduling advantages for us. Would be nice if the media did a little homework with their predictions.

Ay-men.

[DjCrenshaw]

Originally Posted by X-Factor

An additional comment on your UT-UF analysis--I'm afraid playing GA State the week before may not be as advantageous as it looks on paper. Normally a "cream puff" would afford an opportunity to look ahead and install some surprises for Florida; however, I BELIEVE GA State is a triple option team. That being the case, at least defensively, it will be a long week of coaching and film study to make sure our guys know how to play it--especially with the new defensive scheme. Just my thoughts.

The one bonus UF, IMO, has had over the last 20 years is that UF doesn't play a top notch OOC opponent until the end of the year, FSU. UT generally plays a pretty decent opponent within a game or two of playing UF. UT usually will have to show more if not all of their offense against these better than cream puff opponents. UF usually throws a whole new set of plays at UT and Jumps on them early and UT usually plays them closer in the second half. This year it may not be the case because UF may not be able to reserve all their tricks for the UT game. On the D side of the ball UF may get more of an advantage, especially if Channey uses a hurry up offense. I would guess Tommlin's hurry up would be a very educational tool for UF's D before going up against Channey's hurry up O.

[DjCrenshaw]

Originally Posted by uahvol88

South Carolina has it rough before playing UT. Eight games in a row and I think 5 SEC games in a row before playing us. Including Georgia at home and then LSU and Florida on the road...

South Carolina certainly looks more winnable after checking out their schedule.

[10acvols]

NC St- first game usually goes to best coached/ best prepared team.
UF- playing A&M is a huge advantage for us since we play UF at home.
UGA- not a bad spot, if we beat UF. Vandy always plays UGA well and
for them the USCe game is much bigger to them than we are.
MSU- we better not overlook.
Bama- Its Bama
USCe- Cocky might be beat up. Defensive line will win or lose this game.

The rest will take care of themselves. If we show up and are as good as
we think we can be we'll be ok. If not, Well the rest won't matter too much.