My annual game by game prediction for 2015

#126
#126
Dobbs 4 Heisman said:
Alabama and Mizzou are understandable considering they are on the road and both good teams. But its highly unlikely we lose to Oklahoma and Florida.

I know there are alot of psychologically damaged vols fans when when it comes to playing Florida but we will for once be more talented than them this season. We have a QB, they don't. We have an established coach and system, they don't. They'll have a new coach, they will have lost alot of talent to the NFL, and they had a lousy recruiting class. If Tennessee is EVER going to beat Florida, this should be the year. There are NO EXCUSES for losing to this inferior team.

Oklahoma is simply not very good. I'd pick Tennessee to beat them in Norman next year but given that we're playing them in Neyland, I'd say its a slam dunk victory for us. Blowing out Oklahoma in Week 2 will be our coming out party. I think a Iowa-esque performance is in order.
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Ron Zook is laughing at this.
 
#128
#128
jakez4ut said:
i love February. we're awesome in February!
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difference this time is that everyone else in America is also saying we're gonna be awesome. this isn't the usual pie in the sky optomistic fan outlook. we actually have legit reasons to believe we can be as good as anyone next year.
 
#129
#129
Dobbs 4 Heisman said:
difference this time is that everyone else in America is also saying we're gonna be awesome. this isn't the usual pie in the sky optomistic fan outlook. we actually have legit reasons to believe we can be as good as anyone next year.
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We have reason to believe we'll be better. We're not going 11-1 with our schedule.

8-4 or 9-3 if things go our way.
 
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#130
#130
TNinOR said:
I would rather have a 7-5 season but beat Bama and Florida. Any bowl game win would be secondary if we could do that and would TRULY signal that we are back.
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Those two W's with a 9-3/10-2 would be more significant, imo.
 
#131
#131
Dobbs 4 Heisman said:
yet somehow inexperienced sophmores and redshirt freshmen led Ohio State to a national title over the senior/junior laden teams in Alabama and Oregon.

at the end of the day superior talent will win out.
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Ohio State was not more talented. Meyer out-coached Saban in that one or if people don't want to admit that then the Tom Herman out-coached Kirby Smart.
 
#132
#132
thebjd said:
Ohio State was not more talented. Meyer out-coached Saban in that one or if people don't want to admit that then the Tom Herman out-coached Kirby Smart.
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I think you underestimate how many future 1st round picks played for Ohio State in that game. Seniors Devon Smith and Michael Bennett are projected to be drafted in the first 2 rounds of the 2015 draft. And then next year, sophomores Joey Bosa, Ezekeil Elliot, Cardale Jones, Eli Apple, Von Bell, and Darron Lee are all projected to be high draft picks in the 2016 draft. Stud true freshmen MLB Raekwon McMillan will follow in 2017.

Compare that to Alabama. Amari Cooper, TJ Yeldon, and Landon Collins will be drafted in the first 2 rounds of the 2015 draft. However, the only guys who played in the Ohio State game with high draft grades for 2016 are Derrick Henry, A'shawn Robinson, and Jonathan Allen. Significantly less stud sophomores contributed to Bama's run than Ohio State. Future franchise LT Cam Robinson will definitely be a 1st round pick in 2017. Other than that, not too many other bama players are projected as high draft picks that played heavily for the tide in 2014.
 
#139
#139
Dobbs 4 Heisman said:
Alabama and Mizzou are understandable considering they are on the road and both good teams. But its highly unlikely we lose to Oklahoma and Florida.

I know there are alot of psychologically damaged vols fans when when it comes to playing Florida but we will for once be more talented than them this season. We have a QB, they don't. We have an established coach and system, they don't. They'll have a new coach, they will have lost alot of talent to the NFL, and they had a lousy recruiting class. If Tennessee is EVER going to beat Florida, this should be the year. There are NO EXCUSES for losing to this inferior team.

Oklahoma is simply not very good. I'd pick Tennessee to beat them in Norman next year but given that we're playing them in Neyland, I'd say its a slam dunk victory for us. Blowing out Oklahoma in Week 2 will be our coming out party. I think a Iowa-esque performance is in order.
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We have not shown we can beat Florida no matter how bad they are
 
#141
#141
VolFan4Life87 said:
We have not shown we can beat Florida no matter how bad they are
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This is such a completely true statement, and until the Vols show signs of life against the Gators, one must consider it a loss next season. I was so disappointed with the offensive gameplan last season against the Gators in Knoxville, the coaches were scared, and the Vols played tight as a result committing turnovers. That must change for UT to have any chance in the Swamp this season, the coaches need to be confident and the players need a swagger in their abilities to make plays against the Gators!

If the Vols get over the Gator hump and win all of their home games this season 10 wins is entirely possible, anything less than 8 with this roster is a disappointment.
 
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#142
#142
VolFan4Life87 said:
We have not shown we can beat Florida no matter how bad they are
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well we've been pretty bad as well. has there been one season in the last 10 years where you can say we were CLEARLY better than Florida? this mentality that Florida is some insurmountable obstacle would actually make sense if we were cleary better than them at any point in the last 10 years.

the reality is, for the last 10 years we've not been very good. thus it shouldn't surprise anyone that they kept beating us. come talk to me about us not beating Florida when we're beating Alabama and Georgia at the same time.
 
#143
#143
Dobbs 4 Heisman said:
well we've been pretty bad as well. has there been one season in the last 10 years where you can say we were CLEARLY better than Florida? this mentality that Florida is some insurmountable obstacle would actually make sense if we were cleary better than them at any point in the last 10 years.

the reality is, for the last 10 years we've not been very good. thus it shouldn't surprise anyone that they kept beating us. come talk to me about us not beating Florida when we're beating Alabama and Georgia at the same time.
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I'll go ahead and say it.

Why are you "clearly" better than Florida this year?

Because Tennessee did what Tennessee usually does in November?

I don't want to be misunderstood here. I think Tennessee has a better chance to compete and win the type of games that it hasn't won in years.

However, I sense an attitude of .....Oklahoma. no problem. Florida.....they suck. Georgia.....Mark Richt. lol.

But, just what has Tennessee done that makes it so easy to dismiss the competition? What has Josh Dobbs done against a defense with a pulse? When did Butch Jones become a football coach I should respect?

Until proven otherwise, ranked opponents aren't going to be any fun to play. Games on schedule with an @ symbol next to the opponent aren't going to be any fun to play.

So, while it can be argued there is not an excuse for Tennessee to lose to Georgia, Oklahoma, Florida, etc.....there isn't exactly an excuse for Florida, Georgia, Oklahoma, etc. to lose to Tennessee either.
 
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#144
#144
99gator said:
I'll go ahead and say it.

Why are you "clearly" better than Florida this year?

Because Tennessee did what Tennessee usually does in November?

I don't want to be misunderstood here. I think Tennessee has a better chance to compete and win the type of games that it hasn't won in years.

However, I sense an attitude of .....Oklahoma. no problem. Florida.....they suck. Georgia.....Mark Richt. lol.

But, just what has Tennessee done that makes it so easy to dismiss the competition? What has Josh Dobbs done against a defense with a pulse? When did Butch Jones become a football coach I should respect?

Until proven otherwise, ranked opponents aren't going to be any fun to play. Games on schedule with an @ symbol next to the opponent aren't going to be any fun to play.

So, while it can be argued there is not an excuse for Tennessee to lose to Georgia, Oklahoma, Florida, etc.....there isn't exactly an excuse for Florida, Georgia, Oklahoma, etc. to lose to Tennessee either.
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Never said we were. I'm simply counter-acting the argument that we stand no chance against Florida this fall. These defeatist Vols fans would have some credibility for their pessimism against Florida if they were beating us when we should've had a chance. But the reality is for the last decade Florida has clearly been better than us (san the last 2 years). And I think we can all agree the game last year coulda gone either way.

I'm not saying Tennessee will beat Oklahoma, Florida, and Georgia. I just really like our chances. And on paper, based on the players we have coming back and the two back to back top 5 recruiting classes (something Oklahoma, Florida, and Georgia don't have), alot of other people agree with me. Right now Tennessee is in many folks top 25 list for next season. With Florida and Oklahoma both absent.

Oh and come to talk to me about Josh Dobbs when Florida finds a QB.
 
#145
#145
Dobbs 4 Heisman said:
Never said we were. I'm simply counter-acting the argument that we stand no chance against Florida this fall. These defeatist Vols fans would have some credibility for their pessimism against Florida if they were beating us when we should've had a chance. But the reality is for the last decade Florida has clearly been better than us (san the last 2 years). And I think we can all agree the game last year coulda gone either way.

I'm not saying Tennessee will beat Oklahoma, Florida, and Georgia. I just really like our chances. And on paper, based on the players we have coming back and the two back to back top 5 recruiting classes (something Oklahoma, Florida, and Georgia don't have), alot of other people agree with me. Right now Tennessee is in many folks top 25 list for next season. With Florida and Oklahoma both absent.

Oh and come to talk to me about Josh Dobbs when Florida finds a QB.
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With regard to Dobbs, what Florida does or does not have has nothing to do with Dobbs. And yes, I'd be more than happy to have a Qb who wasn't an embarrassment.

As for the Florida thing, I think it's because some people (a) choose to look beyond the last 10 years and (b) would disagree about Florida having the better team.

There are some who believe Tennessee had the better team during the Spurrier era most every season. There are some people who believe Tennessee had the better team several times in the last 10 years but Fulmer is an idiot, Dooley is an idiot, Hunter got hurt, Sal Sunseri, Florida played like the 93 Cowboys that day, (insert whatever reason you want here) for the reason Tennessee lost despite having the better team.

There are games where Florida hung 60 and I've heard Tennessee should have won.

So, I am not sure how many believe Florida has generally had the better team.

Also, most eventually win even though they don't have the better team. Florida-Georgia 2014 is a good example. Going 10 years is a long time, whether tennessee was always the underdog or not
 
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#146
#146
99gator said:
With regard to Dobbs, what Florida does or does not have has nothing to do with Dobbs. And yes, I'd be more than happy to have a Qb who wasn't an embarrassment.

As for the Florida thing, I think it's because some people (a) choose to look beyond the last 10 years and (b) would disagree about Florida having the better team.

There are some who believe Tennessee had the better team during the Spurrier era most every season. There are some people who believe Tennessee had the better team several times in the last 10 years but Fulmer is an idiot, Dooley is an idiot, Hunter got hurt, Sal Sunseri, Florida played like the 93 Cowboys that day, (insert whatever reason you want here) for the reason Tennessee lost despite having the better team.

There are games where Florida hung 60 and I've heard Tennessee should have won.

So, I am not sure how many believe Florida has generally had the better team.

Also, most eventually win even though they don't have the better team. Florida-Georgia 2014 is a good example. Going 10 years is a long time, whether tennessee was always the underdog or not
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I'm not old enough to remember that. I keep my opinions on college football squarely in the period of time I've been following it. 2001-present. And in almost all of those seasons, Florida was more talented than Tennessee. This is the first season I feel confident in saying Tennessee is MORE talented than Florida (not much more talented but enough that I feel confident in prediciting we'll win).
 
#149
#149
All the games are a concern. Take nothing for granted. Agree with a lot of your post.
Games of more concern:
Oky: This game will be the contest that should give us a
indicator of how the rest of the year could go.
UGA: Please win this game. I live in middle GA. and its
been (what) 5 years?
UF : I thought last year would be a win - wrong! Some
teams have other teams number like we have USC.
Arky: Another young team on the rise.
Bama:Not sure we are there yet but direction looks good.
Missouri: We have not beat them since they entered the
SEC.
Let's go high. We finally beat UGA & UF. We lose to Oky.
Bama and either Arky or Missouri.
Season 9 -3. SEC 6 -2. Wow. I'm usually on the negative side.
 
#150
#150
MeanOrange said:
All the games are a concern. Take nothing for granted. Agree with a lot of your post.
Games of more concern:
Oky: This game will be the contest that should give us a
indicator of how the rest of the year could go.
UGA: Please win this game. I live in middle GA. and its
been (what) 5 years?
UF : I thought last year would be a win - wrong! Some
teams have other teams number like we have USC.
Arky: Another young team on the rise.
Bama:Not sure we are there yet but direction looks good.
Missouri: We have not beat them since they entered the
SEC.
Let's go high. We finally beat UGA & UF. We lose to Oky.
Bama and either Arky or Missouri.
Season 9 -3. SEC 6 -2. Wow. I'm usually on the negative side.
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Wow, 9-3!! That means you can't spell Citrus without UT!! If so I will be in Orlando ringing in the new year and partying like a rock star!!

GBO!!
 
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