Way too early 2020 Schedule

#77
#77
goldvol said:
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With it being New Year's Eve, let's take a moment to look ahead to 2020. At first glance, this is one of the most promising schedules we could have drawn up. I know, I know: Oklahoma on the road in Norman.

However, looking past that, there are 4 key games to next year we would all love to win in order of importance (to me): Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and Oklahoma.
All of these games have either a weaker opponent the week before, or comes after the bye week. We get Furman before Florida, Charlotte before OK, and Kentucky before Georgia. Our bye comes before Alabama. Also, Alabama has 3 SEC west games immediately before playing us. Another note is that both Florida and Alabama are at Neyland.

Concerning Florida and Georgia, they dont have a cakewalk through the SEC West. Florida takes on LSU and Ole Miss, while Georgia has to get through Alabama and Auburn! So even an early season loss to Florida doesn't completely knock us out of contention for the East.

We also get the absolute weakest SEC West opponent we could have asked for: Arkansas. They won an astounding 2 games this year. It will be interesting to see what Sam Pittman can do, but I don't expect a miracle in year 1 from them. I dont remember the last time we got lucky in that regard, but maybe you can remind me.

Another key to me is instead of getting Missouri, Kentucky, Vandy all at the end of the season, these games are more spread out through the season. In general over the last decade, we have a terrible October, feel like the season is over, then cruise through November generating optimism for the next year. With this new schedule, I feel like we will have a better record earlier in the season than we're used to having. This will in effect give us a more positive perception of the program during the year. It will also make the important games, like Georgia, more meaningful since we could be in the SEC East hunt still in the middle of November.

Except for Florida 2001, I don't remember having as big of a game (against the big three) as late in the season as we get to play Georgia.
Admittedly, I am not a sunshine pumper. Before the decade of misery, the 2010's, I used to be the most optimistic guy in the state. But, I am excited for how this is laid out.

Let's hear your thoughts about the schedule, and it's ok to be optimistic on the cusp of the New Year. Let hope the 2020's will be Tennessee's new Decade of Dominance!
And please, be safe tonight!
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I would prioritize must win games as Florida, Georgia, Alabama and then OK because SEC East games matter more.

The tough games are spread out fairly well. Worst stretch is FL, Mizzou, @ SCAR.

AL, @Ark, KY @GA could be rough too if Ark rebounds ( highly doubt it).

I see 8-10 regular season wins. OK looks beatable but like us they return a lot of starters/players (unless a slew of Juniors declare early). They only have 16 Seniors on the team.

AL won't have any trouble reloading but those 3+ incredible WRs and Tua will be real hard to replace. Mac Jones will never be at that level. Baby Tua? maybe.

Georgia's great recruiting class of two years ago will be hitting peak stride. They were hampered at WR/TE. Will they be able to address that issue? How will they cope with the loss of Pittman when they took huge strides backwards with the loss of Chaney?

Florida losses at least 4 WRs and Henderson, Zuniga, etc. we should be pretty darn competitive against them.

Speaking of WRs, between AL, LSU, TN, Clemson, FL and others, this should be a pretty stacked NFL draft for that position.
 
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#78
#78
goldvol said:
And, I will lay even money right now that we will win at least one of Oklahoma, Georgia, Alabama, or Florida. If we pick off one of Alabama, Georgia, or Florida, we will be in the race for the SEC East in November 2020.

Bonus Question: if you could improve the schedule above for 2020, what would you switch around to help Tennessee?
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get rid of Alabama as a yearly foe.
 
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#79
#79
goldvol said:
And, I will lay even money right now that we will win at least one of Oklahoma, Georgia, Alabama, or Florida. If we pick off one of Alabama, Georgia, or Florida, we will be in the race for the SEC East in November 2020.

Bonus Question: if you could improve the schedule above for 2020, what would you switch around to help Tennessee?
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Put Bama in the rotation.... not every year.
 
#81
#81
VolFreakJosh said:
Sorry but I have to put Florida in the loss column.

Something always goes bad when we play against them.

History shows.
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Sorry but I don't buy into the "something always happens" idea. You make your chances or you blow your chances. We have blown our chances way to many times in the past and I feel that the new mindset of winning will change what happens on the field.
 
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#83
#83
goldvol said:
And, I will lay even money right now that we will win at least one of Oklahoma, Georgia, Alabama, or Florida. If we pick off one of Alabama, Georgia, or Florida, we will be in the race for the SEC East in November 2020.

Bonus Question: if you could improve the schedule above for 2020, what would you switch around to help Tennessee?
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Another good reason to play Georgia late. When they fold, it is usually late in the season. Georgia plays Florida and then @ SCAR before hosting us. Could be a good time to play them. Also if they lose to Alabama, Auburn and Florida, they may not be so motivated to play us as their National Championship hopes would then be in the toilet.

It's about time Georgia had a tough schedule, although Virginia is the only respectable OOC game for them.

Bonus Question: if you could improve the schedule above for 2020, what would you switch around to help Tennessee?

I would make Florida the last game of the season and switch them with Vandy.
 
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#86
#86
KINGSVOL said:
If JG stays and beats out the QB room (Bailey) then we will be the only SEC team on our schedule with an experienced QB! I have to think that CJP and our defense will be salivating over this!
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Ga has Fromm most likely returning, S.Carol will have the guy who took over for Bentley returning, Trask at Fla will be back, Wilson for Ky will be back..Mac Jones possibly at Ala but possibly Incoming QB from Cali could start if he is as good as advertised.
 
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#87
#87
VolBricks said:
get rid of Alabama as a yearly foe.
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No way..This rivalry has been cyclical for 30+ yrs..Ala had their streak, then under Fulmer we had a decade long of dominance and now Ala has theirs again. History shows our time will be soon, once Saban retires. No Vol fan should ever want Ala off the schedule. You don't mess with that type of tradition.
 
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#88
#88
jasonvol18 said:
No way..This rivalry has been cyclical for 30+ yrs..Ala had their streak, then under Fulmer we had a decade long of dominance and now Ala has theirs again. History shows our time will be soon, once Saban retires. No Vol fan should ever want Ala off the schedule. You don't mess with that type of tradition.
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Saban is contracted through 2026 I think. So when was the last time we had a 20 year winning streak against Bama?
 
#89
#89
LETTERMAN88 said:
Sorry but I don't buy into the "something always happens" idea. You make your chances or you blow your chances. We have blown our chances way to many times in the past and I feel that the new mindset of winning will change what happens on the field.
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Wish I could like more than once!
Pruitt isn't going through life with a "something always happens" mindset.
There is no curse unless the players and coaches convince themselves that they're cursed.
Players with no fight in them are likely to be on the bench.
 
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#90
#90
HuntlandVolinColo said:
Another good reason to play Georgia late. When they fold, it is usually late in the season. Georgia plays Florida and then @ SCAR before hosting us. Could be a good time to play them. Also if they lose to Alabama, Auburn and Florida, they may not be so motivated to play us as their National Championship hopes would then be in the toilet.

It's about time Georgia had a tough schedule, although Virginia is the only respectable OOC game for them.

Bonus Question: if you could improve the schedule above for 2020, what would you switch around to help Tennessee?

I would make Florida the last game of the season and switch them with Vandy.
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I would like to also see Fla played later in the season. Something like this..

Charlotte
Oklahoma
Furman
Mizzou( Prefer them early because of Weather in November yrs we play at Mizzou)
Georgia
Arky
Off
Alabama
Kentucky
S.Carol
Troy
Vandy
Fla

This way Ala,Ga and Fla are not back to back at any point and breaks up our normal tough OOC game every year. Could swap S.Carol and Georgia, but only negative is finishing with those 3 in our final 6 games..but still are spaced weeks apart.
 
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#91
#91
BigOrangeTrain said:
Saban is contracted through 2026 I think. So when was the last time we had a 20 year winning streak against Bama?
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Saban isn't Coaching till 2026, I can promise you that. When has Ala had a 20 game win streak against TN? What Saban is doing is once in a generation and likely never to happen again plus with how scholarships are, talent is more spread out than it has ever been. Who's to say CJP won't beat Saban? If Kiffin almost did it, plus Hugh Freeze(Twice), Kevin Sumlin, Gus Malzahn(3 times) and Orgeron have then who knows??
 
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