Best opponent all season

[fryeguy93]

This is a surprisingly hard question.

Based on on any metric you want, who was the "best" team that Tennessee played all season?

 

[txbo]

Tough question. On their best day, all of them are very close.

 

[fryeguy93]

Based on:

(1) Talent
(2) Performance against Tennessee

I think it was actually Texas A&M and Auburn next.

If not for errors and checking runners, the Vols were in real position to beat Arkansas, LSU, Vanderbilt and Kentucky.

 

[VolFan_stuck_in_the_901]

Really struggled with this one; I was torn between Arkansas (that lineup is scarily similar to our 2022/2024 lineups) and LSU... ultimately went with LSU because they have better pitching than the Hogs (and they have a pretty good lineup too)

 

[txbo]

Based on:

(1) Talent
(2) Performance against Tennessee

I think it was actually Texas A&M and Auburn next.

If not for errors and checking runners, the Vols were in real position to beat Arkansas, LSU, Vanderbilt and Kentucky.

Yep, when those 2 teams have their bats smoking, they can beat anybody.

 

[fryeguy93]

UGA and Texas are not on list as Vols did not play.

All the teams had -or have, glaring problems.

Texas A&M has poor leadership or coaching. They are simply too talented to be a last-4 teams
LSU has the most resources, the most money, the most support, the most talent; but I think they have been poorly coached for years. I think Skenes and Crewes disguised some of the decisions their coaches made in 2023
Auburn is young but well coached and talented
Arkansas plays like warmed over poo on the road, and to be honest, I don't think they are as coached well as they think. Their road performances got worse as season went on.

 

[fryeguy93]

Tough question. On their best day, all of them are very close.

It's funny how hard that question really is in 2025?

A&M was embarrassed after getting run ruled by Tennessee and got their **** together the rest of that weekend and the next two weekend after that. They lost that Texas series on road but every game was one-run, last At bat sort of games. The beat Tennessee, South Carolina (yawn), Arkansas in consecutive weekend and then beat LSU. The completely stunk it up the last 2 weekends as they lost steam

 

[knoxvol52]

ETSU

 

[fryeguy93]

I was wondering who voted "Other"

 

[Volprofch05]

Orange and White Fall World Series

 

[THEONLYTENISEE]

I said Vandy since the series was in Knoxville.

 

[VolFan_stuck_in_the_901]

Based on what I've seen so far in this game, Texas's pitching is pretty legit

 

[fryeguy93]

I said Vandy since the series was in Knoxville.

We lost home series to Auburn, Kentucky, and Texas A&M as well.

 

[THEONLYTENISEE]

We lost home series to Auburn, Kentucky, and Texas A&M as well.

Corbin’s the better coach of those. He always has a game plan against us. Instate rival.

 

[VolFan_stuck_in_the_901]

Corbin’s the better coach of those. He always has a game plan against us. Instate rival.

His "game plan" hasn't been working the past few years... until this year, that is

 

[thegeneralneyland]

I think top to bottom, Texas is the best team we've played. Was that Doyle's shortest outing of the season?

 

[TMvol10]

I went with Kentucky. Not because they are the best or most talented, but because they are the worst matchup for us. The things the do “best” are the exact things we do worst. Horrible matchup.

The most talented team is probably Arkansas.

 

[Tenacjim]

Based on how the series went, I would say Auburn. We had to fight, claw and scratch to win one game by a run in extra innings. The two we lost (6-1 & 8-1) felt like we were totally shut down and never even in them. Even losing multiple other series, they all felt more competitive to me.

As far as talent, Arkansas was very impressive offensively but that’s doesn’t seem to travel well for them for some reason.

 

[THEONLYTENISEE]

His "game plan" hasn't been working the past few years... until this year, that is

Corbin’s plan seems pretty good this year.

 

[VolPack22]

Arkansas has looked like the best team most of the season. No clear cut favorite though.

 

[TheMookieMonster]

Today notwithstanding, Vandy is the best team we’ve played. #1 RPI. Best pitching staff of all those teams. And offense has gotten scorching hot the past few weeks.

 

[VolFan_stuck_in_the_901]

Today notwithstanding, Vandy is the best team we’ve played. #1 RPI. Best pitching staff of all those teams. And offense has gotten scorching hot the past few weeks.

Which is why it's gonna be funny AF when they choke in a regional/Super regional again

 

[TheMookieMonster]

Which is why it's gonna be funny AF when they choke in a regional/Super regional again

Eh. They are an Omaha team sadly. Hate to say it. They’ve got everything you’re looking for this time of year. Hot. Elite starting rotation. Great bullpen. Good defensively and execute the little things. I would be shocked if they aren’t in Omaha as much as I hate to say it.

 

[VOLINVONORE]

I think top to bottom, Texas is the best team we've played. Was that Doyle's shortest outing of the season?

In my opinion, Doyal should never been in a game until next week. His finger would have had time to heal and his arm would have been rested. This improve our chances o getting to and winning at Omaha.

 

[Legion of Doom]

LSU is one I went with. Very deep team and like their starters.