Utah State opens as early Vegas favorite @Tennessee

[ag4fr]

The combined record of the 8 FBS teams you beat last year before NIU was 32-55. The total composite record was 88-91.

The combined record of the teams UT played was 94-59. The combined record of the teams they beat minus their FCS cupcake was 27-22.

UT played 2 FBS teams with that finished with a losing record. USU played 5.

I am not sure how far UT is from the top 25... but they are as deserving as USU at this point based on competition.

I would love to do a comparison but the only team you played with even close to that level of talent was USCw... who was in turmoil and fired their coach in part because you were able to keep the game close.

UT played at least 8 teams that would have been the best opponent on your schedule outside of USCw mentioned above. Your schedule is almost ALL "easier games"... UT has very few.

Not many new guys. Like your claim, they will be guys with development and some PT behind them. Assuming he makes it back, Saulsberry was UT's best DT last year and performed well vs SEC competition.

And... I think USU is UK's whipping boy if you were in the SEC.

If that meant anything whatsoever... you'd have a great point. One of the GREATEST things about college football is that last year is NEVER a predictor of this particular factor in THIS year.

They know what a good mid-major looks like.

Don't presume to put yourself in the same boat with OU... YOU aren't the reason UT's OOC schedule is tough.

The one thing I have consistently maintained is that I don't think UT will blow out Utah State.

Many of your fans think you will.

To support my argument, I have brought out the points above. My intent was to bring some comparative qualification to UT's resume' vs. some of the other BCS conference teams we have squared off against in recent years.

I have not really heard a rebuttal or counter. I just hear this mid-major..., SEC vs. MWC..., better athletes..., blah, blah, blah...

I don't see Utah State as some juggernaut.

Then again, I don't see UT as a juggernaut either.

 

[thebjd]

Ok. I'll spell it out.

I don't think UT is arriving at the Top 25 station anytime soon.

I don't think that you will beat Utah State handily.

With the exception of the USC game last year, UT beat nobody.

Against Oregon, Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Mizzou, Auburn, and USC, the average outcome was UT losing by a score of 17-39.

I think UT is still trying to figure out how to win easier games and is an absolute trainwreck against top-tier SEC and national title contenders.

UT is breaking in a lot of new guys on both the OL and the front end of their D.

I think UT will be lucky to notch 2 SEC wins again this year.

I don't think your team has shown in any way that it has established the will, discipline, or mindset of a successful football team.

Nobody on that team even knows what that looks like.

I don't think you flip that overnight. Not in the SEC and not against the OOC competition you face in 2014.

We have been down of late but the largest stadium in the SEC wasn't erected because people wanted to see a loser. A lot of what you posted is true but a 30 plus player recruiting class full of legacies that know the history can help flip it overnight. The SEC is the SEC and it has always been tough and will be in the future. Our time in the wilderness is coming to an end. In all seriousness the will, mindset and discipline will matter little in week one.

 

[ag4fr]

We have been down of late but the largest stadium in the SEC wasn't erected because people wanted to see a loser. A lot of what you posted is true but a 30 plus player recruiting class full of legacies that know the history can help flip it overnight. The SEC is the SEC and it has always been tough and will be in the future. Our time in the wilderness is coming to an end. In all seriousness the will, mindset and discipline will matter little in week one.

I'm pleased that you are so confident.

 

[ThatVolGuy]

I'm pleased that you are so confident.

What were you expecting on a Tennessee message board, princess? It goes with the territory.

 

[thebjd]

I'm pleased that you are so confident.

The better players win the game unless something very unusual schematically is in play. I am a little enthusiastic about the freshman class and the early enrollees. I am not confident that we will finish above .500 but I think there is just too much physically and environmentally for USU to overcome. I may be wrong but my 13.5 point spread prediction is on the record.

 

[AV_12]

Lol Aggie U guy still pumping sunshine in here. You say we lose a bunch, but don't acknowledge the your team is as well, but replacing them with MWC type talent, while we are with SEC talent.. I agree with the Nc State comparison, but think they were better. Vols by double digits


Sidenote: stop acting like USU would have done any better with our schedule last year..

 

[GreveHaller]

Capacity crowd for this Utah St v Texas St game

Attendance: 17,222

You know what we call that in Knoxville? the student section

 

[BruiserVol]

Capacity crowd for this Utah St v Texas St game

Attendance: 17,222

You know what we call that in Knoxville? the student section

I didn't think about it that way but wow lol.

 

[ajvol01]

Remember when Wyoming beat Tennessee at Tennessee? I believe THAT Tennessee team was more talented than THIS Tennessee team.

I'm not trying to be mean, its just true.

I seriously doubt we fire our coach 5 days prior to the Utah State game.

No worries

 

[sanddune50]

LOL! Tell me where my points are wrong!

Just did. Keep up short bus.

 

[sanddune50]

Are you always this soft and sensitive? I'm impressed. Most college sports message board posters are more thick-skinned.

I have been around a bit, I have been to each of the 50 states, except for AR, RI, AK, Maine, and Vermont.

I've also travelled extensively for work in Asia, Europe, Central America, South America, and Australia/NZ.

When people think of Kentucky/Tennessee they generally think of the following:

-Country Music
- Farmers
- Hillbillies
- Rednecks

Not at all. Just find it funny you are on a UT message giving us your resume about how well traveled you are only to resort to making stereotypical comments that aren't factually accurate. You must have been the guy that carried everyone's luggage in the group while you were seeing the world. I know it wasn't because someone was fooled into thinking you were the best and brightest. That or you mistook Utah as the world and was actually in Northern Utah when you thought you were in 'Asia'.

 

[sanddune50]

They can win. anyone can win, but they wont. Not with a new O-line and D-line and no quarterback to speak of and playing in the SEC on the road against mostly top 25 teams.

Like I said in my O.P., UT does not get to 8 wins without a monumental upset over a team that nobody (including most of Vol Nation) predicts them to beat AND they have to beat everyone they are supposed to beat AND win all the "toss up" games.

Crystal ballers are hilarious. You make these definitive statements and pass them off as facts before the team has even fielded a practice. Hopefully you will still be around if and when what you are predicting doesn't occur.

 

[Darth_Shiveman]

I guess that depends on what the definition of highly rated is. Worley, Fergusson, and Dobbs were all 3* recruits and not even in the top 20 by position in their classes. Peterman was a 4* and the only one that I would consider highly rated. But frankly I dont think he will ever see the playing field unless there is an injury or the other three QBs just plain stink in practice. Also, I am not sure any are perfectly suited for CBJ's offensive system.

Where does this myth that Peterman was our highest rated QB coming out of high school keep coming from? He was a composite 3 star and had maybe one 4 star ranking. Dobbs and Ferguson were composite 4 stars and rated as 4 stars by multiple scouting sites. Additionally both were elite 11 semi finalists.

Worley was our lowest rated QB recruit, then peterman, then Dobbs and Ferguson at the top.

 

[Orange_Crush]

Where does this myth that Peterman was our highest rated QB coming out of high school keep coming from? He was a composite 3 star and had maybe one 4 star ranking. Dobbs and Ferguson were composite 4 stars and rated as 4 stars by multiple scouting sites. Additionally both were elite 11 semi finalists.

Worley was our lowest rated QB recruit, then peterman, then Dobbs and Ferguson at the top.

I was going to mention that, but when I noticed I was dealing with someone that was making up facts for their argument, figured I'd drop out instead.

 

[sjt18]

Crystal ballers are hilarious. You make these definitive statements and pass them off as facts before the team has even fielded a practice. Hopefully you will still be around if and when what you are predicting doesn't occur.

I have to admit that I rarely get really annoyed with anyone here... but when I do... it is almost always because of definitive statements about future events. "Will lose/win" is just dumb when talking about football.

 

[sjt18]

Peterman was UT's only 4* on Rivals as far as I know. 247 is coming into its own. ESPN and Scout are pretty unreliable.

IIRC, Peterman was rated the top QB in FL his Sr year.

None of that means anything except that Rivals liked him... but they are one of two reliable voices in recruiting and the only reliable voice that has a real track record.

 

[WoodsmanVol]

I have to admit that I rarely get really annoyed with anyone here... but when I do... it is almost always because of definitive statements about future events. "Will lose/win" is just dumb when talking about football.

Rarely? Rarely, you say? Surely you jest.

 

[sjt18]

When people think of Kentucky/Tennessee they generally think of the following:

-Country Music
- Farmers
- Hillbillies
- Rednecks

And when people think of Utah, they think of cultish Mormons and polygamy.

I've actually been to Utah once and thought it was a beautiful place with nice people. SLC was more "cosmopolitan" than most would expect. There seems to be some weirdness out away from the Valley though.


I am pretty sure that most people though can separate the caricatures from reality.

 

[butchna]

While USU is a pretty good team (last year's team, at least), they aren't on the level of the teams UT lost to this past season. Vandy is the exception.

UT will beat Vandy and UK and probably upset another SEC team. (Maybe add Mizzou; they're a bit of a question mark)

Is breaking new guys in (with experience) a bad thing? If the previous group of lineman couldn't will this team to a bowl game, wouldn't it be a good thing to move past those guys?

The team hasn't, but the coaches HAVE. It's the coaches' job to change the mental makeup of a team and they have now had awhile to improve it.

You keep putting USU into this category of "juggernauts" with the other top SEC programs, and that makes me think you should take a look at your own team before dissecting UT's issues.

Is Connor Shaw on Keeton's level? I think so. Did Shaw struggle mightily against a motivated UT team at home? Absolutely. He played awfully.

In the end, this game feels eerily similar to NCst a couple years back. They had a good QB, some talent on offense, a lockdown corner, and a ball-hawking secondary.

They got throttled on a neutral site.

Will USU get throttled? Probably not, but you keep insinuating that USU is a lot better than they actually are.

UT struggles with the good SEC teams. USU is not one of those.

Can't like this enough :salute:

 

[sjt18]

Rarely? Rarely, you say? Surely you jest.

Very. You'd be surprised at how little a "feel" about this jousting. I'm more surprised when people DO take it hard.

It would be like the difference between a boxing match and a fist fight. I consider it the former. Some people here don't though.

 

[sjt18]

Saying that they CAN win insinuates the possibility, as in winning is within reach under the exact right circumstances. When I say the WONT win I am actually making a prediction of what I think will happen.

Say what you mean then. It doesn't really take much effort to type "IMO" before "won't win".

I would call the USC game a toss-up as well if the game were in front of our home crowd. Same with the Ole Miss game.

I think Ole Miss will be better than expected based on what we know right now. They had a couple of good recruiting classes then played those guys right away. Now they're seasoned. QB could be an issue for them though.

Taking this young team on the road in the SEC most probably means losses with the exception of Vandy which should now be back in the "gimme" column.

USCe has a fairly limited homefield advantage as the SEC goes. I am not sure why but it has just never seemed to be a place that was difficult to get a win at.

I personally think they'll struggle on both sides of the ball. Spurrier has never really had great recruiting mojo at USCe. He's found some underrated guys and been able to keep some homers who happened to be incredible players. Their last 5 classes according to Rivals have averaged 8th in the SEC. I know it is Spurrier but at some point that has to catch up with them.

 

[sjt18]

I dont give UF or USC that much credit. I said earlier that UF is a toss up game, which considering where Tennessee sits, isnt giving UF much credit at all.

I think you are making a pretty big assumption in this statement too.... that you KNOW where UT sits.

I HOPE and BELIEVE that Jones is a better coach than Dooley. If he is then IMHO where UT "sits" is at the edge of a great opportunity to take over the SECE. EVERYONE in the East has issues and most are just as significant as UT's youth. The team with the fewest roster issues is UGA... and they have Fulmer Jr for a HC.

 

[sjt18]

The one thing I have consistently maintained is that I don't think UT will blow out Utah State.

Many of your fans think you will.

To support my argument, I have brought out the points above. My intent was to bring some comparative qualification to UT's resume' vs. some of the other BCS conference teams we have squared off against in recent years.

I have not really heard a rebuttal or counter. I just hear this mid-major..., SEC vs. MWC..., better athletes..., blah, blah, blah...

I don't see Utah State as some juggernaut.

Then again, I don't see UT as a juggernaut either.

Your "points" were based on an attempt to make an "apples to apples" comparison of recent records and such. I showed you that was invalid. If USU had played UT's schedule over the past couple of years then you would have struggled to win 10 games in two seasons combined I suspect it would have been more like 7 or 8. You don't have the talent or depth of talent to face what UT has faced.

UT is more talented overall. Composite, the Vols will bigger, faster, quicker, and stronger. That's not in question, is it? Your chances lie in other things... like the fact that you play football. You don't compare workout charts or ht/wt rosters. But all other things being equal... put your money on the big, strong, fast team.

You play UT 2500 miles from home in front of probably the largest crowd anyone on your team has seen. Neyland will rock... literally as the voices of 100K cause the stadium to sway.

Both teams will have some experienced players but replace many major contributors. So again... both team with new starters and new faces in the 2 deep... put your money on the inexperienced guy with more athleticism.

It comes down to coaching. This is a game that helps UT to see what it has in Jones. If he is as good as your guy or as all of us here hope then UT controls the game and wins "comfortably" (11+ pts). If you manage a win then he has a VERY long uphill climb to convince anyone he's the right guy for the job.


So it isn't a matter of "juggernauts" but a matter of players, games, and coaches. The major unknown is Jones. The talent levels are known. The game setting is known. Your coach is known.... Jones is the variable that can swing the game in YOUR favor.

 

[WoodsmanVol]

Very. You'd be surprised at how little a "feel" about this jousting. I'm more surprised when people DO take it hard.

It would be like the difference between a boxing match and a fist fight. I consider it the former. Some people here don't though.

Some surprises are to be expected.
There's one way to find out if a man is honest-ask him. If he says, "Yes," you know he is a crook. [Groucho Marx]Darn must be the buckwheat pancakes I ate this morning. They're kind of harder to digest you know. Routes most of the blood away from the brain and directly to the stomach.

 

[RiseToTheTop]

Your "points" were based on an attempt to make an "apples to apples" comparison of recent records and such. I showed you that was invalid. If USU had played UT's schedule over the past couple of years then you would have struggled to win 10 games in two seasons combined I suspect it would have been more like 7 or 8. You don't have the talent or depth of talent to face what UT has faced.

UT is more talented overall. Composite, the Vols will bigger, faster, quicker, and stronger. That's not in question, is it? Your chances lie in other things... like the fact that you play football. You don't compare workout charts or ht/wt rosters. But all other things being equal... put your money on the big, strong, fast team.

You play UT 2500 miles from home in front of probably the largest crowd anyone on your team has seen. Neyland will rock... literally as the voices of 100K cause the stadium to sway.

Both teams will have some experienced players but replace many major contributors. So again... both team with new starters and new faces in the 2 deep... put your money on the inexperienced guy with more athleticism.

It comes down to coaching. This is a game that helps UT to see what it has in Jones. If he is as good as your guy or as all of us here hope then UT controls the game and wins "comfortably" (11+ pts). If you manage a win then he has a VERY long uphill climb to convince anyone he's the right guy for the job.


So it isn't a matter of "juggernauts" but a matter of players, games, and coaches. The major unknown is Jones. The talent levels are known. The game setting is known. Your coach is known.... Jones is the variable that can swing the game in YOUR favor.

i agree. the place was packed and rocking for AP last yr. theres a little more excitement this yr so it will undoubtedly be rocking on the first weekend of the yr against USU. It will be the biggest crowd USU has played in front of more than likely. im not sure how attendance will be if we drop some games but im positive it will be an absolute madhouse on opening weekend.

i know we lose alot but they might be losing more. over 3000 yards of offense and 20-25 TDS will have to come from somewhere. Also they lose about 8 defensive starters. i think the Vols will be in good shape. not a blowout but maybe 10 pt victory