We have no reason to think Cowherd has anything like a crystal ball. Far as we know, his guesses are just as unsupported as any of ours.
Having said that, can be fun to break down his prognostications.
He says Vols #4, Bama #5, and LSU #9. What scenarios could result in that?
One possibility:
Vols and LSU in the SEC CG, Vols win, LSU drops to #9. That means the Vols lose one game in the regular season (if we are 13-0, we'd be #1 or #2, not #4 ... if we are 11-2, we'd be ranked around #10 or so). Bama can only have lost one game in the regular season, or they wouldn't be up at #5. Since they have to have lost to LSU for the Tigers to get into the CG, that means the Vols' one loss is to Bama. So three SEC teams end up with one loss (Vols SEC champs at 12-1 ... LSU SEC CG losers at 12-1 ... Bama at 11-1).
Second possibility:
Vols and Bama in the SEC CG, Vols win. In this scenario, Bama has to have run the table in the regular season, so that they go into the SEC CG ranked #1 or #2. No other way they can lose in Atlanta and only drop as low as #5 (ending up 12-1). Which means the Vols lose only to Bama in October, getting revenge in December. We also end up 12-1. LSU loses to Bama and one other team, finishing at 10-2, which is how they get their #9 ranking.
I can't imagine any third scenario that gives those final rankings.
So in either scenario, Cowherd has Bama beating us in October, but us winning the SEC CG and finishing 12-1 going into the playoffs.
I'll take that.
Not that this necessarily means anything more than anyone else's guess.
