Does UT do better when counted as underdogs

#1
Jacksonvol

Jacksonvol

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#1
If my mind is not playing tricks on me, it seems that the Vols have usually performed best when they were considered underdogs.....I'm thinking of several years ago when one of the pre season mags had them number 1 and we wound up losing 4 or 5 games...And then I think of '98 when nobody gave them a shot at the SEC, let alone a NC, and we know how that turned out. Do you guys/ladies remember other years when that was true or am I just wishing that what I perceive as history will repeat itself?
 
#2
#2
the general consensus on VN is that we do play better as underdogs
 
#4
#4
A long time ago, there use to be truth to that. Now, it is so common, we have lost the upper edge.
 
#5
#5
I remember a time when we first started slipping a little. I think for the first half of the 00's where we had an incredible record as double digit road underdogs. I think the stat is we were something like 7-1 or 6-2 when favored to lose by 10 or more on the road. I guess UF 2001 kicked it off. There were two UGA games we won in Athens as big dogs in the next few years. Happened at Miami in 03. Maybe another big upset UF win in the Zook years. Might have been 10+ dogs at LSU in 05. Can't remember the others included in that stat and the stat might not be exactly accurate but it was close.

The stat didn't hold up at Neyland though. When big dogs at home we generally lost big.

I wouldn't glean anything from that in relation to this year however. The situation we are currently in is a different animal than what was going on then that made us 10+ dogs.
 
#10
#10
IIRC we were favorite against Ole Miss last year. McCluster ended up cluster****ing us for nearly 300 rush yards.
we were underdog against UGA and AT Tuscaloosa.
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#11
#11
oh, and we were favorite against UCLA in 08 AND 09. ended up blowing both games.
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#14
#14
I think all this UT plays better as a underdog stuff started when we beat the Hurricanes in Miami.
 
#16
#16
Yes, always have, but the underdog card will only work for a couple of games.

Right now I like it. our OL will be better than last year. WRs are better, LBs, DEs, Punter, Kicker,TE.

If Brown qualifies, then DT is better. DB will be weaker without Berry and QB is the wildcard.

Schedule is harder, but I like that everyone expects us to fold.
 
#18
#18
PowerT83 said:
I think all this UT plays better as a underdog stuff started when we beat the Hurricanes in Miami.
Click to expand...

Nah, it's been happening for decades... First I remember is UCLA back in the 60's, the Orange Bowl against Oklahoma (that was one HECK of a game), Miracle at South Bend, Sugar Bowl '86... The list is endless. I think we always felt like underdogs for years because we didn't get the respect that schools like Notre Dame got in the '50's. (Can you say no Heisman, no NC?) Even back then my family would pray all week that we would be the underdogs!

Just part of the tradition, I think...
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#19
#19
It's a stretch to think Hughes or Brown would be a upgrade over Dan Williams, nice thought though. A for effort.
 
#21
#21
Cartervol said:
It's a stretch to think Hughes or Brown would be a upgrade over Dan Williams, nice thought though. A for effort.
Click to expand...
last year it was only DW who held the middle. Big drop off when he wasn't in. This year Hughes and Brown would>=DW. Especially if Hughes really has improved.
 
#22
#22
98 always make every season seem full of hope and possibility. Here's a tip of the Stella to all Volnationeers. May we all get along and post happy thoughts and never bicker about Phil or Bryce again! Heee hee.
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