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Every SEC Football's Team Best and Worst-Case Scenarios for 2016 | Bleacher Report
Tennessee
Mike Carlson/Getty Images
Best
There are so many people predicting Tennessee to win the SEC East, it's time to get nervous if you're a Vols fan. After all, this is a team that lost four games a season ago, right?
That's true, but coach Butch Jones's team also led all those games late, and they return perhaps the best mixture of talent, experience and depth in the conference. That distinction is between them and LSU.
Quarterback Joshua Dobbs, running backs Jalen Hurd and Alvin Kamara, defensive end Derek Barnett, linebacker Jalen Reeves-Maybin and cornerback Cameron Sutton are just a few of the talented players who are All-SEC candidates.
That's why there are big aspirations.
"It's not where you start, it's where you finish," Jones said according to WBIR.com's Luke Slabaugh. "One of the things we've talked to [our recruits] about is getting Tennessee football back to relevance, getting Tennessee football back in the conversations where it belongs."
The schedule gets a little better for the Vols this year, but their season will be determined in a four-game stretch that includes games at home against Florida, at Georgia, at Texas A&M and home against Alabama in consecutive weeks from Sept. 24-Oct. 14.
Win three of those, and it's not out of the question UT could win the East. If the Vols get past that game, they've got the players to make it to the College Football Playoff. Yes, it's a big step, but there are a lot of reasons for hope.
Worst
Tennessee has won some pretty big games in the past couple of years, but the Vols still haven't beaten Florida or Alabama, and there are no guarantees that will happen this year, either.
Also, the "Battle at Bristol" neutral-site game against Virginia Tech is no gimme.
With massive expectations come a heavy burden, and the Vols have to get used to being the favorites. With all the experience and leadership on the roster, it looks like they're poised to handle it, but if there's some early-season adversity thrown in the spokes, what happens?
Jones has recruited extremely well, but he's yet to prove he's a great coach. Collapses against Oklahoma, Florida and Arkansas a season ago are reasons for pause. If the Vols clam up in close games again this year, there are plenty of reasons to worry.
Another 9-4 season is a possibility, but if that happens, there will be more than a few grumbles on Rocky Top.
Tennessee
Best
There are so many people predicting Tennessee to win the SEC East, it's time to get nervous if you're a Vols fan. After all, this is a team that lost four games a season ago, right?
That's true, but coach Butch Jones's team also led all those games late, and they return perhaps the best mixture of talent, experience and depth in the conference. That distinction is between them and LSU.
Quarterback Joshua Dobbs, running backs Jalen Hurd and Alvin Kamara, defensive end Derek Barnett, linebacker Jalen Reeves-Maybin and cornerback Cameron Sutton are just a few of the talented players who are All-SEC candidates.
That's why there are big aspirations.
"It's not where you start, it's where you finish," Jones said according to WBIR.com's Luke Slabaugh. "One of the things we've talked to [our recruits] about is getting Tennessee football back to relevance, getting Tennessee football back in the conversations where it belongs."
The schedule gets a little better for the Vols this year, but their season will be determined in a four-game stretch that includes games at home against Florida, at Georgia, at Texas A&M and home against Alabama in consecutive weeks from Sept. 24-Oct. 14.
Win three of those, and it's not out of the question UT could win the East. If the Vols get past that game, they've got the players to make it to the College Football Playoff. Yes, it's a big step, but there are a lot of reasons for hope.
Worst
Tennessee has won some pretty big games in the past couple of years, but the Vols still haven't beaten Florida or Alabama, and there are no guarantees that will happen this year, either.
Also, the "Battle at Bristol" neutral-site game against Virginia Tech is no gimme.
With massive expectations come a heavy burden, and the Vols have to get used to being the favorites. With all the experience and leadership on the roster, it looks like they're poised to handle it, but if there's some early-season adversity thrown in the spokes, what happens?
Jones has recruited extremely well, but he's yet to prove he's a great coach. Collapses against Oklahoma, Florida and Arkansas a season ago are reasons for pause. If the Vols clam up in close games again this year, there are plenty of reasons to worry.
Another 9-4 season is a possibility, but if that happens, there will be more than a few grumbles on Rocky Top.
