Every Top 25 Team's Must-Win Game of 2016 College Football Season

#1
dduncan4163

dduncan4163

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#1
Every Top 25 Team's Must-Win Game of 2016 College Football Season | Bleacher Report

Butch Jones has steadily brought Tennessee back to relevance in the SEC East. Over the past three seasons, the Volunteers have improved from five to seven to nine wins, and with 17 starters returning they appear poised for another leap forward in 2016.
Of course, the Vols need to prove they can win the big game to be taken seriously. In other words, they need to beat Florida. The Gators own an 11-game win streak in the heated rivalry, with Tennessee’s last win coming in 2004. The last two defeats were particularly tough. Following a 10-9 loss in 2014, Tennessee appeared ready to break the streak last fall with a 27-14 fourth-quarter lead. But Florida rallied to take the lead on Antonio Callaway’s stunning 63-yard score with 1:26 left, and the Vols’ last-ditch field goal sailed wide.
To break through and win the SEC East, Tennessee must vanquish Florida. The next opportunity will come Sept. 24 in Knoxville.
 
#2
#2
I'm sure this will come as a surprise to no one. The streak is 11 straight, and if this isn't our year to turn the tide on the Gators then I honestly don't know when we will.
 
#3
#3
i read that earlier. can't say i disagree. beating FL this year is huge. losing it almost makes all the other things we want to accomplish unattainable.

win that game though...and a bunch of doors open up.....

interesting that GA's most important game is against.....Tennessee....
 
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#5
#5
MyBloodRunnethOrange said:
The Florida game is the most crucial game on the schedule. Another loss could fracture the team and the fanbase.
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you know what's funny about this statement?

it's only the most crucial game if we lose it.

if we win it....the most crucial game on the schedule is really UGA....

if you think about it.
 
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#6
#6
I think I will officially stop watching football if we lose to florida this year. so yeah. florida.
 
#14
#14
dduncan4163 said:
I'm sure this will come as a surprise to no one. The streak is 11 straight, and if this isn't our year to turn the tide on the Gators then I honestly don't know when we will.
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I've said this for the last 5 years... Hard to believe how bad those Florida teams were, too.
 
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#15
#15
Really wish we didn't get Florida so early every year.

It might be total nonsense, but I really don't think it'd be an 11 game streak if we faced them in October or November (especially not the last two years).
 
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#17
#17
I fully expect to beat the Gators this year.

Our DL vs their OL was supposed to be a huge advantage last year, but we lost Maggitt vs OU and Barnett was injured for the first half of the season and pretty ineffective. Biggest mismatch nullified right out of the gate. This year, their OL will be slightly improved, while our DL should be vastly improved with the ability to rotate fresh bodies into the 4th quarter. Advantage Vols.

Last season, our OL was improved over the abysmal performance of 2014, but still not very good by week 4, while UF's DL was still fairly elite. However, they lost quite a bit of production while we lost only Kerbyson (but now have what is approaching a veteran OL from LG to RT). I give the Vols a slight nod in this matchup as well, especially seeing how our very young OL played against Alabama and their freakish DL last season.

We also have the special teams advantage, QB advantage, RB advantage, and can match them in speed at every position unit (which was also evident for the first time in years last season). Not to mention our entire cast of team leaders will be playing their final game vs the Gators (Dobbs, Hurd, Kamara, JRM, Sutton).

Unfortunately, we will have to sweat this game out, IMO. Don't expect any kind of huge lead or blowout. In fact, the game will probably be tied at halftime. Butch is going to play ultra conservative again and try to run it down their throats and generate a few key turnovers due to the Shoop hire and what should be a reliable, aggressive defense. See the 2015 Mizzou game for a good example of what this game will look like. They will move the ball better than Mizzou, and we won't rely on quite as many FGs, but the gameplan will be similar. Limit mistakes, flip field position via special teams, pound the rock, and wait for them to turn the ball over a couple times.
 
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#20
#20
PA Vol said:
Really wish we didn't get Florida so early every year.

It might be total nonsense, but I really don't think it'd be an 11 game streak if we faced them in October or November (especially not the last two years).
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Agree 100%. The year of the terrible circumstances and we played in December, we won. Later in the season both teams have injuries but coaches have more game footage to go by and our team is experienced and playing as well as possible later in the season. Just wish it was a November rivalry. Although we should've won more than the last two years. Go vols!
 
#21
#21
BigOrangeTrain said:
In all honesty, if UF were to beat us by 50, yet we beat Bama and still make it to the SECC and beat them again, I can live with losing to Florida.
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I will not claim championships for us in seasons where we lose to Florida or Alabama. I hate them both so much it just wouldn't feel right.
 
#22
#22
The Gators are leaving Neyland crying this year.

Place your bets on that now.

They are nothing special anymore.

Our talent and depth has finally caught up with them.

Just 1 more game and 1 more WIN in the step by step process of WINS for this season.

Earning a Championship WIN by WIN...VFL...GBO!!!
 
#23
#23
BigOrangeTrain said:
In all honesty, if UF were to beat us by 50, yet we beat Bama and still make it to the SECC and beat them again, I can live with losing to Florida.
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I can't.

I want and expect it all this year. But no matter what we achieve afterwards, everything will be darker and less sweet if we lose to Florida.

As much as Butch has achieved in the shawdow of Hambone and Stooley he should be run out of Knoxville if we lose.
 
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