Is Tennessee underrated?

#1
Other_Guy

Other_Guy

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#1
Obviously VN will be biased but the justification for all of these experts or youtubers having Tenn really low and certain other teams higher, potentially being really good teams, doesn't actually make sense to me, and I've watched a ton of prediction videos.
The argument against Tenn: lost a lot on offense, got a transfer no one is raving about. Yeah they got an easy schedule, great defense and finished the highest of these last year, but 8-4 is about right.
Yet someone I'm supposed to believe in OU's offense with their transfer QB and bad OL.
Somehow I'm supposed to pretend Napier didn't almost get fired midseason and Lagway will stay healthy amidst a brutal schedule.
Im supposed to think ole miss is going to be FB_IMG_1755728331576.jpgjust fine replacing that defense and QB when they couldn't go better than 9-3 with their best roster ever.
I'm supposed to think S Carolina will be a potential playoff team despite losing their defense. Who is Sellers throwing to?
Point is, Tenn has similar issues to these schools yet everyone still has faith in them and universally people are seeing 8-4 for Tenn with the easiest or 2nd easiest schedule in the SEC.
Heupel has consistently done more with less. Where is the faith in him?
 
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#6
#6
Other_Guy said:
Obviously VN will be biased but the justification for all of these experts or youtubers having Tenn really low and certain other teams higher, potentially being really good teams, doesn't actually make sense to me, and I've watched a ton of prediction videos.
The argument against Tenn: lost a lot on offense, got a transfer no one is raving about. Yeah they got an easy schedule, great defense and finished the highest of these last year, but 8-4 is about right.
Yet someone I'm supposed to believe in OU's offense with their transfer QB and bad OL.
Somehow I'm supposed to pretend Napier didn't almost get fired midseason and Lagway will stay healthy amidst a brutal schedule.
Im supposed to think ole miss is going to be View attachment 765560just fine replacing that defense and QB when they couldn't go better than 9-3 with their best roster ever.
I'm supposed to think S Carolina will be a potential playoff team despite losing their defense. Who is Sellers throwing to?
Point is, Tenn has similar issues to these schools yet everyone still has faith in them and universally people are seeing 8-4 for Tenn with the easiest or 2nd easiest schedule in the SEC.
Heupel has consistently done more with less. Where is the faith in him?
Click to expand...
I think we have a playoff caliber roster except for some big question marks at the receiver and quarterback positions. If those spots exceed expectations, smash the over and get ready for another fun season.
 
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#10
#10
I think it's very likely. We know the D will be great. We know we have the RB's to get the job done. We know our TE's are studs. I'm not worried about a CJH QB not playing well. All indications are the O line will be better. Big question mark is WR play. IF those guys show up and show out, coupled with bringing tempo back, UT could be very dangerous.
 
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#11
#11
Idk if it’s that or other teams being grossly overrated. Specifically, South Carolina, Florida, A&M and OU. I see it as highly unlikely that those teams make the playoffs, but some people talk like we don’t even belong on the same field as them. Particularly South Carolina, which is comical to me.
 
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#14
#14
If Nico had stayed, preseason poll 7-8 easily. Our biggest ? Is QB position. I think if JA doesn't have the turnovers that he's proned to have with lesser talent around him. We are a 9-10 win team.
 
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#17
#17
Before the 2022 season, I was very confident. Tried to buy season tix from a seller on here. I just had a feeling. I talked myself into confidence in 23 because i thought bazooka-joe could step up his game. I was much less optimistic last year because of it being Nico's first year.
I have no idea about this season. On paper, to me at least, we are trying to play catch up to other teams.
 
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#18
#18
Other_Guy said:
Obviously VN will be biased but the justification for all of these experts or youtubers having Tenn really low and certain other teams higher, potentially being really good teams, doesn't actually make sense to me, and I've watched a ton of prediction videos.
The argument against Tenn: lost a lot on offense, got a transfer no one is raving about. Yeah they got an easy schedule, great defense and finished the highest of these last year, but 8-4 is about right.
Yet someone I'm supposed to believe in OU's offense with their transfer QB and bad OL.
Somehow I'm supposed to pretend Napier didn't almost get fired midseason and Lagway will stay healthy amidst a brutal schedule.
Im supposed to think ole miss is going to be View attachment 765560just fine replacing that defense and QB when they couldn't go better than 9-3 with their best roster ever.
I'm supposed to think S Carolina will be a potential playoff team despite losing their defense. Who is Sellers throwing to?
Point is, Tenn has similar issues to these schools yet everyone still has faith in them and universally people are seeing 8-4 for Tenn with the easiest or 2nd easiest schedule in the SEC.
Heupel has consistently done more with less. Where is the faith in him?
Click to expand...
Well that’s one guy’s opinion. Ranting about So Car and Ole Miss is kinda odd since they are 8 and 9 and we are 10. The 8th, 9th, and 10th teams are pretty much going to be the same caliber of team, regardless of whomever places there at season’s end. That pretty much has us at 8-4. Heupel has done better than that twice and equal or less than that twice. Nothing unreasonable about the prediction. Just gotta hope it’s wrong.
 
#20
#20
I'm not known to be the most optimistic person around and I typically don't make predictions, but the Vols certainly won't be in the bottom half of the conference. I think they finish somewhere no less than the 4th, maybe 5th best team in the conference. Feeling pretty good about things and I trust Josh Heupel. Why wouldn't we?

3 teams from the conference made the playoff last year and obviously UT was one of them. The Vols should have been seeded higher in the playoff which would have given them a game in Knoxville. The OL quit in Columbus and they were without Sampson.

I'd say the Vols are better than Alabama, UF, OU, A&M, Ole Miss and possibly LSU at this point until proven otherwise. Why wouldn't they be? 5 of these schools have legitimate questions at QB as well.
 
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#21
#21
I just can’t forget how bad we were without Cooper Mays in 2023.

If the offensive line is actually all around improved from 2024, then we’re 3rd - 5th best in the conference unless someone gets hurt where we’re thin.
 
#22
#22
Other_Guy said:
Obviously VN will be biased but the justification for all of these experts or youtubers having Tenn really low and certain other teams higher, potentially being really good teams, doesn't actually make sense to me, and I've watched a ton of prediction videos.
The argument against Tenn: lost a lot on offense, got a transfer no one is raving about. Yeah they got an easy schedule, great defense and finished the highest of these last year, but 8-4 is about right.
Yet someone I'm supposed to believe in OU's offense with their transfer QB and bad OL.
Somehow I'm supposed to pretend Napier didn't almost get fired midseason and Lagway will stay healthy amidst a brutal schedule.
Im supposed to think ole miss is going to be View attachment 765560just fine replacing that defense and QB when they couldn't go better than 9-3 with their best roster ever.
I'm supposed to think S Carolina will be a potential playoff team despite losing their defense. Who is Sellers throwing to?
Point is, Tenn has similar issues to these schools yet everyone still has faith in them and universally people are seeing 8-4 for Tenn with the easiest or 2nd easiest schedule in the SEC.
Heupel has consistently done more with less. Where is the faith in him?
Click to expand...
It's because we aren't beating florida or bama on the road. Not beating georgia and we always drop one we shouldnt. 8-4 sounds about right
 
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#24
#24
TexasVolfan1 said:
I definitely think we’re being underrated but I also think the difference between finishing 5th or 10th in the SEC is going to be razor thin this year.
Click to expand...

Just about to say the same thing. 1-4 probably about right and 5-10 are all interchangeable.

44 yrs of viewership and rarely are the preseason critics right. Depends on the bounces and some luck. If we have as good an o-line and a 3 RB rotating monster as expected it may help Aguilar and the recieving crew out tremendously. Stay healthy and Aguilar/WR are even decent i think a playoff berth is possible.
 
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