jake,
I agree with you regarding the difficulty of calling the games this year. When you look at the schedule though do you get the sense that this should be the Vol's year? I look at that schedule and see no LSU or Aubie, toughest OOC game is Cal, and UGA is at home. Couple the schedule with Ainge being a Sr. and it just seems like this ought to be the year. I do not expect it to happen, frankly I'd be more shocked than lawgator if UTK wins the SEC, or even the East. I just don't see it getting any easier in 2008 or 2009.
yeah, and i'll be the first to admit, i've changed my thinking in this regard. right after this past season i immediately pegged 08 or 09 as the next best chance for us....but in reality, when you look at this schedule, this year, with as many teams that do have questions and changes in personnel, coaching etc.....this actually is shaping up to be a pretty legit shot for us.
SR qb
3 deep at RB
experienced, albeit not overly talented O line
what should be a very good LB corp
Big time potential at D LINE and WR
maybe best TE's in the Conf?
what could hold us back? Defensive back feild and none of the WR's panning out early enough to make a difference.
combine that with the schedule, with the toughest two games literally being @ Cal and @ FL and @ bama. but in reality, the only game on the schedule that i truly think we will in fact lose is the FL game. Cal, Bama, USC, GA, ARK...are toss ups in my mind.
that's why i can't "find" 3 losses on the schedule, cause i honestly do think that we can win each of those games. that does not mean i think we will go undefeated..........it means that i think TN, GA, FL, BAma and USC are all in about the same place right now, and on a given Saturday, anyone one of those teams could lose to the other, and likely will. ANd since we don't have LSU or Aub on the schedule......who knows?
this year literally will likely come down to getting a couple of breaks, and us "out developing" our questions faster than the other guys.
i still think 9-3 is where we wind up, maybe 10-2. but no worse than 9-3.