Surprising Blowouts, Surprising Challenges

[VFL-82-JP]

PART 1 -- Surprising Blowouts

What one or two games in 2015 would you nominate as most likely to be a surprising blowout? Not nearly as close as the relative rankings, or recent history, or just public opinion in general, might indicate?

Set aside the Vandy and Kentucky games, North Texas and West Carolina and Bowling Green, this question is not about them. No, this is about: Oklahoma? Florida? Arkansas? Georgia? Bama? South Carolina? Mizzou?

My money is on Florida and Arkansas. I think we blow them both out. More than a touchdown for sure, likely more than two touchdowns. Arkansas is just too one-dimensional, and Florida is too no-dimensional. Yes, they both have solid defenses, but so do we. The difference is, we have an offense that can make at least SOME noise, while they've got limited to no options to do the same.

Florida will be lower-scoring than many of our games, but we'll still get more than 20 points against them. Say something like 21-7. And I think we run ragged over Arkansas, who can only respond with a ground attack. Too little, too slow: 30-17.

What do you think? See potential for a different blowout among those seven games?

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PART 2 -- Surprising Challenges

Now flip the coin over. Surprisingly close games. Dog fights that perhaps some didn't expect.

Since the world expects Oklahoma, Arkansas, Georgia, Bama, and Mizzou to be big challenges, they don't count. Pick from among these instead: Florida? South Carolina? Kentucky? Vandy? any of the 3 cupcakes?

I'm thinking South Carolina. I know Kentucky will be a trendy pick here, but for me it's all about the Ole Ball Coach and his frustration and embarrassment of the past two years. Dude wants revenge. He'd give up two other games to get a win against the Vols. And he's still a very dangerous coach, even with a depleted cupboard of talent.

See any other likely trap games in 2015?

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Some will notice Florida and South Carolina are on both lists. How can a team be a candidate for both "surprising blowout" and "surprising challenge"? Goes to the nature of our history with these teams, and a current gap between the reality and reputations. About half the college football world would consider it a shock if we blew them out, while the other half would consider it a shock if the games were close. So they get to live on both lists.

 

[Kristy*]

I agree on the Arkansas blowout.

Florida, everything points to this being the year. On paper, we should win big. But we just MUST WIN. I guess I'll just have to see it to truly believe it.

Of the challenges, I agree that SC could give us a good game. More so than the other "surprises." But I still expect a win there.

No trap games for CBJ. He'll have this team ready every week!

 

[wtmvol]

A blowout of Florida would be heavenly. I think their defense is too good to allow that to happen though.

I like your other 2 picks though.

Surprising Blowout: Arkansas

Surprising Challenge: Kentucky

 

[BaldBiker]

I got a wild hair yesterday. Perused Vanymania. Interestingly enough, they seem to think they are going to win in Neyland this year. lol:

 

[ntxVOL]

USC may be a surprising challenge, just depends on how their season goes up to that point.

I just have to believe that team has something to prove this year after last year's disappointment.

EDIT: Also think Florida's defense will keep that game close.

 

[chargervol]

I got a wild hair yesterday. Perused Vanymania. Interestingly enough, they seem to think they are going to win in Neyland this year. lol:

I can't imagine anyone is a fan that doesn't/hasn't attended their school.
It amazes me that they would pay that much for an education and produce those kinds of conclusions.
Vandy students need a refund!

 

[YorkVol]

I think Florida won't be close. DeBord will tell the team how he beat them the last time he faced them and it will erase the psychological block completely and we will rout them.

The game that gives me pause is South Carolina. I think that is our surprise loss this year, but one that puts us over the edge and we don't lose another one for the rest of the year.

 

[BaldBiker]

I can't imagine anyone is a fan that doesn't/hasn't attended their school.
It amazes me that they would pay that much for an education and produce those kinds of conclusions.
Vandy students need a refund!

Some of the reading was quite interesting. The overall feeling seemed to be that they were in wait and see mode to see if they would suck or really suck this year......but then they would follow that up with stupid predictions of games. There was one thread that had them blowing out some teams and i'm pretty sure didn't have them losing any games by more than 14 pts.

Oh......and I really want to find out who that dumb assed supposed UT fan is over there. Fess up dumb ass......I know you're on here. Some of the things you say, come from VN.

 

[volgrad500]

I agree we SHOULD blow Arkansas and Florida out. The issues FL is having across the board, and Arky losing their best RB and being at our house, the stars seem to be aligning.

 

[Creeker]

I think we actually blow out South Carolina they have some issues at QB and their defense is nothing to call home about. Kentucky may give us more of a challenge that'll expected for about a half then we pull away in the second half.

 

[volfanecs]

I only worry that the players start believing their own hype.

 

[fade route]

Lol this thread......blowing out UF and Arkansas. Smh

We are a Dobbs high ankle sprain away from being 5-7.

 

[Crazy Ivan]

If there is a chance for a blowout of either the gators or hogs, I would say UF. But I think their defense is good enough to keep games close as long as their offense doesn't continually give us a short field w/ TOs. But dear lord I want the Vols to blow them out of the swamp.

I think we have less of a chance of blowing out Arkansas. I think their offense is solid enough to control the clock and make it difficult for opponents' offenses to get a lot of possessions. Like with UF, the only way I see UT blowing them out is due to a lot of TOs, and I don't remember the hogs being TO prone last season.

I actually think if we can contain Mauk from the big runs out of busted plays, that our best chance of a blowout against a non-cupcake could be against Mizzou. I just don't believe they are going to have the horses on the DL that we have seen the last 2-3 seasons so our offense has a chance to put up some points on them. I'm not sure Mauk is going to have a lot of experienced targets, so if we can make them one-dimensional, we have a good chance of a convincing win.

The game that we expect to win that could be scary for us is UK. When Towles gets hot he is a formidable QB, and the cats have some speed in the backfield. They've got young talent at WR, although like us, they've got a ton of potential more so than actual results on the field. I don't have any respect for their defense at this point, and I'm not sure they have anyone to replace the 2 NFL draft picks they lost off their DL from last season. Stoops has also gone to the 3-4 over the offseason and no SEC team to my knowledge so far has had a seamless transition over the course of one offseason. And I'm not sure they have 4 SEC-caliber LBs, much less 4 that are suited for the 3-4. We should be able to score a lot of points in that game. The concern is they come out early and are hot offensively in that game and get the crowed behind them. Then it might become a shootout.

 

[Peytons forehead]

I think we blow Georgia out. Win by at least 2 tds.
Florida will always be a challenge for us so long as I am alive I guess, so not a surprise if we struggle there. I think Kentucky could give us a game this year. Home game for them, they may catch us sleeping after the Bama game and before usc jr.

 

[dhb92]

Surprise blowout: OU, UF, Mizzou
Surprise challenge: UK, USCe

 

[xpsyclonex2002]

Not a chance that we blow out Alabama, Georgia or Arkansas. Florida could be a 21+ win if Our O Line looks like a real team. Oklahoma will be a squeaker no matter who wins. Mizzo? We should spank, but then again, I've said that for the last 2 years.

 

[rtb1983]

Potential blowout: Arkansas

Potential challenge: South Carolina/Florida

 

[volgrad500]

Lol this thread......blowing out UF and Arkansas. Smh

We are a Dobbs high ankle sprain away from being 5-7.

I understand what you're saying, and that obviously would make a difference. But honest question- given the SEC woes as far as QBs go this year, where would you rank Dormady in the East if he had to become the starter?

 

[Kristy*]

Lol this thread......blowing out UF and Arkansas. Smh

We are a Dobbs high ankle sprain away from being 5-7.

Only to those who don't believe we have any talent behind Dobbs at the QB position. Keep in mind that Manning was 3rd string to start his freshman year.

 

[VFL-82-JP]

We have plenty of "what happens behind Dobbs" threads right now. This isn't one of those. Fade can shake his head all he wants, but he hasn't added a single thought of value to the conversation yet.

This is about blowouts and close games.

 

[ntxVOL]

The only way we blow out UF is if our defense scores as much as our offense, IMO.

Not sure why folks think we can blow out any decent team anyway, I will be happy just to beat some good teams this year.

 

[GBO97]

I don't think Florida will be a blowout scorewise, but it could be a game that really never feels as close as people think it will be. I see something like a 17-3 or 20-7 type win.

This one is out on a limb a bit, but if we make OU a statement game and they come out flat, it could be a 06 Cal situation.

As far as unexpectedly close games, I would agree with both UK and SC. We could lose one of them if we aren't ready or prepared.

 

[HoptownVol]

Florida 24-6, they only return two starters on offense. I just dont think they score on us.

Blowout: Georgia 40something to 10.

 

[fade route]

I understand what you're saying, and that obviously would make a difference. But honest question- given the SEC woes as far as QBs go this year, where would you rank Dormady in the East if he had to become the starter?

Dormady will be a fine QB in time, but putting a true freshman at QB behind a shaky Oline in the SEC does not translate in to more than 5 wins in my book.

 

[cwbytruckers]

Everyone's lack of respect for Arkansas is surprising. They shut out Ole Miss and LSU last year. This game worries me a bit. Let's assume it comes a heavy rain during that game. Changes everything. Their power run attack could be trouble.