Well positioned even with a close loss?

[0059862]

I sincerely want the Vols to win out with everything in me. This has been so long in coming, however, say Tennessee loses a close game in Athens and then it's Georgia/Alabama in the SEC Championship - Georgia knocks out Alabama and we enter the playoff as the second SEC team. Alabama is our nemesis either way. In summary, I think the Vols could reach the playoff even with a loss next week and NO ONE will want to play the Vols in the playoffs, that's for sure.

 

[JoAllan]

With a close loss someone needs to lose.

However that’s for Georgia to worry about.

 

[ALLVOL 4LIFE]

We are in win only mode. No what if’s!

 

[KnoxRealtorVOL]

With a close loss someone needs to lose.

However that’s for Georgia to worry about.

Nailed it on all fronts.

And actually that someone (Ohio State or TCU) probably needs to lose a couple. Let’s just be safe and win out.

 

[tango]

we're either winning out, or we're losing no more than 1 game.

period.

 

[ThreatLevelOrange]

Here is reality. If we lose, Alabama has to lose again. The SEC ain’t getting 3 playoff teams and you know the SEC and ESPN want Alabama in the playoff again.

Big Ten Winner and Clemson get in. And if TCU keeps winning, the SECCG loser may also get left out.

So no, we aren’t well positioned with an L .

 

[CascadeVolunteer]

I’m with the OP. We can afford to ball out on this game. We can most likely win out even if we take on injuries in Georgia. Put it all on the line Saturday. I bet hype will have solid plan. I hope to see K.Smart loosing his crap on the third time a Vol receiver is running loose for a TD.

 

[BigOrangeTrain]

First off there is no guarantee than Bama beats LSU. I know most expect them to but not many thought we would beat Bama but it happened. Brian Kelly is a better coach than many think. I could easily see him beating Saban. Now on to the playoffs. Here is the problem with us getting in with one loss.

So Clemson will win the ACC easily. That’s one spot. The SEC champ gets one spot. TCU has already beaten their biggest threat KS. There is a real good possibility they go undefeated and win the B12. That’s another spot. So now that’s one spot left. You have to let the B10 champion in.

So in reality unless we win the SEC, there rally isn’t a path for us to make the CFP.

 

[BigOrangeTrain]

Here is reality. If we lose, Alabama has to lose again. The SEC ain’t getting 3 playoff teams and you know the SEC and ESPN want Alabama in the playoff again.

Big Ten Winner and Clemson get in. And if TCU keeps winning, the SECCG loser may also get left out.

So no, we aren’t well positioned with an L .

Also you can’t just count out the P12 champ. Say Oregon wins it. They will have beaten BYU, Utah, UCLA and probably USC. With their only loss coming to UGA.

 

[hUTch2002]

First off there is no guarantee than Bama beats LSU. I know most expect them to but not many thought we would beat Bama but it happened. Brian Kelly is a better coach than many think. I could easily see him beating Saban. Now on to the playoffs. Here is the problem with us getting in with one loss.

So Clemson will win the ACC easily. That’s one spot. The SEC champ gets one spot. TCU has already beaten their biggest threat KS. There is a real good possibility they go undefeated and win the B12. That’s another spot. So now that’s one spot left. You have to let the B10 champion in.

So in reality unless we win the SEC, there rally isn’t a path for us to make the CFP.

There’s a path. We would just need a ton of help. Our odds would be much greater if we beat UGA and lost to Bama in the SEC Championship but even then we would need Clemson or TCU to lose. Clemson likely won’t, although ND this weekend could be interesting. I bet TCU loses somewhere. Of course the best bet is to just go 13-0. That way there’s nothing to argue!

 

[turbovol]

North Carolina is pretty good and Clemson may have more trouble with them than people think.

TCU still has to play at texas.

Certainly, another bama loss--either to lsu or to georgia in the SEC title game, if we lose this one--would help immensely.

That said, I expect us to win this game. This georgia team certainly isn't as good as last year's team. The key to this game will be the play of our offensive line. If they play well, we'll win.

 

[Volbrando]

I can't figure out what would help us more in the playoff computer rankings IF we get beat by Georgia...

be #1 and lose to #2 or
be #2 and lose to #1

maybe we should just win

 

[FBtime]

Here is reality. If we lose, Alabama has to lose again. The SEC ain’t getting 3 playoff teams and you know the SEC and ESPN want Alabama in the playoff again.

Big Ten Winner and Clemson get in. And if TCU keeps winning, the SECCG loser may also get left out.

So no, we aren’t well positioned with an L .

Doesn't matter what the SEC and ESPN wants...the CFP committee is comprised of 13 disparate people for this very reason. Vols are a great national story and if anything there is plenty of Alabama fatigue. NO way they get in over us if they have two losses.

2022-23 Selection Committee Roster - College Football Playoff

 

[Jax_Vol]

Yes! We should be well positioned with a close loss.

 

['Boro-vol]

I don’t care about getting into the Playoffs right now. I want to win the SEC. Do that, and the playoffs are a certainty.

When did winning the East, and then the conference become secondary?

 

[Volbrando]

I don’t care about getting into the Playoffs right now. I want to win the SEC. Do that, and the playoffs are a certainty.

When did winning the East, and then the conference become secondary?

when we became this good and the ceiling was raised. Not as many remember who won the SEC

 

[Jax_Vol]

I don’t care about getting into the Playoffs right now. I want to win the SEC. Do that, and the playoffs are a certainty.

When did winning the East, and then the conference become secondary?

When they went to the playoffs.....duh

 

['Boro-vol]

when we became this good and the ceiling was raised. Not as many remember who won the SEC

We play in the SEC. It’s the toughest conference in the country. I don’t care who remembers what. If you win the SEC, you’re likely the best team in the country and going to the playoff. The “ceiling” doesn’t get raised. There is a progression….division, conference, playoff.

I could care less about the playoff without at least winning the East. To do that we have to beat Georgia and win out.

 

[CaliVol2009]

First off there is no guarantee than Bama beats LSU. I know most expect them to but not many thought we would beat Bama but it happened. Brian Kelly is a better coach than many think. I could easily see him beating Saban. Now on to the playoffs. Here is the problem with us getting in with one loss.

So Clemson will win the ACC easily. That’s one spot. The SEC champ gets one spot. TCU has already beaten their biggest threat KS. There is a real good possibility they go undefeated and win the B12. That’s another spot. So now that’s one spot left. You have to let the B10 champion in.

So in reality unless we win the SEC, there rally isn’t a path for us to make the CFP.

Clemson could easily lose to UNC.

 

[Volbrando]

We play in the SEC. It’s the toughest conference in the country. I don’t care who remembers what. If you win the SEC, you’re likely the best team in the country and going to the playoff. The “ceiling” doesn’t get raised. There is a progression….division, conference, playoff.

I could care less about the playoff without at least winning the East. To do that we have to beat Georgia and win out.

don't get me wrong I want to beat Georgia.... BAD... would be huge for our program

 

['Boro-vol]

When they went to the playoffs.....duh

I guess I’m from a different era. I’d rather win this conference than anything else. It matters, because most of the other teams in the country could never do it. Once that is done…you can move in to the playoffs and beating the “also-rams”.

To each his own. I’m just surprised the conference championship means so little.

 

[hog88]

With a close loss someone needs to lose.

However that’s for Georgia to worry about.

Someone else will lose. tOSU/MI have to play each other, I believe ND will knock off Clemson this weekend and I highly doubt the committee would choose an undefeated B12 or P12 team over a 1 loss SEC team.

 

['Boro-vol]

don't get me wrong I want to beat Georgia.... BAD... would be huge for our program

I get it…just surprised so many are ok with not winning the conference to get there. Growing up pre-playoff and BCS stressed winning the conference, especially after we went to divisional play. It gave bragging rights…because winning this championship meant you could likely beat anyone.

To me, it’ll always be the most important thing. Maybe Im an outlier.

 

[Jax_Vol]

We play in the SEC. It’s the toughest conference in the country. I don’t care who remembers what. If you win the SEC, you’re likely the best team in the country and going to the playoff. The “ceiling” doesn’t get raised. There is a progression….division, conference, playoff.

I could care less about the playoff without at least winning the East. To do that we have to beat Georgia and win out.

You are crazy old school. This is the path to take.

Lose a game to avoid sec championship. Enter playoffs as 4 seed and win a National Champioship.

2017 Alabama Crimson Tide Schedule | ESPN

If the Tennessee Vols are National Champs like 2017 Bama, no one remembers who won east or SEC. I'm tight with some diehard Georgia fans, and that year was the worst for them. They choked it all away to Tua

 

[paulyvolnuts]

I sincerely want the Vols to win out with everything in me. This has been so long in coming, however, say Tennessee loses a close game in Athens and then it's Georgia/Alabama in the SEC Championship - Georgia knocks out Alabama and we enter the playoff as the second SEC team. Alabama is our nemesis either way. In summary, I think the Vols could reach the playoff even with a loss next week and NO ONE will want to play the Vols in the playoffs, that's for sure.

What confidence! Doubt and fear...