-Tennessee fans feel entitled to excellence and think it's obscene if they're not perennially top 10. They melt down when they're mediocre (oh boo hoo us) or try to hire a meathead a former Rutgers coach (well they did get that one right).
-Just another SEC school w/big ambitions, an oversized stadium and idolatrous zealots all over that burnt Orange Rocky Top.
-Tennessee as a team does not scare me the same as Clemson or Notre Dame. I think we play them close. Likely get down early but claw back.
-The problem I see is getting a fair shake down in Atlanta. We've already seen the disrespect that can happen when ACC teams (especially ones from NY) travel down to SEC country.
-I'm hoping that Fran Brown has already changed that dynamic. He's made it clear we are not some punching bag and is very smart with his words when it comes to officiating. Personally I can't stomach any ghost flags on critical plays in the 4th quarter which tends to happen.
-We have two quarterbacks and at least one highly-rated receiver with something to prove. If we can burn someone on a fly pattern in the first series, I can see us winning this game.
-Tennessee is deep on DL but with Pearce Jr moving on their pass rush takes a hit. Their WR room was leaned out a bit with Squirrel White transferring, Bru McCoy retiring as well as Thornton leaving. Nico leaving in exchange for Aguilar is a downgrade IMHO as Aguilar is turnover prone and has struggled in camp throwing INTs.
-Avoid mistakes, and Cuse will have it a 4Q game. The thing is, very very hard to do that with first start QB and game number 1 on the road.
-I don't have that much faith in our defense, to be honest. I think we are going to have to score in the 30s to win, and maybe to even cover.
-Buncha hicks in Knoxville. I took an official visit there as they were recruiting me hard to play golf there. I’ve never heard the word “Yankee” so many times in my life. Cool school and campus sure, but they are kinda like WV people. Very very very strange.
-I'll sign up for 5 TOs! The deranged Vols fan might think those are 5 mistakes. But I'll feel pretty good about our defense if they force UT into 5 killer mistakes.
-If it's treated as a normal cross conference game, the visiting team's conference would supply the refs. See the screwjob in '98.