Any idea on how well you think tennessee will end up this year? I have heard some people say 10-2 witch is hard to believe after last year. I am thinking 8-4
I see talent and a manageable schedule. I don't see mental toughness. Get some confidence early on and we could make a run to something like 10-2. Lose to Florida and Georgia (or worse, NC State), and I can see 6 wins
If Tennessee beats NCSU, 8 wins (beat UF lose to either Mizzou or TAMU). If Tennessee loses to NCSU, 6 wins. That game will determine if Dooley is fired in either November or December.
You think Dooley is canned with 8 wins? I dunno. Missouri may be in for a rough road. I have a feeling they will be startled at having to weather SEC defenses week after week.
Mizzou has a big athletic QB. I do think the defenses will beat the hell out of Mizzou, but they will also sneak up on some people due to their athleticism too. I'm glad Tennessee plays them later in the season. A&M will give some teams fits. They have a pretty good ground game and some good athletes on the defensive side. I think Sumlin is a good coach too. 8 wins doesn't guarantee Dooley another year.
We don't play TAMU this year but if we did we'd probably lose. I think we're looking at 7-5 with a strong possibility of getting swept on the road again.
I will give a more sunshine-pumping rendering of our season too, though. I think we have upgraded coaching in the secondary, on the o-line, and at running back. I also believe our schedule is more manageable than it has been in some time. So, there's that.
I would not be surprised if our passing attack miraculously led us to 8 or 9 wins. I also wouldn't be shocked if a piss poor running game and a defense with growing pains resulted in another 5-7 type season. So I'll say 7-5.