College football preseason Power Rankings: Realistic best case and worst case for each top 25 team

[VolFaninFla]

No. 11 Tennessee Volunteers
Best case: College Football Playoff semifinal. The Vols would have been in the playoff a year ago had it not been for the November debacle in Columbia where South Carolina won in a 63-38 rout. So Josh Heupel's club wasn't too far off in just his second season, as Tennessee won 11 games for the first time since the 2001 season. Despite losing Hooker and some other key players, Heupel thinks this will be the deepest and most talented roster he has had, and on defense, he anticipates the Vols being able to play more players. Tennessee gets Georgia at home in the next-to-last game of the season, so there's a chance the SEC Eastern Division title could be on the line that Nov. 18 day in Knoxville.

Worst case: 8-5 with losses to Florida, Texas A&M, Alabama, Georgia and the bowl opponent. Even though Tennessee avoids a stout nonconference test, the SEC schedule tilts against the Vols this season with trips to Florida, Alabama and Kentucky. This is the most excitement surrounding the start of a Tennessee football season in two decades, and the Vols aren't going to catch anybody by surprise starting the season ranked so highly and with Heupel's offense putting up record-setting numbers a year ago. If the offense falls off some with Joe Miltonat the helm, is the defense good enough to make up the difference? The pivotal game is Florida. The Vols haven't won in Gainesville since 2003. Their season could vary wildly depending on they fare in the Swamp. -- Low
Here is the full article
College football preseason Power Rankings: Realistic best case and worst case for each top 25 team

 

[Vol$_Deep_11_9]

I agree with the best case

8-5 while it could happen, it won’t unless Milton gets hurt or we get eat up with injuries. I think 9-3 or 10-2 is worse case scenario.

I’ll say 11-1 and the one loss will be splitting Georgia and Alabama

 

[McDad]

We started breaking some streaks against us last season. This season, more streaks are due for a reset. 1st up for resetting, 9 losses in a row in Gainesville.

 

[Grand Vol]

Why do those mouthbreathers give Kentucky so much credit?

 

[IndianaVol]

I think our Best Case is a trip to the SECCG - we beat UGA and lose to Bama in regular season to make the trip to the 'Dome.
That puts us soundly in the CFP with potential to make the title game (I do believe though we are still a year away from that so bow out this season in the semi-finals).

Worse case, even if Milton gets hurt or ther injuries gobble us up, is 9-3 and dropping games to UGA, Bama, and one other...likely A&M (Fisher and company are playing desperate this season).
Even in my worse case scenario we break the streak in Gainesville and continue the new streaks against Mizzou, KY, and Vandy, as well as get revenge on USCe.

 

[Other_Guy]

I agree with the best case

8-5 while it could happen, it won’t unless Milton gets hurt or we get eat up with injuries. I think 9-3 or 10-2 is worse case scenario.

I’ll say 11-1 and the one loss will be splitting Georgia and Alabama

Questions at QB and OL are keeping me from saying 11-1 and makes me think 9-3 is a real possibility. If last years OL or Hooker was playing I'd say yes, but both being big ?s gives me pause.

 

[Vol$_Deep_11_9]

Questions at QB and OL are keeping me from saying 11-1 and makes me think 9-3 is a real possibility. If last years OL or Hooker was playing I'd say yes, but both being big ?s gives me pause.

I agree with that, I just think Milton having two years to basically sit and learn will help there. I think the OL will be alright. Got some good talent, just gotta hope they mesh