You've acknowledged that you felt that Cal was overrated going into the game,
I've acknowledged that they were both talented and untested. UT might have shown them things about their team that can be corrected in time to know SC off this year.
They
do have talent and good coaching.
and everyone around the Vol nation seems to believe that the AF game that UT escaped with a "W" was a fluke.
Probably should have beaten them by 21+ but didn't. It happens.... and usually ends up being a good thing for a team.
So I don't see the argument that the Vols have played VASTLY superior teams to those that UF has played as being valid.
Except that the two teams beaten by UT would probably light up the two teams beaten by UF as badly as UF did.
Cal would definitely be able to put 50 on UCF. AFA probably would as well. They'd definitely beat both of them.
Yet UT has given up 48 points against those two teams, and UF has given up 7.
If you'll remember, Cal had scored exactly nothing when Fulmer called off the dogs in the 3rd qtr.
AF just got the best of UT's defense. They weren't prepared for what AF did and almost became an upset victim. If UF comes anywhere close to rushing as effectively as AF... I'll be stunned.
UF has scored 76 points thus far, and has used 2nd & 3rd teamers heavily in those two games or the scoring would likely be considerably higher.
Au contrare. You had several unsuccessful drives early in the game against USM. UCF just rolled over so I'm not sure that proves anything at all.
OTOH, UT's offense basically hasn't been stopped but maybe 3 times in two games.
UT has been impressive offensively with its 66 points, but I believe that the UF defense is stronger than what UT has seen so far.
Agreed. But Cal is closer to what UF will bring than either USM or UCF are to what UT will bring.
When you strip away all of the numbers that I work with to calculate my pool picks, it really boils down to my believing that the UF defense is slightly more capable of disrupting the UT offense than vice versa. Thus the 1 point margin that the calculations came up with.
That's a place where your objectivity seems to break down. I think you acknowledged earlier that UT's o-line was better than UF's. The defensive front 7's are fairly well matched even without Harrell. With UT's injuries in the secondary, that would be a relative wash at this point.
These facts would seem to favor UT.
Again, I mentioned a 1 point margin. Do you really believe that you can justify this game being touted as not being a toss-up? How?
No. Two very good teams will throw themselves at each other on Saturday. Mistakes will play a hand as will strategy and personnel.
Weaknesses will be exposed on both sides. I think, and hope I am right in saying, that UT has played better competition and should have had more of their weaknesses exposed in the previous two games than UF. Weaknesses are often difficult to correct once you recognize them... but they're impossible to correct until you recognize them.
