It is time we stop claiming Florida and Pittsburgh as good wins

[tnvols106]

Dang, that means we're just 5-0.

 

[vegasvolfan]

Both teams suck

Pittsburgh lost to Georgia Tech and is about to lose to Louisville to fall 4-3

Florida is 4-3 and about to be 4-4

Those games are actually embarrassing that we didn't beat both teams by 3+ TDs.

Florida could still squeak out a 9 win season if they go to a bowl game which would be big for their first year coach.

 

[volbound1700]

Please understand that both beat us last year. I don’t care if we win every game by a point. This team is in a gear that many didn’t think was there. Don’t take anything for granted at this point
The intensity I saw against UTM yesterday showed me a lot.

I agree, we rebounded better against a weak opponent than I thought. This team seems impervious to outside noise which is a great thing!

 

[cncchris33]

Both teams suck

Pittsburgh lost to Georgia Tech and is about to lose to Louisville to fall 4-3

Florida is 4-3 and about to be 4-4

Those games are actually embarrassing that we didn't beat both teams by 3+ TDs.

 

[wNCeTNnGAVOL]

Ugh... you don't want to go there. For one, Notre Dame is better than Pittsburgh and #2, they won in regulation by more than one score.

If this was 1980s, we would have a tie on our schedule and be 6-0-1.

If “if and buts were fruits and nuts” who cares.

 

[cgrish]

Who cares? They’re now unranked and we helped.

exactly, we helped unrank them

 

[cgrish]

View attachment 505023

at the time we played them they were ranked, but anyways a win is a win.

 

[cgrish]

Our offense slowed themselves down. If you think The Tennessee Team that played Pitt and the Tennessee team playing now are comparable, then you are either a Troll or not paying attention.

or just doesnt have any understanding of football.

 

[Kylo]

 

[cgrish]

I rather have a creampuff schedule like Clemson.

clemson has played one ranked team and barely won at home

 

[cgrish]

Both of those teams would be 5-2 if we didn’t beat them. That’s the thing about winning, it makes your schedule look worse.

and who has fla lost to, good teams, ut, lsu and ky all ranked teams

 

[cgrish]

At least until gators win against uga this week

and that could happen. it would not surprise me at all

 

[BucksnortVol]

View attachment 505023

Just to make it simple.....THEY WERE RANKED WHEN WE BEAT THEM! Therefore, we beat a ranked team. We are a big part of why they are where they are. That they stink now is on them, not us.

 

[cgrish]

Same Alabama team should have lost to Texas and Texas A&M. I heard fans bragging Big12 was best league. I am just wondering if SEC is overrated since you got LSU who lost to Florida State on top of West and Tennessee who nearly lost to Pittsburgh tied for top of East.

We can't really brag we are better than Clemson or Ohio State until we play them (if we do at all)

Can you yell me how many quality wins clemson and ohio state have won this year

 

[Stephen Gray]

For those who don't think we can count those games a good wins: Just reminder of what one model (the football power index) had us doing prior to the start of the season. The number is parenthesis is the opponent's FPI ranking. The percentage is our projected chance of winning prior to the season. The bold entries are the games we were supposed to lose.

Ball State (118) @ Tennessee 95.1%
Tennessee @ Pittsburgh (20) 37.3%
Akron (126) @ Tennessee 97.3%
Florida (29) @ Tennessee 60.2%
Tennessee @ LSU (10) 32.3%
Alabama (1) @ Tennessee 11.9%
UT Martin (N/A) @ Tennessee 98.5%
Kentucky (18) @ Tennessee 47.4%
Tennessee @ Georgia (3) 7.4%
Missouri (56) @ Tennessee 78.5%
Tennessee @ South Carolina (45) 55.9%
Tennessee @ Vanderbilt (108) 87.9%

Tennessee pre-season FPI rank: 25
Projected W-L record: 7-5
Losses: Pittsburgh, LSU, Alabama, Kentucky, and Georgia.
Wins: Ball State, Akron, Florida, UT Martin, Missouri, South Carolina, Vanderbilt
Actual W-L record: 7-0
Losses: None, zip, zilch, nada
Wins: Ball State, Pittsburgh, Akron, Florida, LSU, Alabama, UT Martin (bold entries are games we weren't picked to win preseason)

When we faced Pitt and Florida we were not playing nearly as good as we are now, and a big part of the reason they are sliding has to do with what we did to them, in my opinion. Obviously our chances in games changed as we continued to get wins, but I think we absolutely played good teams, beat them, and continued to get better, while they have struggled to recover and improve. Right now beating Kentucky looks like it's very likely, with Georgia being a challenge. South Carolina no longer appears to be a tossup, and is another likely win.

Source: How ESPN Is Predicting Tennessee's Game-By-Game Schedule | Rocky Top Insider

 

[RockyTopTexas]

Slow your roll big haus

 

[BowlBrother85]

Ugh... you don't want to go there. For one, Notre Dame is better than Pittsburgh and #2, they won in regulation by more than one score.

If this was 1980s, we would have a tie on our schedule and be 6-0-1.

You can't assume that the play calling (of both teams) would have been the same in the 4th quarter without an OT.

You are trying way too hard to downplay Tennessee's season over 2 games that were played over a month ago. It simply doesn't matter. Tennessee is undefeated, and ranked 3rd and 4th in the polls. Tennessee will only play one team the rest of the season (Georgia), as good as two that they have already beaten (LSU and Alabama).

 

[BanditVol]

Just stop. They were ranked when we played them, and we are thus partly responsible for them not being ranked.

Plus, if you can't fathom the significance of the win over Florida regardless of their rank, I question whether you are actually a Vol or not.

Good godawmighty

 

[SaltyBro]

I wouldn’t say that. There are some pessimists and some who seem to focus on every reason imaginable to not be happy when they should, but they are not the majority.

While I personally prefer to enjoy being undefeated, breaking streaks, and so forth it’s not hard to understand why some people find it easier to believe things are worse than they seem. The last decade plus has been filled with optimistic takes that eventually disappointed.

The thing is though, in none of those seasons did we beat Florida, Alabama, and we’re undefeated through 7 games. The closet thing I can remember is 2016 when we beat Florida and Georgia.

As good as winning those games were it still doesn’t have the feel of this season. We are much more impressive in our performances than we were that year. I don’t find myself questioning coaching decisions/play calling this year like I did in 2016, even in the games we won.

So I guess what I’m saying is I don’t think there are that many pessimists, but I do understand why some feel that way. It’s just when they make their case most of the rest of us would rather be focusing on what we are doing this year and how awesome it is right now.

Our offense is special...LSU joe burrow special. We should all celebrate the start we have. There would be some here that would find a way to complain if we won a natty. I understand how bad it was...trust me (was a student when were trash at all main sports) it's just upsetting people always focus on the negative.

 

[Probably_in_Class]

I didn't say that I wasn't exciting, I just think we need to show more humility. It took overtime to beat a mediocre ACC team. Maybe SEC isn't as strong as we think since Pitt was able to slow our offense down, something no one in the SEC has been able to do to date.

Or, just maybe, we've gotten better as the season has progressed...

 

[Arrested Devolopment]

Both teams suck

Pittsburgh lost to Georgia Tech and is about to lose to Louisville to fall 4-3

Florida is 4-3 and about to be 4-4

Those games are actually embarrassing that we didn't beat both teams by 3+ TDs.

A+ trolling game - the bait is irresistible.

 

[IndianaVol]

No, that doesn't make any sense.

Oregon lost that game to Georgia at Mercedes-Benz Stadium by 46 points. Kent State gave Georgia a much better game than that in Athens. I can't agree with you there. Sorry.

I see your point and don't think I was making mine very clear.
I'm just saying that I don't think the committee will give the same weight to our two wins as they do to Oregon's one loss.

It's not fair and unfortunate if it does happen because like you stated - that loss was BAD.

 

[VolOnTheBayou]

Let’s not forget that Syracuse gave the ‘98 team all they could handle. I don’t think years from now we will be worrying about Pitt or Florida’s ranking. A win is a win.

 

[fossilfiction]

How does this thread really exist, even in someone's thoughts? On what planet can you find misery in Tennessee's opponents, especially Florida, losing games?
Tennessee has beaten 7 teams in a row this year, only Akron and Ball State are .500 or less, Tennessee is ranked number 3, and likely got to Georgia ranked number 2.
The idea here is to cheapen Tennessee's season.
This is a terrible take.

 

[VFL-82-JP]

For those who don't think we can count those games a good wins: Just reminder of what one model (the football power index) had us doing prior to the start of the season. The number is parenthesis is the opponent's FPI ranking. The percentage is our projected chance of winning prior to the season. The bold entries are the games we were supposed to lose.

Ball State (118) @ Tennessee 95.1%
Tennessee @ Pittsburgh (20) 37.3%
Akron (126) @ Tennessee 97.3%
Florida (29) @ Tennessee 60.2%
Tennessee @ LSU (10) 32.3%
Alabama (1) @ Tennessee 11.9%
UT Martin (N/A) @ Tennessee 98.5%

Yah, indeed.

And this is crazy, but you know what our FPI chances were of winning the first four games (Ball St, Pitt, Akron, Florida)? 21%. Just 21%.

Getting the first five all Ws? 7%.

Winning the first six, capping it off with Bama? less than 1%.

One of two things has to be true:

(a) Josh Heupel rolls the dice like no one in history; or
(b) ESPN FPI may have under-estimated our team this year.

Or maybe it's some of both.

Go Vols!